The Big Goose Egg

The Big Goose Egg...the blow out...the zip - nada - no cigar for you game.

Delete the depth chart.  Drive over it with your car.  Burn it - flush it.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers having been defeated at the hands of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in back to back match ups over Labour Day put together a game plan and executed it to their full potential.  Good on them.  Kudos.  The Roughriders on the other hand?  Well, I think my team went into IGF a little full of themselves and over confident that since we did beat them twice that this rematch was going to be a piece of cake.  One only needs to reflect on the passed two very close wins to realize it was only a matter of time until this team and fan base plummeted back to earth with a deaf defying thud.

All season long the Roughriders defence and special teams have produced wins.  We all watched wondering what would happen if they had a bad game or what would happen if our offence put a game together for once.  Then injuries started to happen.  Holley, Roosevelt, Williams-Lambert and then the latest injury to Dan Clark all made us question if we could keep up to our counterparts in the West.  More goes into it than just some injured players, after all teams like the Calgary Stampeders who barely have a receiving corps left manage to keep winning...well, except for last week.  In no way is this paragraph an excuse but it is one of the question marks.  If these players are ready to return they certainly help out the confidence level of our quarterback.

Our quarterback.  Historically, when you look at Roughriders quarterbacks they've been notorious for having up/down games.  Lancaster who we've put on pedestals in Rider Nation would stink up Taylor Field when he was off.  Darian Durant would have terribly off games.  I'm not comparing them to Collaros but when this is what our quarterbacking has been like previously why do we insist on expecting someone to light it up?  Maybe we are just a wishful hopeful bunch and a bit jealous - why can't we have that?  None of that is on Collaros.  Neither are the drops by receivers.  When a ball hits you in the numbers you need to catch it.  Collaros can only throw the ball - he can't catch it too!  

Don't forget the back up aka the most popular player in Rider Nation.  Or is he?  Last year Brandon Bridge looked very promising and we all expected that he'd take the next step this year.  What happened?  This year he can't seem to make a read and is too quick to give up and scramble.  According to ex players I've listened to this makes the O Lineman panic and scramble too because they don't know where to protect anymore.  I'll take their word for it.  

This leads me to trust.  I know I keep harping on our O Line.  Remarkably, they do a good job and haven't allowed many sacks this season.  However, when you look at the time our QB has in the pocket...1 Mississippi 2 Mississippi etc there isn't a lot of time to go through your reads and make a decision.  Teams like the Blue Bombers and Eskimos have great offensive lines and it shows in the production of their quarterbacks.  When you can stand back there, go through your reads, file your nails, order pizza and then decide who to throw to...you're going to be far more successful.  Instead, you have to decide or run for your life.  Someone like Collaros should be able to get the ball out quicker but someone like Bridge is doomed.

So who is responsible for this?  I don't know how many times I've yelled "move the pocket" this season.  It's happened a couple times or there's been a play action call and it's worked.  Why don't we run these plays more often?  It sets defenses off and allows more time to make throws.  Instead we've been treated to screens and outs and our receivers are never near the yard markers so they almost always go 2 and out.  Stephen McAdoo is the guy in charge.  He's the Offensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach.  I don't understand why last year we saw more variety in our play call and this year we have less.  Was it the experience of Kevin Glenn?  Is it some sort of Grey Cup game plan where you don't show your cards unless you have to?  Mr McAdoo, please help us out here!  Design something to help us succeed!  We know you can do it!

There's also been some criticism that Roughriders Head Coach Chris Jones is preoccupied with his defence and puts his trust in Stephen McAdoo.  Of course he should!  Chris Jones should be applauded for building the defence that he has.  It's so fun to watch!  Wouldn't be fun to watch the offence score too?!  I personally don't think he's ignoring it or oblivious to the fact our offence hasn't produced this year.  I think that he's believed in them.  Just like we keep believing in the team, Jones believes this offence can do it and on a good day they can but on a bad day like Saturday we couldn't.  I know that Jones is likely busy evaluating the team and watching the film to digest exactly what happened and what this team needs to do.

For us fans?  It's time to shake it off.  Move on.  It's a new week and a new opponent.  The Saskatchewan Roughriders visit Calgary to take on the Stampeders in week 19 of the CFL.  It sure would be nice to get this win.

