A few more good pics

Santa Matt relaxes in the stands, with lame-0 half-assed Dahle Bros. Santas.

A good shot of the Vanier Santas vantage point in standing room.

Santa Dirty looking a little rough - must have been the first half of the game when Queen's were losing. Also note Safety Santa with his heavily rum & Pepsi soiled beard.

Le Journal de Quebec

My interview with Le Journal de Quebec. Haven't been able to find our TV interview with Radio Canada (Quebec's version of the CBC) - yet.

Québec s’offre une grande célébration
Kathryne Lamontagne
28/11/2009 21h13

L’absence du Rouge et Or à la Coupe Vanier n’aura freiné en rien les ardeurs des amateurs de football, qui se sont présentés par milliers à la fête d’avant-match, samedi matin.

Dans le grand stationnement bordant le terrain du Peps de l’Université Laval, les partisans semblaient avoir fait le choix de célébrer le football plutôt que de pleurer l’élimination de leur équipe favorite. Un engouement qui tombe à point pour le comité de la Coupe Vanier, dont les festivités de jeudi et de vendredi n’auront pas été en mesure d’attirer les foules.

« Les gens sont au rendez-vous pour fêter l’apogée du sport universitaire. Les amateurs se devaient d’être là et ils le sont, c’est le principal », a lancé « La Merveille », personnage culte du Booster Club du Rouge et Or.

Un tailgate exceptionnel
Barbecue, bière, pique-nique, musique, joueurs-vedettes du Rouge et Or, rien n’a été négligé pour profiter de la dernière fête d’avant-match de l’année. Adam Brown, d’Ottawa, se disait étonné de l’ampleur de l’événement. Accompagné d’une poignée d’amis, tous déguisés en Père Noël pour l’occasion, l’habitué des matchs de la Coupe Vanier a qualifié le tailgate de Québec comme étant « le plus exceptionnel auquel il ait assisté ». « C’est incroyable, ce qui se passe ici. Nous serons là l’an prochain, c’est certain! » assure-t-il.

Le maire participe
Régis Labeaume, récemment remis de la grippe A (H1N1), tenait lui aussi à prendre part aux festivités. Le maire, vêtu des couleurs de l’Université Laval, venait tout juste de prendre un café avec son homologue de Kingston, qui a vainement tenté de le convaincre d’encourager Queen’s. Le maire est formel : à défaut de prendre pour l’équipe de sa ville, il criera pour celle de Calgary.
Malgré l’absence des favoris sur le terrain, des milliers de partisans du Rouge et Or ont fièrement affiché leurs couleurs. De quoi rivaliser fortement avec celles des Gaels de Queen’s et des Dinos de Calgary. « On est très contents de voir qu’il y a des gens de Laval, même si l’équipe ne joue pas », a laissé échapper Craig Steele, fier partisan de Calgary.

Some Vanier 2009 pics

IT Loney is rockin' the Pirate Santa look, as MMMMM looks on.

Kenny finds his favourite place at the Montreal Train Station.

The famous ironing board full o' shooters. This picture taken at 9:45am.

Santa Weir meets his very own Mrs. Claus at the game.
Santa Weir and Santa G perform some calisthenics prior to the game on a flatbed in front of the Delta.
Santa G meets "Le Merveille", U de Laval's top fan.
The Vanier Peres Noel gather 'round the old ironing board at the tailgate.

Quebec City tour a success!

Well, I think I can speak for all of us that the Quebec City Vanier Cup Tour 2009 was an unqualified success. A great game on the field with the Queen's come from behind victory over Calgary, and great fun was had all weekend.

Dr. CD Dahle was named rookie of the year for his first showing, joining this list of luminaries:

1999: Lincoln Jefferies
2000: Steve Sharp
2001: Spencer Grabe
2002: Brent Grieve
2003: "Cuzin'" Bill Latimer
2004: Donny "Bohonos" McMullen
2005: Keith Walthers
2006: NOT AWARDED - no rookie had the guts to come to Sask with us
2007: Andre Barrette
2008: Rob Townend

Some the highlights included:

- Dirty Don and MMMMMM McMillan missed the train and had to drive to Montreal to meet us.
- VIA first class was the way to go with grub, beer, wine, etc. The discount price on the tickets was a nice touch as well. Some attendees from Southern Ontario flew in to the Q-C to meet us.
- The guy at the pub in the train station in Montreal was a bit concerned with the amount of beer we drank during our layover, so he asked "Which one of you guys is driving?"
- Friday night steaks were a nice meal to start things off - Dirty forgot his jacket there, but Kenny G was able to wear the 1992 Vanier Cup Champs coat with pride and return it to its owner.
- The Chez Maurice was an entertaining hot spot for both nights of the tour. At this establishment, we are advised that "boys and girls use the same closet".
- The Tailgate at the game was one heck of an experience. We started things up at 9:30am. The Vanier Pere Noel theme was a big hit as we gave away free candy cane shooters and fed the entire Queen's practice squad hotdogs and used a ironing board as our 'table'.
- Kenny G was accused of shoplifting at the Canadian Tire where he bought the ironing board; he had forgotten to remove his tag from his Santa hat.
- Adam got interviewed on French CBC with some assistance from IT Loney - the kids of Quebec will be wondering why Santa is slurring and can't speak French that well.
- Several other local media outlets stopped by for an interview, including Le Journal du Quebec, TV Quatre Saisons, and Le Soleil as well as the local student newspaper. We were pretty popular guys!
- Our rule was "no interview unless the interviewer has a shooter." And the Quebec media seemed to have no problem with that.
- Security was not overly tight at the game. We 'somehow' managed to smuggle in some whiskey, and used a recycling bin as a table, pouring it into cups as security walked by did not seem to be a problem.
- Safety Kev won the informal title as dirtiest Santa with his rum and Pepsi stained beard as he tried to give away candy to local kids. This will be seared in their memories for a long time.
- At the end, we were reminded to "At the end of the game, show some class and please stay off the field of play."
- Budweiser only $30 for a half dozen at the game - this deal included the six pack ring!
- Some of the guys met a Queen's player who was lining up at the fan's Port-a-Potty mid-game! He must have had to go real bad.
- Getting a cab after the game wasn't easy. However, public transit was a transportation mode as a whack of Santa took the bus back to the Delta where we were staying.
- Commander Landers and Royal Robbins had an impressive Saturday night, still enjoying a few refreshments at the Chez Maurice at 2am despite their 7am flight the next day. Dave W and JRock unfortunately made the mistake of having a wee nap after the game....and did not make it out with the rest of us Saturday night despite their attempts to contact us.
- When going for a late night poutine at Aston's, Kenny and Adam had the only celebrity sighting of the weekend, enjoying a 4:30am snack with the 2009 Russ Jackson award winner, Thomas Hall from U of Manitoba (great kid).
- All in all a great time was had by all attendees - planning has already started for 2010.