Scott Radley: Ten things to know before the Grey Cup game

It's Sunday morning. You've been busy all week and haven't really had time to keep up with what's been happening in the leadup to the Grey Cup game this evening at Tim Hortons Field.

Or you haven't really been interested but now realize you plan to watch and feel you should at least know the basics so you can carry on an intelligent conversation with the people around you.

We are here to help.

Here are 10 things to know before kickoff.

1. The Tiger-Cats are trying to end the CFL's longest active title drought having last won in 1999. That championship came in a rematch with Calgary after losing to the Stampeders the year before. This year is a rematch too, since the Ticats lost to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last year. So if you believe in patterns ...

2. Hamilton's defensive line took a massive hit on Friday when star tackle Ted Laurent was ruled out after undergoing an emergency medical procedure (reported to be an appendectomy) earlier in the week. One of the best run stoppers in the league, his absence could be a huge loss for a defence facing Winnipeg's outstanding offensive line and running back Andrew Harris, who was the most valuable player and top Canadian in last year's Grey Cup.

3. This is the latest a Grey Cup has ever been played (thanks to COVID). The previous latest was Dec. 11 in 1937.

4. With a capacity of just around 25,000 with standing room, this will be the smallest - or if you prefer, most intimate - Grey Cup crowd since 1949 when Montreal beat Calgary 28-15 at Varsity Stadium in Toronto in front of 20,087.

5. Winnipeg was the top team in the regular season with an 11-3 record. Over the past 20 years, the team with the best record has gone on to win the Grey Cup nine times.

6. Tim Hortons Field is known as a wind tunnel that's a tough place for kickers. It was absolutely howling on Saturday. Gusts of up to 45 kilometres an hour are expected Sunday. Advantage Hamilton, right? Maybe. Maybe not. Ticats' kicker Michael Domagala wasn't here all year and has played just four games at home. Meanwhile, Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo was a Ticat for the full 2017 season. In other words, the visiting kicker probably knows this stadium and its quirks at least as well as the home kicker.

7. If the Tiger-Cats win, Mike Daly will get a Grey Cup ring to go with his Vanier Cup ring. He'd be the only player ever to have won championships for both Hamilton teams.

8. The last three teams to play in a Grey Cup game in their home stadium all won. The B.C. Lions did it in 2011, the Toronto Argonauts did it in 2012 and the Saskatchewan Roughriders did it in 2013. Since 1950, there have been 13 home' Grey Cups. The home side has a 7-6 record.

9. Asked whether his team was better suited for a track meet or a slugfest - in other words, a high-scoring offensive game or a low-scoring defensive battle - Ticats head coach Orlando Steinauer had a one-word answer: Winning."

10. In case you hadn't heard, Arkells are playing the halftime show with the Lumineers joining them. If that's the only thing you're interested it, they should be taking the stage around 7:30 - give or take - and will be doing a 15-minute show.

You're now caught up.

The game starts at 6 on TSN. Enjoy.

Scott Radley is a Hamilton-based columnist at The Spectator. Reach him via email: sradley@thespec.com