#WhyNotUs?; Eskimos focused on making CFL history

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

#WhyNotUs?

The Eskimos are asking the question and focused on providing the answer.

“It’s just a rallying cry that when something has not been done and you believe that you’re capable of doing it, it just came out,” head coach Jason Maas said.

Edmonton is attempting to become the first team in CFL history to cross over into a different division and reach the Grey Cup. The Esks were the only team to finish with a record below .500 (8-10) and make the post-season.

“We know we’re underdogs, we know what our record is, we know what we’ve done during the regular season, which doesn’t matter because we got to the playoffs. We’re going into that building with a one track mindset: to get a victory and go to the Grey Cup,” Maas said.

“We’re not supposed to win. We stink, we can’t win games against .500-plus teams,” quarterback Trevor Harris said with a wry smile.

Harris completed 36-of-39 passes (92.3 percent) including 22 in a row for 421 yards with one touchdown and one interception leading Edmonton to the Eastern Final.

His Eskimos beat the Alouettes, who had a 10-8 record to earn a home playoff game, in Montreal. It’s the second East Final for Edmonton and Maas in four years.

“We’ve talked about the fact no one’s done what we’re setting out to do. There’s always a first in everything and that’s what our goal is: to be the first team to get to the Grey Cup from the East as a crossover team,” Maas said.

“We’re not hiding that fact. We want to do this as an organization, as a team our minds are set on doing that.”