Don't forget to check out my "Power Grouping" for Week 18 and join in the conversation on ABC Rider Fans on Facebook.

As always, Go Riders!

The Riders Upside Down

You've said it yourself. The CFL has been a bizarro world, crazy place, or even The Upside Down. Teams who have been good are losing while losing teams are winning. Every week CFL Pick 'Em is a gamble. All this time Rider fans are sitting here thinking, “When will the cloud of 2009 finally lift?” One sure has to wonder. We thought it did in 2013 but that was just an anomaly...a blip on the radar. Just when you think things are finally looking up -  Ridernation is chop blocked.

No flag on the play.

In case you missed it, the usually absent CFL Commissioner after an apparent two week investigation levied the biggest fine to a football club in the leagues history not only sending a message to the other 8 teams but making a spectacle of the Saskatchewan Roughriders as well.

Ridernation is the largest fan base in the CFL. We buy the most merchandise, travel while representing the //=S=// and fill other stadiums besides our own. Other fans want to be like us or have an intense hatred on for us because of it and the latter seems to be more and more true recently with other fans attacking us before we finally turn on ourselves as well. In 2010 Ridernation won the Commissioners Award and yesterday? …..Well it seems to me that Jeffrey Orridge called everyone associated with the Roughriders an embarrassment to the league.  Well sir, I think you have this upside down.  We sir, are the example of what a CFL club should be and others should aspire to be.  They WISH they could have a fan base as loyal as Ridernation.  You could learn from us.

Yes, we broke the rules.  Yes, we got caught.  Yes, we will pay the fine.

It's only 545 jersey's sold.

Now I don't pretend to know what has been going on. There's all kinds of rumours and speculation from extra players and practises happening to housing and

feeding of them as well as our beloved players afraid to speak out about it. I don't know about any of that but when Chris Jones says he was only following the practises of what's happened at other teams he's coached for then I believe him. The Saskatchewan Roughriders cannot be the only team to have tried out players and bent the rules a little. Bend but don't break, right? But that same Commissioner who says we are an embarrassment better be looking into all the other teams too. Ridernation should demand it.

Who Did This? (Thanks to @fakeGainer)

There's also another matter at hand. It seems like this “pre-practise” squad was common knowledge with everyone around the league except those right here in the easy to draw province. Seriously. None of us would have known a thing about it at all until the ruling if “wha-mpeder” Bo Levi Mitchell hadn't tweeted his rather lame attempt at a joke. Of course Ridernation came to the clubs defense. What did BLM expect to happen? Then to say he'll use that as motivation is just sad. My thoughts on this is just this: If he knew something was jinky then he should have taken the proper route to the CFL instead of spewing it on social media. If the Stampeders have any kind of social media rules like the Riders do then he should be fined for his unsportsmanlike conduct. It was not his place to comment on the operations of another team publicly.

Thirdly ( I wasn't numbering my points was I? Meh. ) It feels like there is a snitch or mole, if you will, among us. By that I mean that it seems that since 2013 or maybe even before that as if someone was out to get us. I must not be alone in this hunch because fans were not only asked to sign in at Riders practise thursday but to provide picture I.D. It also makes me think back to when Corey Chamblin was closing practises and banning the media. Perhaps he was on to something. Whatever it is...we are circling the wagons...your day is coming.

Riders gotta ride.

August 13^th the Stampeders are in town and whether we like it or not it has motivated ticket sales. For the first time this season we might have a sell out. It'll be a celebration in Ridernation of the 1980's. Players like Bobby Jurasin, Glen Suitor, Dave Ridgway, and the Pole-cat will be in town. Wouldn't it be amazing to re-inact “The Kick” from 1989? Heck, I don't even care if he can't make it. I just want to see it in this stadium before we say goodbye. I'll be there with my back combed hair, leggings and swapping out the blue eye shadow for the green. Green is the colour after all. I know you don't want to miss a moment of this epic farewell.

Trust me when I say the feelings you've had this week as hard as they are to endure will pass. The 13^th Man, Dewdney Dwight, Darian's Fault...it's all water under the bridge. Step away from Facebook, Twitter and Rider Fan page. Let's just be CFL friends and enjoy some good old fashioned football.

