Argos take a breath, as Bishop makes them believers

One week ago the faces on the Argonaut bench told a story of shock, worry and semi resignation. Damon Allen had suffered an injury at the hands of his main nemesis the Montreal Alouettes. A serious injury that had tongues wagging about career ending misfortune, a cooling breeze on a red hot Argo team and a sudden questioning of the Argos lack of depth at one of the most important positions on a team. With Allen out of the line up and many worried about a possible Argonaut tailspin attendance figures were suddenly at risk. With an unproven Michael Bishop at the helm would the Argos revert to friends and family only at Skydome?

One week later, once again all is well in Argo land. Damon Allen’s injury is not a serious as first thought, in fact it’s hard to believe but a broken leg is apparently a sign of good fortune in Toronto, who would have thought! The critics and commentators are once again marveling at the Argos ability to keep the pace with the Alouettes in the east, a 14-6 win over Winnipeg Tuesday night, was an apparent testimony to the football Gods kiss of fortune to the double blue. Pinball Clemons trademark ear to ear grin is once again beaming brightly after that forlorn expression beamed on TSN last week, the Argo head coach finding hope in the arm of Michael Bishop. The second largest home crowd of the year for the Argos showing that the fans haven’t given up hope if the Argos haven’t.

And hope would appear in the form of Michael Bishop, as his first high expectation start paid off big dividends with a heavy domination of the Blue Bombers. Featuring an amazing display of aerial bombardment, Bishop managed to calm down the jittery Argo naysayers. Had his place kicker been able to convert his three field goal opportunities the game would have been put away much earlier, as it was Bishop’s ability to evade the Bomber rush, find the open receiver and scramble for big yardage was the difference for an Argo team that needed this win as much to prove to themselves that they weren’t done yet as for the points.

With Allen gone for up to eight weeks, it’s up to Bishop to keep the team’s momentum going and reassure all in Argo land that things are in good hands. His Tuesday night adventure will go a long way to helping secure his place as the Argo leader in Allen’s absence. He has eight weeks to make sure that the Argos are in the right place for a run for the Grey Cup. In a season that is quickly becoming the year of the back up, Bishop is proving that he is more than up to the challenge ahead.