Sometimes you really have to feel for kickers.
One of the most important plays in Toronto Argonaut history happened in their 2017 Grey Cup win over Calgary in an Ottawa snowstorm. It won them the game, but rarely is it mentioned.
If you ask a fan what they remember about that game they will wax poetically about the blizzard, or Ricky Ray’s 100-yard touchdown pass to DeVier Posey, or Cassius Vaughn’s 109-yard touchdown on a fumble return, or Matt Black’s game clinching end-zone interception in the dying seconds.
Nobody ever talks about the game winning points.
On a field that resembled the surface of the moon more so than a gridiron, Lirim Hajrullahu was somehow able to keep his footing and blast a 32-yard field goal between the snowflakes in the game’s final minute to give the Argos a 27-24 win. Some franchises would build a statue to celebrate a play like that, but in the 105th Grey Cup game there were so many unbelievable moments that the Hajrullahu game winner is rarely mentioned.
Boris Bede now fills the kicker’s cleats for the Argos. After a sensational 2021 campaign, punctuated by six field goals in an Eastern Final loss to Hamilton, this year was not up to the standards that people, or Bede himself have come to expect of the affable native of France.
“This year was a little different,” Bede explained. “There were a lot of external things; having a second kid, finding schools, all that stuff has been a little more difficult. We had to move the whole family from Montreal to Toronto in May, so there were a lot of things happening, but you learn from it.”
And learn he does. It’s something he was aware of as he trotted out for Wednesday’s practice, the team’s first on the frosty surface of Mosaic Stadium; making sure the cleats he wears on Sunday are the ones that give him the best feel and the best grip.
For Bede, or any kicker for that matter, finding the right footwear is an ongoing thing. It was something that evolved for him this season.
“The footing was the main thing I was trying to figure out,” he explained. “I went through four different pairs of cleats this year; I had my regular pair all season, then they broke, so I switched to another pair, which were the same type of cleat. Then for the Eastern Final, because of the weather and we didn’t know what it was going to be like, I went to metal cleats. Danny (equipment manager Danny Webb) offered us the ice studs for this week, but I tested them out (Wednesday) and I like my metal cleats from last week’s game, so I’m going to stay with it.”
“I’ve played in this type of weather when I was at Laval, so I know what to expect,” he continued. “I’ve played in plastic cleats and I’ve played in metal studs; both are fine for me.”
If it ain’t broke, don’t break it.
Bede was perfect last week; two for two in field goals and he connected on all four of his conversion attempts. If you combine last year’s playoff game with last week’s, as an Argo he’s 8/9 in post-season field goal attempts (89%), and 4/4 in conversions while boasting the league’s strongest leg on kickoffs.
Yet, like so many others, he has yet to win a Grey Cup. He won two Vanier Cups and appeared in a third while playing for the Laval Rouge et Or, kicking 10 field goals in those games. He’s been in big games before – just not in the CFL. As a seven-year veteran he’s still leaned on for his experience and is willing to provide advice when asked.
“Some of the guys are asking me, and I tell them that at the end of the day it’s just a regular game; it just has a lot more external flashing lights. It’s still 12-on-12, man-on-man playing each other; you just have to keep it as simple as possible.”
Perhaps easier said than done, especially in a year that hasn’t been perfect. When a golfer has a bad round they’ll spend hours on the driving range, or studying video to try and isolate any flaw in their swing.
Bede doesn’t adhere to any of those potential solutions.
“I find that if I look at extra film, I might find some details that aren’t even the problem and now you’re adding more to it. To me, sometimes I just have to get back to the basics, go back and hit balls. It’s a long season so you don’t want to hit too many, but if it’s not working well, you know what? Just go back to basics and hit some balls by yourself. That’s just how I roll.”
Bede is confident without being cocky, a tool that’s essential to any kicker. If Sunday’s game comes down to a game-winning field goal attempt, there’s a certain comfort level knowing that Bede has the ability and temperament to rise to the occasion.