Quarterback chatter at the CFL Grey Cup head coaches conference

Kent Austin and John Hufnagel stood behind their respective quarterbacks ahead of the Grey Cup on Sunday. 

In the joint head coaches news conference on Wednesday, Austin, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats coach, and Hufnagel, the coach for the Calgary Stampeders, gave the media insight into whether their young quarterbacks could weather the challenge of such an important game.

Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell recently earned CFL offensive player of the week for leading the Stamps to record their second-best single-game playoff point total in franchise history against the Edmonton Eskimos last Sunday.  

"The game is not too big for Bo. That's the easiest way to say it," insisted Hufnagel. "He manages the game well. Even if he makes a mistake, he will come back and make a play." 

Mitchell had his first career start in the CFL in 2013. The 24-year-old has a 63.3 percent completion rate with 22 scores this season and has been the picture of consistency. 

Austin echoed similar sentiments about the Tiger-Cats quarterback Zach Collaros. 

"Zach has played in a lot of big games. He's a proven winner. He's highly competitive and wants to be great," said Austin. "He is unselfish. Really endearing to his teammates. Guys never question if Zach is ready to play or prepared to play." 

Collaros's numbers are proof of his hard work. Boasting a 65.8 percent completion rate, Collaros brought 15 touchdowns to his team this season. 

The Grey Cup head coaches conference proved to be a bit of a reunion for the coaches. Austin was on the Saskatchewan Roughriders' roster in 1987 with Hufnagel, who was a player-coach at the time. Austin's first year in the CFL would prove to be Hufnagel's last as a player. 

"I tell everyone that Hufnagel was my first coach up here," said Austin. 

With stellar quarterbacks leading their attacks, both teams will be prepared for the 102nd annual Grey Cup, kicking off at 6 p.m. ET in Vancouver, B.C.