See ya at the game.

Go Riders.

 

Vert et Blanc

Coming up with a new and fresh blog every week is hard. It's certainly complicates things when your team is struggling or are win-less in the Riders case. I've maintained the theory that I'm not about stats because you can get that information from anywhere and everywhere else. I promise you that I will always have a unique view and often the female fan view of the game of football and this Saskatchewan Roughrider community owned team that I love and support with all my heart.

The only thing fans and media seem to be discussing is the Randy Richards hit on the Stampeders Tim Brown. I was holding down seat 8 in section 14 at that football game. What a unfortunate chain of events. However, from my seat and vantage point not only did I not know what had transpired but no one around me did either. We cheered as soon as we saw the stop. We had no idea who the player was. All we saw was Brown laying on the field. There was no replay shown on the Sasktel Maxtron. Then the refs announced the penalty and ejection and the wrong player number. THE FANS HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED. When Randy Richards was escorted from the bench I stood and cheered again. I don't feel bad and I don't care what others think of me. Know this - I would never cheer if I knew someone was injured.  We knew at that point Tim Brown was not injured despite his dramatics on the field. I felt what happened in front of my eyes did not deserve anyone to be booted from the game. Richards was asked to do a job and he did it.

I know, what if that hit had been on a Rider player like Dressler? First, because I've seen too many missed calls on Roughrider players, I highly doubt there would have been a penalty resulting in an ejection. Secondly, Dressler would never have layed splayed out on the ground milking it for all its worth. No, he would have sprung up right away because that is the beast of a player that he is.

Then we find out Richards was fined the maximum penalty in a CFL hearing! The maximum penalty being half a game cheque?  

OH COME ON!

Shockingly, I agree with Arash Madani on Thursday's Sportscage. There is no consistency in the officiating in the CFL. I feel like CFL football fans have been shouting this from the rooftops forever. When will they listen to us?

Shrugs.

All we wanted was a pure definition of pass interference. The CFL's answer was to give us reviewable calls in 2014 while in 2015 they come up with a new contact rule. Did it make the referee’s any better? No. It gave them a way out instead because now they can just throw a flag without even really knowing if an offence was made. Sure teams have adjusted but it hasn't made the officials any more accountable. How ridiculous is it that every time you see a big play you have to look around to see if flags were thrown? It doesn't make CFL games a good product and it surely doesn't make it marketable in the US.

Have you seen the new goal posts in the NFL, by the way? Some of our kickers would never stand a chance making it through those narrow uprights. Yikes.

I'm not much of an NFL watcher at all. Collage football hasn't started yet. I tend to follow the Oregon Ducks and Boise State because I have family who live there. So...with this lull in activity...I started watching Friday Night Lights. I never watched it on TV, mostly because of my teaching lifestyle.....I miss a lot because of it. Here's what I have to say – I'm addicted and by the end of episode one I was in tears. If you watched it years ago, I'd urge you to go back and watch it again. Matt Saracen sure reminds me of Drew Willy, there is no debating Smash Williams is Kory Sheets and Buddy Garrity could sum up all of Ridernation's media sources in a car salesman nutshell.

So the Green Whites play the RedBlacks on Sunday in Ottawa. A couple weeks back Rnation was all in a tizzy over a billboard that was put up by the Roughriders organization. These billboards aren't anything new as the Riders have been putting them up in CFL cities for years but those in the Rouge Noir were sure offended. Meh. These days people are offended by pretty much anything and everything if you try hard enough to be. What I'm counting on in Sunday's match up is a good penalty free stupid mistake free Rider team and Bad Hank showing up.

HEEEEEEENNNNRRRYYYYYYYYYY.

It never gets old.

I never count this team out unlike some members of the media. It may seem I have a hate on for some of them but I really don't. I just want them to be better. Instead of using their voice, talent & position to condemn a team, why not use them to boost morale?! The season is not over. It won't be until the final whistle sounds on November 8^th. There's a lot of games to be played and this is the CFL where nothing is for sure and no lead is safe.

