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Insights and Analysis June 6, 2017

Behind The Celebration: What Makes Kevin Elliott’s Signature Move?

If you’re anything like me, when you’re watching a CFL game and you see your favourite player make a big catch or take down a quarterback you wonder about their celebration after the whistle.
Why do some pretend to drink lemonade? Where did the idea to somersault come from?
I’ve made it my mission to find out starting in Hamilton with Kevin Elliott.
When the Ticats’ wide receiver celebrates he spins the ball. See below:

I’m sure you’ve seen this a few times when he was in Toronto last season – catch, ball spin. Touchdown, ball spin – and he’s brought it down the road to his new home in Hamilton.
“It depends on my mood in the game,” he confessed when I wondered when the right time is to let it spin. “If I’m really mad I’ll probably spin it every play. Usually for a big play for a touchdown it’s going to get spun.”
So where exactly did the ball spin come from?
“I was blessed enough to be coached by Ike Hilliard when I was with the Buffalo Bills,” said Elliott. “And he emphasized that when we make a big play (to) let it fly. And that’s exactly what that means with the ball spin.”
“The way I spin it, I got it from Stevie Johnson,” he said. “It’s the inside way out so it’s a five second rule. If it doesn’t spin for five seconds it doesn’t count. I’ve pretty much perfected it and I just brought it up here with me to Canada.”

I had to, of course, ask him who he thinks has the worst celebration because what’s life without a little bit of friendly chirping?
“(Adarius) Bowman from Edmonton,” he laughed. “It does the Randy Moss thing. I don’t really like that too much!”