Vernon Adams Jr. didn’t play last week against the Hamilton Tiger Cats. He was kept out of that game after suffering a concussion against the B.C. Lions on Aug. 13. On Thursday, Adams said he’s trending in the right direction. “Just feeling better,” he said. “Felt better today at practice. They had me run like eight gassers, so yeah, I’m feeling much better.” Ready to start Stamps head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson all but named Adams the starter against the Edmonton Elks for Monday’s Labour Day Classic. “He had a full practice with us, and that’s two in a row,” said Dickenson. “I feel good about him getting back in there and being our leader and trying to be the great team. Everything is trending positive, but as every team does, you make plans just in case something goes wrong.” This isn’t the first concussion Adams has suffered and both the player and team played it very cautious. Adams says that’s why he didn’t hit the field against the Tiger Cats. “You only get one brain, so you’ve got to be smart with it. If you feel anything, which I did, you make that decision to do that,” he said. Battle of Alberta The Labour Day Classic is a special game for both players and fans. Derrick Moncrief has played on both sides in the Battle of Alberta and says it never gets old. “Man, what a great rivalry,” he said. “It’s a long rivalry and an outstanding rivalry. The battle of Alberta—you’ve just got to be there to see it. “You’ve got to be in the stands and you’ve got to be there as a player. There’s nothing like it in the CFL.” Underdogs For the first time in a long time, the Stamps go into the Labour Day Classic as the underdog. Running back Dedrick Mills says that fires up everyone on the team. “Most definitely, we feel disrespected,” said Mills. “We take that to heart, and you’ve got to take it to heart because that’s how the world looks at you and other people view us. “But at the same time, we view ourselves as No. 1 and as champions, and we’ve got to continue to come out and play like that.” Kickoff for the Labour Day Classic between the Stamps and the Elks is a little after 4 p.m. at McMahon Stadium on Monday.
