The Calgary Stampeders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats are in Vancouver preparing for the CFL final and on Wednesday the head coaches shared the podium for the annual coach’s news conference.

John Hufnagel and Kent Austin have both been in the hunt for the cup before and will share the sidelines in Vancouver on Sunday.

The two coaches have a history and met back in 1987.

Austin credits Hufnagel with helping him make the transition from college ball in the US to the CFL.

"I've got a lot of respect for John," Austin said. "It was a different game, a totally different game than what I was comfortable with and used to.

"Having somebody like John to kind of cut the corners, to give you the shortcuts that you needed to at least have a chance to be successful early on instead of going through huge growing pains with a guy that didn't have a lot of experience playing the position, was a huge benefit."

Hufnagel, 63, remembers when a young Austin took advantage of his chance to play after injuries to other quarterbacks, including Hufnagel.

"My first year as a coach, I was a player-coach, and that player part of it only lasted three quarters then I tore my Achilles tendon," said Hufnagel. "We had two young quarterbacks at the time, Jeff Bentrim and Tom Burgess, (but) they were injured.

"I brought Jeff Tedford up (but) he lasted four plays and broke his foot. And in that timeframe, Kent walks in, and prepares himself to play and his first start was against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Hamilton. He won his first start, had a terrific football game."

Austin and Hufnagel both have dual coach/GM titles and Austin is also Hamilton's director of football operations.

Hufnagel is chasing a second Grey Cup with Calgary, winning in 2008, and Austin won his first Grey Cup as a head coach with Saskatchewan in 2007.

Organizers say there are still about 4200 tickets available to the game and they are priced at about $250.

 “Every day we’re getting closer and closer to a sell-out. We’ve had great response from the Calgary market. We’ve got lots of fans that are making plans to head over the Rockies and come here and be part of this so we’re ready to host all the Calgarians that want to come and the local market as well,” said Jamie Pitblado, General Manager of the 102nd Grey Cup.

Pitblado says they have four days of fun planned for fans of all ages.

“Everything from, we’ve got live music, dance, opportunities for kids to test their skills on a football field or through an obstacle course and then for the adults we’ve got all the team parties, the concerts, a casino night, so lots of different elements that appeal to different audiences and certainly, like we have at all Grey Cups, a parade Saturday morning.”

TSN will carry the game on Sunday at 4:00 MST, click HERE for the broadcast schedule.

(With files from TSN.ca)