The most dangerous team is the one who has lost everything, has nothing left to risk and has the most to gain.

Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can't lose.

Legends & Lore (aka The Hall of Fame Game)

Ages ago, months really, in the off season I had a discussion with my Rider Soul Sister (same team, different parents) about choosing which games we could go to, to increase our chances of meeting up this year. At that point in time, it must have been March when the Roughrider flex packs went on sale, RSS said “you want to go to the August 22^nd game for sure because it's the Hall of Fame Game.” And thus, I added that date to my flex pack shopping list.

I don't know how RSS knew this tidbit of important information but she did and I am glad. She is out of the Rider loop, as it were, because she lives amidst the Evil Empire but bleeds pure Rider Pride. Because RSS knew, I knew, and I waited patiently for the hype.

* Pin drops *

I saw a tweet mentioning tickets for the CFHOF gala dinner at the start of the CFL season. I looked into it but yikes, at $230 a pop, that's a lot of beans for Hubby to count at work to earn the moola for an evening out. I really wanted to go. I really did. To think of brushing elbows with some of the CFL's greatest of all time.....wow, just wow.

Time was passing. Still no one was talking about it. The second week of August I tweeted Rod Pederson, the Voice of the Riders, to ask if he was taking his show The Sportscage to Saskatoon to cover the HOF gala.

“Nope”.

FINALLY, the day of the Hall of Fame gala I started to hear rustlings of stories on CKOM and on CBC TV. Why wasn't this event talked about more? Why didn't anyone seem to care? And why wasn't anyone calling the August 22^nd Rider game against the Calgary Stampeders The Hall of Fame Game?

Shrugs.

Saskatchewan media – you failed. You failed fans. You failed the fine men who were inducted.

Who were these phenomenal people who now wear Hall of Fame jackets and have their faces cast for us to admire always? Leroy Blugh, Eddie Davis, Dave Dickenson, Gene Makowsky, Bob O'Billovich, Larry Reda, and Bob Wetenhall. You can read all about their careers on the CFHOF web page:  Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Living vicariously through Cody Whiteman.

Two of our very own Saskatchewan Roughriders were inducted into the Hall. Friday aka Game Day Eve there was an autograph signing at the Rider Store at Lawson Heights Mall. It was a no brainer that I'd spend a day of my summer vacation at the Rider Store. I secretly hoped Geroy Simon would happen to be there but alas, he was not. I had a near meeting with the GOAT in 2013 but I digress.....

I arrived and stood in line for a few minutes but the line was relatively short so I ventured into the Rider Store. There were some very nice Hall of Fame tee shirts so I purchased a couple to have signed. When I returned to the line there was only one lady waiting. She asked me a couple questions about who the other men were besides the Riders and I admittedly/shamefully did not know which of the other men they were.

Then it was my turn. I shook both their hands and smiled and as nervous as I was and always am when I've met players, I actually didn't spout nonsense this time. I told Gene how Hubby's cousin played football with him at the U of S and what Cousin Mark is doing now. I asked Eddie where he lives now and he was eager to tell me that he lives in Calgary and even when he played for the Riders travelled back and forth. Heck, they have those “Chinooks” there.....I'd even take winter there. Maybe. I ended my conversation with asking if they both would be at the football game Saturday and they said yes and that they hoped it went well.

* Fingers crossed *

The Roughriders sold out Mosaic Stadium for the tilt against the Calgary Stampeders. The weather was not going to be optimal. It was going to be chilly and there was a great possibility of rain. I wore three layers of clothing for the first time since February.

“When Riders make a comeback, what a story that will be.” John Chick

Well that story isn't being written just yet. I wanted it to be written. I wanted it to be legendary and rate right up there with the Black Out Game or the Labour Day Classic of 2007. It wasn't meant to be. Yet.

0 - 8

I saw an injury decimated passionate Roughrider team take on the defending Grey Cup champions and come within 3 points of winning. I saw a 3^rd string young rookie quarterback take a beating and get back up every time and keep pace with a Grey Cup champ and starting quarterback. I saw a first year punter attempt a 64 yard field goal when the opposing vet (*) never had to take a risk at all.

I'm not going to talk about moral victories, accepting mediocrity or coaching changes because I don't believe in any of that stuff. For those who rant about those things – it's exhausting – find a new crusade.

