Powerful receiver 'Moose' Alford gets loose for Calgary Stampeders

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Imagine being called ‘Bambi’ in the rough and tumble sport of football.

Oh deer.

Damien Alford, being tall and skinny at the time, heard that from veteran coach Dino Babers at Syracuse University …

That is until a sensational performance showing off his strength as a clutch target in the passing game changed that nickname for the future Calgary Stampeders receiver.

“My head coach, in an interview, he called me ‘Bambi’,” said Alford, with a smile this week at McMahon Stadium. “And as my career went on and I came into my last season and I had a break-out game versus Army, he said, ‘We can’t call him ‘Bambi’ no more — we have to call him ‘Moose’ now’.

“And everybody started calling me ‘Moose’.”

The Moose is now loose in the Canadian Football League, with Alford fast becoming a must-see attraction for the Stampeders (4-1) in Friday’s Stampede Bowl rematch with the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-1) at Princess Auto Stadium (6:30 p.m., TSN, CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge).

That after the rookie showed off his power — with both speed and strength — in last weekend’s 24-10 stomp of the host Saskatchewan Roughriders.

“I’m not surprised,” said big-target Alford, a 6-foot-6, 224-pounder. “I trust myself. I trust the team. I trust the quarterback. So going out there and doing what I did, it felt like I was in college again, and I’m having fun. So that’s what matters the most.

“Honestly, I went into the game with the mentality that I was going to go out there and do my job and contribute the most I could to the team,” continued Alford. “And I was placed into the best situations to do that, and that’s exactly what my performance showed.”

Specifically, ‘Moose’ Alford caught six passes and galloped his way to career-best 156 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns — the second in the third quarter for 81 yards, which was not only his longest in the CFL but the most lengthy in the 10-year pro tenure of QB Vernon Adams Jr.

“Certainly quite the performance,” praised Stamps GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. “I mean … we’ve seen it. In our camp, unfortunately, Damien did kind of tweak his hammy, and so he really wasn’t able to show people what he could do … but we knew it he could do it.

“And the crazy thing is he didn’t have a catch in his senior year (with the NCAA’s Utah Utes).”

Oh, yes … there’s that bit of strangeness.

After three improving seasons with the NCAA’s Syracuse Orange, the Montreal native took his game to Utah when Babers made his own move to become offensive coordinator with the higher-profile Arizona Wildcats.

However, Alford’s success at Syracuse — 1,291 yards in three-plus seasons, including 610 in 2023 — somehow got lost in the NCAA’s transfer portal, as the Utes played him in only four games. Shockingly, the graduate of Florida’s McArthur High School didn’t record any statistics in his senior year.

But it didn’t scare away the Stamps, who made the 24-year-old Alford the first pick overall in the 2025 CFL Draft in May.

“You know … part of me thinks it’s malpractice,” said Dickenson, when asked about the zero stat-line with the Utes.

“I think the main thing we did — led by (Stamps draft-team coaches) Dwayne Cameron and Cole Hufnagel and Brendan Mahoney — was a lot of research on Damien’s character and why did he transfer and why didn’t he get opportunities,” continued Dickenson.

“Talked to lots of coaches, and most of the time, coaches are the best guys to talk to — they kind of shoot you straight. And there was nothing that certainly told us he wasn’t a quality player and person.”

His play through four games — especially his ability to come down with a high ball in tight coverage — for 10 catches for 221 yards and three TDs is proof taking Alford as the top draftee was the right choice.

“It’s kind of crazy what happened in Utah,” Alford said. “But obviously, what happened there happened and I know what I’m capable of, and I didn’t get the opportunity to do it.

“But I’m the same person I was at Syracuse when I left there, so coming out here and doing it in the pros just goes to show how much I don’t let adversity affect me. I just go out there and play my type of football.”

And be the best ‘Moose’ he can be.

Alford’s even embraced bringing back that nickname with the celebration the Red and White put on last Saturday in Regina after all his big plays.

Up went the hands to make like antlers out the side of his helmet, with fellow offensive stars of the Stamps joining him in kind.

Indeed, the ‘Moose’ call was on.

“V.A. started calling me ‘Moose’ again,” said Alford of his QB. “I had the game (with a touchdown a week earlier), and the celebration really came from Dom (Rhymes) and Tevin (Jones). They’re the ones that really created it. Went out to eat, and they said, ‘Do that.’ And I did have the game (in Regina), and it caught on.

“I love the ‘Moose’ name. We’re going to keep rolling with it.”

“Yeah … hopefully keep that up,” added Dickenson. “Yes … his numbers are there, and he did a great job, but he’s got a long way to go and lot of things he can improve upon.

“He is hungry, though. I think he wants to take his game to the next level.”

SHORT YARDAGE

Heading into Friday night’s game, the only change among the starters for the Stampeders is at boundary-side cornerback, where DB Anthony Johnson is in for injured DB Tyler Richardson (groin). Johnson comes in off the practice squad … Also in for the Stamps are OL Tomas Jack-Kurdyla and newly signed LB Justin Herdman-Reed … Also coming off the roster are RB William Langlais and LB Nicky Farinaccio (knee) … Veteran DL Shawn Lemon has returned to the Montreal Alouettes on a contract running through the rest of season after he was reinstated by the league Wednesday. Lemon was indefinitely suspended for wagering on CFL games while he was a member of the Stampeders, including on one game in which he played. The 36-year-old was eligible to sign with any team, but the league has told him any future violations of the CFL Match Manipulation Policy will result in a lifetime ban.

tsaelhof@postmedia.com

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