Snow what?
There will likely be more white on the field at Commonwealth Stadium than what marks the sidelines thanks to Mother Nature when the Edmonton Eskimos take on the B.C. Lions tonight.
But playing in winter-like conditions for the first time this season doesn't bother either of the head coaches.
"It's nice to be in Edmonton at this time of year. It reminds you of why it's tough to play football," said Lions leader Wally Buono.
"I don't believe that two days of working in a little bit of chill helps one team or the other.
"With us, our advantage is we practise on grass all the time. I think the footing has a lot to do with it more than anything else.
"As I've said to our team over and over again, their athletes are from the same place in the U.S. and Canada as we are. It will be just as warm or just as cold for them as it is for us. And I think if you dwell on the things you can't control, you lose your focus.
"Our game is to go out and play. Little stuff whether it's white or clear isn't a big deal because once you're out there, you're moving around, your focus should be on catching, tackling."
Eskimos head coach Richie Hall gave the footwear factor the boot yesterday when asked whether weather will be a concern.
"The weather is going to play a part in it," said Hall. "I know what it's like to be a visitor coming here and playing on the grass.
"Hopefully it's not a mental deterrent for our football team where you become more focused on your footwear instead of just lining up and playing.
"If it's windy, it's going to be a factor. It was a factor here the last time that we played at home. Just the briskness of the atmosphere where the ball's harder. It's harder to grip it, it's a little bit more slippery so that's going to affect the game.
"Late in the year, it becomes more of a defensive football game. To me, that's what playoff football is."
Both squads already might as well be in playoff mode if they want to avoid having to rely on a crossover scenario to reach the post-season.
"When it gets a little frosty, the games get a little more important. Everybody knows that, right?" Buono said.
"I really believe that both organizations understand the value of the game, especially with how tight the West is and especially with the possibility of a crossover with the East. You want to get yourself in the best position for the playoffs and obviously a game at this time of year does have a lot of importance."
There will likely be more white on the field at Commonwealth Stadium than what marks the sidelines thanks to Mother Nature when the Edmonton Eskimos take on the B.C. Lions tonight.
But playing in winter-like conditions for the first time this season doesn't bother either of the head coaches.
"It's nice to be in Edmonton at this time of year. It reminds you of why it's tough to play football," said Lions leader Wally Buono.
"I don't believe that two days of working in a little bit of chill helps one team or the other.
"With us, our advantage is we practise on grass all the time. I think the footing has a lot to do with it more than anything else.
"As I've said to our team over and over again, their athletes are from the same place in the U.S. and Canada as we are. It will be just as warm or just as cold for them as it is for us. And I think if you dwell on the things you can't control, you lose your focus.
"Our game is to go out and play. Little stuff whether it's white or clear isn't a big deal because once you're out there, you're moving around, your focus should be on catching, tackling."
Eskimos head coach Richie Hall gave the footwear factor the boot yesterday when asked whether weather will be a concern.
"The weather is going to play a part in it," said Hall. "I know what it's like to be a visitor coming here and playing on the grass.
"Hopefully it's not a mental deterrent for our football team where you become more focused on your footwear instead of just lining up and playing.
"If it's windy, it's going to be a factor. It was a factor here the last time that we played at home. Just the briskness of the atmosphere where the ball's harder. It's harder to grip it, it's a little bit more slippery so that's going to affect the game.
"Late in the year, it becomes more of a defensive football game. To me, that's what playoff football is."
Both squads already might as well be in playoff mode if they want to avoid having to rely on a crossover scenario to reach the post-season.
"When it gets a little frosty, the games get a little more important. Everybody knows that, right?" Buono said.
"I really believe that both organizations understand the value of the game, especially with how tight the West is and especially with the possibility of a crossover with the East. You want to get yourself in the best position for the playoffs and obviously a game at this time of year does have a lot of importance."