I will tell you that this Rider team has progressed greatly since week one. It just might not be the progression you expected or wanted to see. Didn't Coach Chamblin tell us at the end of the 2014 season that we would see a very different team in 2015? What I will say to you is that fans, and that's me included, need to change our perspective.....we need to have different expectations of this team. An attitude adjustment.

This is not the 2013 Riders. This is not even the 2014 Riders. And they are a far cry from the 1979 Riders. There are too many odds stacked against us and in spite of it all this team is competitive. No one is blowing this squad out. That's why today I have sore arms from clapping and a hoarse voice from yelling. That's why in two weeks at the Labour Day Classic I intend on doing it all again.

The men honoured at half time can attest to the down times in Rider Nation. Gene Makowsky, who had his entire 17 year career in Saskatchewan can tell you he never even considered he'd ever be a Hall of Famer. Imagine, these players today who are criticized.....they are the Hall of Famers of tomorrow.

The 2015 football season is an experience and not a destination.

Wouldn't it be a shame if you missed the journey because you couldn't deal with a little adversity?

The choice is yours.....do you want to be the fan riding on the bandwagon or the one running to catch the tail gate?

I am here. I am seat belted in. I believe. And I can't wait for the story to be written.

Stay the Course

How many of you were around in 1979? I was. I was seven. At age seven I don't even recall the word Roughrider muttered in our household. No one ever mentioned them until I was what I refer to as “stupid teenager” in 1989 when my Dad professed that 'the Riders are good this year'.

That's a small snapshot of what life was like when the Riders sucked.

Pierre Trudeau was Prime Minister. People played Atari. We listened to music on a Sony Walkman if you were lucky enough to have $200. We watched M*A*S*H* and wondered who shot J.R.

Social media was chatting with the cashier at the grocery store.

2 – 14

That was the how the season went and that's why no one talked about them.

There were only four recognizable names on the 1979 team roster. Ron Lancaster had forfeited his role as quarterback and became the coach. Tom Clements was the quarterback and he had huge shoes to fill on a team that had to find a new identity. It was doomed from the start.

We live in a different world now. Rider fans came out of the woodwork during the 2007 season. Something magical happened and we had to put lifters on the bandwagon to support the additional weight. Now we wear our Rider green every single day and we aren't ashamed. We put it on our cars and houses and tattoo it on bodies. It's Rider Pride and it's been easy to back our team through recent winning times.

Roughrider fans are now are young and impatient. They weren't here in 1979.....weren't even a sparkle in someone's eyes..... and don't care to learn about the past. They point fingers, ridicule and want people to lose their jobs. The worst part is they are the loudest voice on social media. Instead, of doing their homework they follow the ill words of others like sheep.

Let's face it.....weeks before Gary Lawless wrote his article talking about Coach Chamblin being fired it was being discussed everywhere. All the radio programs were talking about how changes needed to be made and even though they weren't calling for heads to roll it doesn't take much to plant that seed of doubt in a smart phone obsessed mind. Who was Lawless's source? Heck, it could have been all of Rider Nation.

I for one have greatly adjusted my attitude. So what? We (the team) may not have glorious wins this year. Every game will be a struggle that will make you want to rip of your jersey and throw items at the TV. That's okay. That's passion. That proves you care. But when it comes down to it.....isn't it wonderful that we have this team in our province, which helps define our province and community? Isn't it great that we can come together to cheer for these guys who have left family and loved ones and come from across the United States and Canada to become the 2015 Roughriders!

We are so blessed.

The 13th Man.  Other CFL teams WISH they had a fan base like ours.

So I dare you – this week, week seven, look for the good things. Look for small improvements. Look for someone doing their job well. Look for better instead of the best. Trust me, we will all be happier and more content for it. This team has faced a HUGE amount of adversity this year that not many other CFL teams could easily recover from and now is the time to stick with this Roughrider team. The payoff will be down the road but I know in my greenest of hearts it will be sweeter than you could ever imagine.

And if not, well, I'm sorry you feel that way. Just know that one bad decision could turn the time back to 1979 and as much as I enjoyed Atari, I love the 2015 version of the Roughriders far more.

