The last time Brandon Browner took the field against the Montreal Alouettes, he could barely walk.
With what was later found out to be a cracked ankle, the Calgary Stampeders cornerback suffered through 60 minutes to win the CFL's ultimate prize, the Grey Cup.
That was seven months ago.
Browner was a question mark heading into tonight's season opener, but he declared himself fit to go yesterday.
Although he has fond memories from the Cup win, watching film of the game wasn't quite the same experience.
"I saw a lot of mistakes out there that I made because of the injury," Browner said.
"I have another chance at these guys to redeem myself. There are some personal things. I gave up a couple of catches, so I need to tighten up.
"I wouldn't say I'm looking for the perfect game, but you always want to do better than the last game you played."
The last meaningful game the Stamps played was a championship win, so there isn't much to improve upon.
But the Alouettes will come into McMahon Stadium tonight with a measure of revenge on their minds.
"They're the champions, right? They're the ones that everyone is trying to knock off," said veteran Als centre Bryan Chiu. "We don't really have much to lose.
"It's a new year. It's a new team ... It's going to be a challenge for us to start fresh."
Both teams returned the majority of their key players, especially on offence where the starting rosters are nearly identical except for a few injury replacements.
"This is a back-to-back," said Stamps receiver Ken-Yon Rambo, who will likely sit with a hamstring injury.
"The guys are geeked up. We were at their home last game. They are at our home for this one. We will represent our home-town.
"We will just pick up where we left off. We have everybody back. We have a few new faces, but those guys are ready to go."
Those new faces are on defence for the Stamps, where the likes of Alain Kashama and Justin Brown will start at defensive tackle, Ronnie Amadi and Davanzo Tate are at defensive halfback and Tray Blackmon is at middle linebacker.
The Alouettes are also different on the defensive side, with middle linebacker Reggie Hunt gone, being replaced in the starting lineup by sophomore Shea Emry.
Montreal is also starting new halfbacks in Billy Parker and Jerald Brown. It has the makings of a more offensive game than the finishing one of 2008.
"Montreal did a great job on us the last time we played them in holding us to field goals," said Stamps quarterback Henry Burris.
"It will mark where we are as an offence to see our ability to finish off drives this time against a great defence."
There will be a fireworks display after the final gun, and plenty of mentions of Calgary's Cup win throughout.
So it will be head coach John Hufnagel's job to keep his young players focused on the task at hand and not worry about the show.
He did that to perfection a year ago.
"The decoration, the icing and the candles ... to the football player, the pressure is Montreal's defence, Montreal's offence, Montreal's special teams," Hufnagel said.
"That's enough pressure. The icing makes it a lot of fun to be around, to be there and take part in it.
"It's emotional, and it helps getting the adrenaline running for the players to be their best."
IAN.BUSBY@SUNMEDIA.CA
