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Mooresville natives polish CFL playoff push
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Published: November 27, 2009
Once again this season, the pathway to the Canadian Football League's Grey Cup Championship runs directly through Mooresville.
This time around, it's a two-lane road.
A decidedly Mooresville flavor, both in the front office and on the field, has helped add to the spice of this tasteful season's edition of the CFL's Montreal Alouettes that has padded the organization's penchant for a decade-long stretch of regulation and postseason success.
With the duo of seasoned administrator multi-titled Jim Popp, as the franchise's vice-president, general manager, director of football operations and director of player personnel, and first-year roster player member multi-talented Billy Parker, primarily as a defensive back, each fulfilling their respective roles, the Als have made their way into the CFL's Grey Cup – equivalent to that professional football league's National Football League Super Bowl – for now the league best seventh time since 2000.
Montreal easily dispatched of longtime nemesis British Columbia, 56-18, in last weekend's CFL Eastern Division title tilt held in front of a sold-out fan base in the Alouettes' home Olympic Stadium to navigate its way back to the Grey Cup that will be up for grabs this weekend.
Mooresville's Popp, considered one of the most talented high school-level athletes to ever wear one of a number of Blue Devils uniforms as attested by his presence as a member of the Mooresville Senior High Athletic Hall of Fame, is the one credited for helping assemble this year's roster that ranks among the most successful in all of his 14 years of wearing the organization's many hats.
That fact was itself underlined in the winning team's locker room following the latest win that served to keep another shot at claiming the CFL's top team honor in place.
For the first time. Popp – who at various times during his time spent with the Als has also toiled the sidelines as a temporary head coach -- was the one awarded the official game ball from the team's players and coaching staff during the celebration held after the fact.
The honor came as a complete surprise to Popp, who also recently became a father for the sixth time.
For his Montreal team, the route towards earning yet another appearance in the Grey Cup affair in quest of the highest CFL recognition possible came as perhaps no surprise to anyone.
Under Popp's management, this year's Alouettes roster is heads and shoulder pads above all others in the CFL ranks.
The team tops the league in a host of offensive categories, among them points in a game – with just over 33 per outing – total touchdowns, passing touchdowns and most field goals.
Those stats helped contribute to a league-best record of 15-3 overall, including a CFL-high water mark of 6-3 in all road games.
In so doing, Montreal boasts of the league's top quarterback in regards to passing yards and TD tosses, a 1,000-yard rusher and a trio of pass receivers all with 1,000 or more yards covered in catches.
It's not just on offense, however, where the current edition of the Alouettes has left all their marks.
The defensive unit leads the CFL in 21 of 25 categories, among them allowing the least number of points per game.
Mooresville's Parker, as a defensive backfield, has emerged into a vital part of that unit in just his first year with the team. Handpicked during the recruiting process by Popp, the one who finalizes all player contracts, Parker in particular proved his worth during the most recent divisional championship contest.
He picked off a BC Lions pass and hauled it back 41 yards in the opposite direction, very nearly accounting for a score. It did set up one of the single game record-tying five TD passes hung up on the gigantic Olympic Stadium scoreboard for all of the sold-out in excess of 53,700 fans to celebrate. It was one of five turnovers forced by Parker's unit during the game, as the Als also limited BC to just 12 yards total on the ground.
The combined efforts of the two local products help clear the stage for Montreal to perhaps reach a goal it just missed when suffering a defeat in last year's Grey Cup. That accounted for the franchise's sixth appearance since 2000. During that span, the Als have the 2002 title to show for their ample number of title attempts.
No other CFL entry ahs made so many appearances in the Grey Cup during the past decade.
Part in tribute to the success of Mooresville's Popp in securing the services of the team's players, five of them will be in the running in a total of six categories for earning some of the CFL's highest praises during the circuit's annual individual awards banquet that will also take place this weekend.
For Popp, who recently experienced the birth of his sixth child and third daughter, it helps keep in line a trend that has been in place throughout his nearly 20 years total spent in the CFL.
All of the teams with which he has been associated with have qualified for postseason play. The Eastern Division title claimed by his current roster of players added to that collection as well as increased the number of times in which he has been directly involved with a team making it as far as the Grey Cup, the pinnacle point for all CFL franchises.
This time around, odds seem to pile up in favor of the Alouettes adding to their number of CFL championships.
This weekend, Montreal goes helmet-to-helmet with Western Division champions Saskatchewan's Roughriders in the Cup showdown taking place on host Calgary's home McMahon Stadium.
It accounts for a rematch between teams that twice met during the regular season, with the Alouettes coming out on top both times. In Montreal, the hosts cruised to a 43-10 win, while on the Riders' home turf, the Alouettes also prevailed by a 34-25 count.
It was part of a 6-2 mark posted by Montreal against all Western Division foes during the course of the regular season that was also tops among all CFL teams.
In his administrative position, Popp has already embarked for the Grey Cup scene, accompanied on the trip by his wife Kim and three of their six children, among them the newest addition.
The players are also arriving this week, along with fans, among them immediate family members of Als player Parker.
Meanwhile, current Mooresville residents Peggy and "Coach" Joe Popp, parents of the team's front office guru, will tune in as they nearly always do, via the live television broadcast from the family's home. The game will also be aired via additional outlets due to the importance of the game.
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