Stay the course. Persevere. And Always Bleed Green.

Learning to Win

I've had piano students, who are good students but there is a potential there that can't be heard or seen and yet it is felt. I've pushed and motivated and used incentives to try to get them to that next level.

Winning.

It can be frustrating on both sides. The student feels that they are doing the work. Things just seem to not go their way in festivals or exams but you both keep plugging along learning, developing and hoping.

The preparation is there. The talent is there. And then suddenly.....

.....K A - B L A M – O.....

It all comes together and they break through the barrier like John Chick breaking off the edge for a huge sack.

They've learned how to lose and then they learn how to win.

Our Roughriders are having similar struggles. Coach Chamblin says they just have to correct some things and the team will start winning. I believe it because I can also feel it. I've been Piano Coach and know sometimes it comes down to one correctable issue and then everything clicks. Unfortunately, in music lessons this could take months or seasons and in football we aren't afforded that time and finicky fans want results now.

I'm not sure what the football pundits want to see besides a win like the rest of Rider Nation. The Riders have come close to winning all three games so far. They have been the highest scoring offence in the CFL. The games have been exciting except for the flags that litter every game this season. That “W” is just within reach.

So instead of trying to be rational like the majority of Rider fans and completely over reacting, they need to blame someone because isn't that the way of society lately? Blame someone else. It's Coach Chamblin's fault apparently.

~ shakes head ~

The Saskatchewan Roughriders win as a team and lose as team and that includes all coaches. What happens in the locker room is a bonded brotherhood that none of us on the outside could possibly understand.....and it transcends seasons and years. 
 

YOU should be fired.

Could you imagine?

Don't we all screw up from time to time?

Heck, I broke a piano once and even though we laugh about it now.....it was darn scary at the time, but I retained my job!

The fact is, the three-and-one play in the Lions/Riders game came down to the officiating issue that no measurement was taken and due to the new rules a coach cannot ask for a measurement. What do you do armchair coaches? You are on the sideline and you don't know how far it is to get the down. Do you gamble? Do you kick the field goal? The safe answer, and in my opinion the correct answer, and what Coach Chamblin elected to do is kick the field goal in over time. You have to take the points. If you gamble and don't get it the other team wins anyway.

Maybe you're thinking but it shouldn't have come down to that. I remarked that the last plays reminded me of the similar breakdown of plays in the 09 Grey Cup.

Yeah, I said it.

It was THAT close. The momentum was on the Lions side. The officiating? Well you decide. Sometimes the learning moments come in the losing.

We lost heartbreakingly in 2009. We lost again in 2010. But then we learned how to win in 2013.

Remember those down times. We are on the brink of greatness.

Stay patient.

Stay loyal.

I support Coach Chamblin.

I know he can do it in the same way I knew my piano student would break through this year.

She won this year.

Groundhog Day

Oh Crap

.....Oh my gawd.....

NO! Not again!

Is it Groundhog Day? You know the Bill Murray movie where he keeps waking up to the same day over and over until he finally gets it right.

~ I got you babe ~

On Saturday evening I watched our franchise and future legendary quarterback Darian Durant go down again. I saw him clutch his ankle and then fall to the ground. What? My Hubby asked. It's a cramp I said. It's gotta be a cramp. After all, it was 32 degrees. Cramping is likely.

* moan *

Then the cart came out to take Doubles away and I knew it was more serious than dehydration cramps. Hubby said I bet it's his Achilles. I had that horrible sinking sickening feeling in my stomach. Then I realized – Thank goodness for Kevin Glenn. I even muttered it out loud. Still, I'm left feeling numb and in disbelief just like those empty pages of New Moon when Edward leaves Bella.

July.

Those F%&$'n Bombers! They took Darian away from us last year on Labour Day and here they did it in our very own home at the season opener on Taylor Field. OK, I know Darian wasn't hit and no player is to blame and yet.....grrrrr! The four Bomber fans in our section don't help the argument any. They were all too happy to disrespect our national anthem by screaming nonsense. Meh, I'm sure they don't even remember after all the wobbly pops they chugged.

