GUELPH –
Alex Charette took a walk around Alumni Stadium Wednesday afternoon, recalling his time as a Guelph Gryphon football player. The 26-year-old wide receiver and member of the defending Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts was prepping for a preseason matchup with the Ottawa REDBLACKS at the venue he used to call home. And it couldn't help but stir up some memories, like when he stepped on the field for the very first time as a freshman and returned a missed Concordia field goal for a touchdown in an exhibition game.
Charette found that familiar red and black checkered end zone again later in the evening.
Alex Charette hauls in a 63-yard TD in the 4th qtr
The St. Catharines, ON native, with his parents and girlfriend in attendance, hauled in an incredible 63-yard touchdown strike from quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson in the fourth quarter of Ottawa 32-17 win, a sensational highlight for a pro-Gryphon/Argos crowd of 3,912.
"I was just thinking run," Charette said with a smile of his first touchdown as a pro. "It was an awesome feeling. Obviously, it wasn't the result we wanted but that play was definitely special to me and I'll remember it for sure."
Charette said it felt "natural." And understandably so. While the look of Alumni Stadium has changed since he left the program, his fellow Gryphon and Argo teammates
Jeff Finley,
Cam Walker, and
Jake Reinhart were all enjoying a unique homecoming of sorts with him, as was rookie Ottawa offensive lineman and former OUA all-star
Andrew Pickett.
Former Gryphons Walker, Finley, Pickett, Charette & Reinhart
"It was definitely nostalgic coming back," says Charette, recalling the natural grass when he first played. "It's surreal being here.
"Jeff and I said 'The Law of the Jungle,' the old Gryphon chant, together before we came out. We had a McMaster Marauder (alum) behind us and he started chirping us."
There is a history of memorable events at Alumni Stadium. And the CFL exhibition game on a perfect, breezy June evening with the sun setting spectacularly behind the north end zone of the Gryphons' home, was yet another. It may not have been an OUA playoff tilt or a crucial U SPORTS bowl game but the matchup between the REDBLACKS and the defending Grey Cup champs provided a great opportunity for local football fans.
"We're happy to see the community come out and be engaged," said Athletics Director Scott McRoberts, who credited the Gryphon staff for pulling off a wonderful event.
"We don't have the students here right now so this is community support, and to see the entire bleachers full, the tents full, it's great for the university, it's great for Guelph and it's great for our department. I hope to see a lot of these faces back supporting our Gryphons."
The double blue jerseys, t-shirts and hats throughout the crowd made it clear who most of the fans were rooting for. And they got a boost early when James Franklin threw a sweet pass to Jonathan Epps for Toronto's first lead less than five into the game. The REDBLACKS pretty much seized control after that until Charette wowed the crowd with his big play.
But the Argo loss wasn't too difficult to take given the unique circumstances of the game, especially for those with close ties to the Gryphons. Finley's mom Julia and dad Jim were used to making the drive down from St. Catharines to see their boy play OUA football. The family is closely tied to the university. Julia was a U of G student and Jim is also the uncle of Gryphon volleyball star Libby Donevan, who was also at the game. The two proud parents were thrilled to be able to see Jeff run out of the tunnel again at Alumni Stadium, this time as a professional.
"It was very exciting for us as parents to come and watch him play at Guelph," said the elder Finley, appropriately wearing a jersey with his son's name and number. "When he came here, we thought 'wow, university football, that's really cool.' When he went to the Montreal Alouettes, that was kind of neat but he didn't play a lot. Then he went to the Argos and got the opportunity to play – and he got the Grey Cup. Now, he's back here. It's full circle."
Current Gryphon two-sport star Job Reinhart was there. The OUA-champion wrestler and all-star football player, who also won the Don Cameron Award at the Athletic banquet in March, said it was great having the Argos in Guelph and that his older brother Jake was excited to be back.
"My family is all out to see the game and it's perfect having it here right in our own backyard," said the Guelph native.
Lifelong Argos' fan Wayne Groves had to come a little further than the Reinharts but the drive from Scarborough was worth it. Aside from liking Toronto's chance to win the east this year, he thought Alumni Stadium was a great spot for the preseason game.
"It's awesome," said Groves, wearing a vintage Champion brand Argos jersey that he proudly stated he picked up for 10 bucks at Value Village. "Small venues are more fun."
Charette was happy to be able to share the experience with his Gryphon brothers, whom he called a special group.
"We're all going to be bonded forever because of it, including last year with the Grey Cup, with Curtis Newton, who is in Hamilton now," Charette said. "And now, the Guelph game."
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
OTT – FG Castillo – 13:40
TOR – TD Franklin to Epps – 10:28
OTT – TD O'Neal – 6:02
TOR – 1Pt. Pfeffer – 4:02
Second Quarter
TOR – FG Pfeffer – 9:48
OTT – TD Davis – 6:13
OTT – TD Davis to Coate (Castillo conv.) – 0:27
Third Quarter
OTT – FG Leone – 4:25
OTT – TD Penton (Ward conv.)– 2:10
Fourth Quarter
TOR – Bethel-Thompson to Charette (Pfeffer conv.) – 15:00
