Article - Edmonton Sun - Oct 22
I usually don't do this, but this one makes me want to go and buy tickets!
That's Ronnie Who? - John Huntington - Edmonton Sun
MONTREAL -- The ultimate professional, Ron McClendon didn't say a peep while being forced to sit on his butt for almost the whole season.
Not one complaint. Not one plea to play in the midst of a season gone horribly wrong for the Eskimos.
But now that he has finally got his chance to see the field, he is letting the entire CFL know that he still has life in those legs.
And if the Eskimos had shown up and played all year like they did yesterday, they would still have some life in their their season.
On the back of McClendon's staggering 198 yards rushing in his first regular-season game this year, the Green and Gold rolled to a stunning 30-20 victory yesterday against the Montreal Alouettes in front of 45,607 disgusted fans at Olympic Stadium.
"I am almost in tears because you know how hard I work at practice," he said in the Eskimo locker room.
But following his true style, McClendon gave credit to his offensive line.
"That was awesome," he said of their effort. "I think you could have got 60 yards rushing tonight."
Head coach Danny Maciocia has always thought McClendon could play, but believes the only true AstroTurf surface remaining in the CFL helped yesterday.
"It suits him because he can cut on a dime," said the coach, "and if he ever gets through the first two lines of defence, then he can be pretty interesting to watch."
But there is more to this victory than McClendon's impressive display of juking, jiving and hurdling.
In a game that meant everything to Montreal with first place on the line but nothing to his squad, Maciocia saw bright glimpses of his team's future.
Third-string quarterback Steven Jyles looked very promising in his short stint in the first half, engineering a TD drive in his first possession.
Defensive end Brandon Guillory and LB Anthony Floyd also looked promising.
However, there are obvious questions in the wake of the team's only win against the East Division this year.
Why did it take 19 weeks for this team to show up in the first quarter and then keep going?
With five minutes left in the second quarter, Edmonton had a 21-3 lead thanks to McClendon, Jyles and Ricky Ray TDs.
Is it the pressure of the 34-year streak being gone?
"It can be a little bit to do with that," admitted starting quarterback Ricky Ray.
But the most intriguing question is: What happens to McClendon now?
Maciocia didn't want to speculate. But, McClendon wants to return.
"Even if I have to do what I am doing this year, I don't care," he remarked.
Which means he's still going to be selling Eskimo season tickets, supplementing his meager football salary.
Only in the CFL could such a story be written.
"Hey guys, please call me for season tickets," he said after the game. "Ask for Goldie and we'll get you guys seats for 2007."
That's Ronnie Who? - John Huntington - Edmonton Sun
MONTREAL -- The ultimate professional, Ron McClendon didn't say a peep while being forced to sit on his butt for almost the whole season.
Not one complaint. Not one plea to play in the midst of a season gone horribly wrong for the Eskimos.
But now that he has finally got his chance to see the field, he is letting the entire CFL know that he still has life in those legs.
And if the Eskimos had shown up and played all year like they did yesterday, they would still have some life in their their season.
On the back of McClendon's staggering 198 yards rushing in his first regular-season game this year, the Green and Gold rolled to a stunning 30-20 victory yesterday against the Montreal Alouettes in front of 45,607 disgusted fans at Olympic Stadium.
"I am almost in tears because you know how hard I work at practice," he said in the Eskimo locker room.
But following his true style, McClendon gave credit to his offensive line.
"That was awesome," he said of their effort. "I think you could have got 60 yards rushing tonight."
Head coach Danny Maciocia has always thought McClendon could play, but believes the only true AstroTurf surface remaining in the CFL helped yesterday.
"It suits him because he can cut on a dime," said the coach, "and if he ever gets through the first two lines of defence, then he can be pretty interesting to watch."
But there is more to this victory than McClendon's impressive display of juking, jiving and hurdling.
In a game that meant everything to Montreal with first place on the line but nothing to his squad, Maciocia saw bright glimpses of his team's future.
Third-string quarterback Steven Jyles looked very promising in his short stint in the first half, engineering a TD drive in his first possession.
Defensive end Brandon Guillory and LB Anthony Floyd also looked promising.
However, there are obvious questions in the wake of the team's only win against the East Division this year.
Why did it take 19 weeks for this team to show up in the first quarter and then keep going?
With five minutes left in the second quarter, Edmonton had a 21-3 lead thanks to McClendon, Jyles and Ricky Ray TDs.
Is it the pressure of the 34-year streak being gone?
"It can be a little bit to do with that," admitted starting quarterback Ricky Ray.
But the most intriguing question is: What happens to McClendon now?
Maciocia didn't want to speculate. But, McClendon wants to return.
"Even if I have to do what I am doing this year, I don't care," he remarked.
Which means he's still going to be selling Eskimo season tickets, supplementing his meager football salary.
Only in the CFL could such a story be written.
"Hey guys, please call me for season tickets," he said after the game. "Ask for Goldie and we'll get you guys seats for 2007."
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