Achilles. Besides knowing that Kory Sheets suffered Achilles injuries twice and is awaiting a second surgery, I know nothing about Achilles. In Greek mythology Achilles was a hero of the Trojan War and was in fact considered the greatest warrior. Some legends say Achilles was killed by Paris who shot him in the heal with an arrow while other stories say his only point of weakness was his heal and that's why we have the expression “Achilles heal.” Knowing these things, doesn't it kind of make weird sense that our hero would suffer this injury?

It's three days later and I still feel ill for Darian. I don't know another player who is so widely loved by fans and players alike. Well wishes came from many players including Nik Lewis and Jon Cornish. I thought that was very admirable as I've been so hard on Corndog.....er, I mean, Cornish over the years.

We saw Durant fight back after arm surgery. I witnessed him at training camp. I've been in awe the couple times I've been lucky enough to meet him. The man is larger than life. He was back. Even though die hard rabid fans like myself feel these things, I'm sure it's nothing in comparison to the heartbreak Darian must be feeling for himself.

Now that the dust is settling, all kinds of stories are emerging. The craziest is Coach Chamblin being accused of not only withholding the injury information but lying about it. People like to try to lay blame on someone and anyone. It's simply not true. There would be no reason to withhold or lie about such a thing. The situation is what it is. I'm sure Chamblin is just as sick about it as everyone else.

It's Kevin Glenn's team now. Kevin is not new to this situation. He's had to deal with it a few times before and even he admitted he doesn't know why. What will be interesting is seeing how the team rallies around him. Kevin can be the leader we want. He yearns for a Grey Cup.....the only thing he hasn't earned in his career. This could be the year and let's face it, it does seem rather like fate that he has ended up as the Saskatchewan Roughriders back up quarterback after leaving the team in 2003. Glenn led the Blue Bombers to the Grey Cup in 2007 but didn't play due to his own injury which of course led to the Riders win. It could be some kind of twisted green karma for things to work out this way. Will this be the year the most under rated quarterback in the CFL gets his own monkey off his back?

It's going to be interesting.

Suddenly, Brett Smith (1 of 3 Smith's on the roster) is the back up quarterback and the Riders are without a third string. Rumours and speculation abound as to whether Tino “the sun will shine” Sunseri will return to the team since he is familiar with Jacques Chapdelaine's offence. How would he feel about being asked back? Do football players think that way? Would he be happy to just have a job again?

These are things I don't know.

What I do know is that as sad as my little green heart is.....I will be clad in sunblock, with butt firmly planted in my section 14 seat, come Sunday's game against the the fresh off a surprising win over the Edmonton Eskimo's – the Toronto Argonauts - who have also seemed to find themselves in a bit of a backup situation of their own.

Lastly, I hope everyone gets behind Kevin Glenn and the Roughriders. I hope Darian see's the team he loves and bleeds for rally back and I pray that all the roads lead back to Winnipeg in November.

Let's do this for Darian.

Almost Everything

We almost had it all.

Or did we?

Nothing could compare to the 2013 season. We hosted the Grey Cup. We hoisted the Grey Cup. Everything we could imagine in our wildest dreams came true...and came true right in our own stomping ground.

2014 never stood a chance. No matter how we tried to keep the pieces of the puzzle the same...they wouldn't fit. We lost players to free agency. We lost players to injury. We lost hearts in the stands. On and off the field we just couldn't get things gelling. Maybe it was Grey Cup hang over. The feeling, drive and determination was not there as it had been. Then when the unthinkable happened and our franchise quarterback, Darian Durant, went down it devastated us more than any of us wanted to let on.

*SIGH*

It was within reach. We made it to the play offs by a hair. In the end, we just couldn't do it no matter how much we willed Kerry Joseph to do it for us. Thinking about it now, maybe we put more pressure on him than he was able of handling in the circumstances.  I am heartbroken for him. His words of criticism cut and no one should have to bear that.  We wanted him to "Kerry us to the Cup" but it wasn't going to be the stuff Disney movies are made of.  Especially when we had all the glory last year.

So what's next? Well some are calling for firings and big shake ups. I'm not about that at all. We all learn from losses. Some will say 'what do you know, you aren't a player' and that's true. I've always felt that my career choice of piano teacher was similar in many aspects to coaching and playing football. I teach the fundamentals. I give you the skills to play. Sometimes there are concerts, exams and festivals. There are winners and losers. I've seen winners lose and previous losers win. Losing is a good thing. It builds character and it motivates. My students who have experienced both come away smarter, fine tuned and better prepared. It's the same for football. This loss as painful as it feels now will serve us in 2015.

None of the logic makes it easier does it?  The fact is the lockers will be cleaned out, changes will be made in the off season and a new team will emerge from training camp. Our community will gather to support them all clad in our newly pressed green jerseys, hats and face paint.  Our voices will go hoarse from cheering. Our hopes will once more rise.  It is the way of Rider Nation.

Hold you head high. Reflect with happiness. Know that we had almost everything.

Double Double Toil & Trouble

Oh crap no.

Crap.  Crap.  Crap.

Oh Gawd.

Not my picture but thanks to who took it.

Just a few plays earlier in the game Sunday, we saw the beast that Darian Durant is, run in the pocket with a lineman on his back.  

I heard the whistle.  Hubby heard the whistle.  The play.....the play that apparently didn't happen and yet happened for every Roughrider fan across the nation.....went on.  I think Hubby was even yelling "free play - free play!"

Friday night I watched as Travis Lulay got hit and I cried as he left the field once again.  To see someone fight back through surgery and work hard and then have it happen immediately again.....well, ugh.....it's sickening.  Then it happened to Doubles too.

When are the refs and the league going to wake up and do something?  

Let's face it.  Darian has never gotten the roughing the passer calls that he should.  I'm not looking through green goggles either.  Anyone so much as wink at Ricky Ray and penalty flags fly.  Why do they let all this stuff go for different players?  That's not fair!

I know this is all a part of football and injuries and things happen.  But honestly, Monday morning when I heard the news and along with the dull dreary weather we are enduring, it felt a little like the morning after 09.  Were all our repeat hopes dashed?  Naw.  I don't think so.  I think the Riders are an extremely well coached team.  I believe in the genius of George Cortez.  I know with every pen click he is dreaming up schemes for whoever is next up.  I also believe in Tino Sunseri.  He comes from a football family.  It's in his blood as much as we bleed green.  

What I couldn't believe the most was the ridiculous things people are saying.  Fans are the craziest people around.  Someone started a rumor about trading for Burris and people ran away with it.  Laughable.  Could you imagine?  *shakes head*



I am so thankful the Dressler signing was already a done deal.  I remember in 2008, the year we had 3 quarterbacks and the year most of the receivers had broken legs.  I'd much rather take a full set of healthy receivers and a room of running backs in 2014 over that year.  I believe in 2008 we lost in the western semi final to the Lions.  Ack.  Yes.  I'll go with our chances this year thank you very much.

So this Sunday we meet up with the TiCats again.  I don't feel it's a must win game BUT if we do win, it will be the first time in history that the Roughriders win 8 games straight.  I also know that this team is a family and families stick together in the face of adversity.  Adversity makes you stronger.  There is no bigger test than beating the 2013 Eastern Champs with our back up quarterback.  I think it can be done.  Tino will do it for Darian and Rider Nation.

In other news, last Saturday The Hubs and I went to Rider Girl.  It was great!  It's a great story for any CFL fan but special just for us Rider fans.  I won't give anything away, except that if you go you will laugh and you will cry.  It's also fun to connect with other fans.  Please go see the fabulous Colleen Sutton when she is in your town/city.

Are you superstitious?  I am a little.  A little stitious.  Every game day I wear a pair of glitter watermelon earrings.  Well, over the last year I have had the pleasure of cultivating a fun friendship with Maria aka Gainerette.  She has sent me the most fabulous watermelon headband that there ever was.  A thousand thank you's!

My birthday isn't until the 22nd.  I will be *cough cough* years old.  My Hubby, who is so patient to be married to me for going on 23 years gave me my present early.  What would any rabid Rider fan girl want?  Why a beautiful pair of the most glittery glitter ball earrings and necklace from Hillberg & Berk of course!!!!  He really is the best isn't he?!

But I still have to wear the watermelon earrings on game day ;)