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.

Is it June Yet?

Writing is hard.  Staying current and keeping up a blog is even harder.  Doing these things during off season and CFL free agency and Superbowl is three times as hard.  Oh and I also lead a busy non-football life believe it or not!  

The last time I wrote the Calgary Stampeders won the Grey Cup. *spits in Corner Gas Woolerton fashion* After college football was all over the only thing left to look forward to was the Superbowl.  How exciting was that?  Or how depressing was that?  I was behind the Seattle Seahawks all the way.  They were going to win.  They were poised to win.  Just like us Rider fans dream of launching an epic comeback and winning in the final seconds of a game and much like those dismal comebacks we haven't launched...the hawks lost in a huge failure of a play call.  What the heck was that play call about?  UGH!  Unbelievable!  YOU HAVE THE BEST RB IN THE LEAGUE AND YOU DON'T GIVE HIM THE BALL?! 

Oh man, then Ricky Foley was traded back to Toronto for Shea Emry.  Wow.  Ridernation was in shock.  Ricky Foley was in shock.  Not discounting Shea Emry, who I'm sure is a great guy and lovely Shemar Moore lookalike, but if there was ever a guy who totally loved the fans it was Foley and Ridernation completely loved him back.  I was so sad to see him go.  Once a Rider.  Always a Rider.  (except for you know who ;)

So with all that drama finally over the CFL free agency opened.

*crickets*

And nothing really happened.  We all waited with wild anticipation.  The Roughriders had so many big names in free agency.  I'm not going to go into detail because we all watched it happen but I think one deal that got passed many and was a big score for Brendan Tamon was the signing of Alex Hall.  He flew under the radar.  He had been trying out for the NFL and nothing was working out for him.  Hall had been with the Riders for part of a season a few years ago.  

Another interesting signing was that of Kevin Glenn.  I am totally on the fence about this one.  I believe the Riders needed the insurance policy because we certainly didn't have one last year.  It upsets me slightly about what it says for Tino Sunseri who signed an extention only a week earlier.  Yet, I also think it will make training camp exciting as there will be a fight for that backup spot.  Some say Glenn is the most underated QB, but it is a little weird for him to return to being a back up for the team where he was the back up for Henry Burris and left to persue that starter spot.  I also wonder what the Lions are thinking in letting him go.  He was their insurance policy for Lulay.  It seems to leave them in an awkard spot.

One thing I loved to watch not only during free agency but always is that it almost never fails that the guys at "The New Rouge" record their podcast and then enevitably the next day or sometimes within minutes something big in the CFL happens and they've missed it.  The first time it happened was when Weston Dressler returned from the NFL and it forced them to re-record the whole podcast.  Being "Dressler-ed" makes me chuckle.  Oh and in case you didn't know the New Rouge was previously called the Swag and Stagger Show.  Obviously, I know the rouge is that extra point scored in the endzone but let's face it.  I'm a girl.  And to any girl of a certain age rouge is the french name for blush.  The name messes me up now every time I see it.  The new rouge...is it pink or red or more of a coral?  But I jest.  I've had many a great conversation (arguement) with the 3 swagger rouge guys and I wish them the best in their new podcast adventures.

Is it June yet?  Well, no, the -40*C windchill today tells me it is indeed not.  Every off season I have great plans to watch all the great football movies and read books and follow other sports and I fail horribly just like many do on their second day of new years resolutions.  You know what I've done instead?  I've been rewatching the entire series of Sex and the City.  Perhaps I aspire to be the Carrie Bradshaw of the CFL.

Well.  Ridernation, anyways.

 

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.

Win, Lose & Quarterback Draw

You know it's going to be a great day when the sun is shining, mail arrives with your name on it and the Riders w.....

Oh wait.

WE didn't win?

Well dang.  It sure felt like it...sort of.  My poor little green heart was looking for resuscitation while Seth Doege repeatedly tossed interceptions.  I mean, he knew we were the guys in green, right?  Then Tino SUNseri came into the game and holy smokes did he light things up.  He not only marched us down the field but went for 3 straight converts.  2 point converts haven't seemed to work this year but the Riders did it 3 times in one game!  Then the game was tied at 24 and my green heart was set to a thumping like it hadn't since...I saw Kerry Joseph on a quarterback draw to win the Labour Day Classic in 07.

Coincidence?

This morning as I was procrastinating and finally got around to mopping the floor, which is my most hated household task by the way...I returned to social media to find out the Riders announcing Kerry Joseph, the 2007 MVP & Grey Cup champ was signed to the green and white.  How THRILLING!  We don't know what roll he will have or what number he will wear but I can assure you he isn't being brought in to carry a clipboard. 

So many fans and media have been calling for changes.  Bring in Burris.  Give Price a chance.  Yada yada yada.  So here we have change.  The Riders have done something to try to remedy the situation to get us through until Darian Durant can return...and they still aren't happy!  Wha? 

I think this is exciting and amazing news.  He was available.  He was willing.  He is a veteran.  He was an ex-Rider.  Who else could be capable of winning...who could almost step in and right things now?  Sure he's old but even Calvillo was older and he was still playing up until his injury last year. I think this is a great move by Brendan Tamon.

So WE did lose on Friday.  But dang it sure came close.  There were so many bright spots.  The SUN was so bright I needed sunglasses. 

Back to reality.  This morning while gathering the mail I got a wonderful expected surprise.  CKOM's Quinn Magnusson sent me two autographed cards.  *smile*  He's quite the character and if you don't follow him on Twitter, you should.  He's a fun guy and an ex-CFL-er full of all kinds of football talk.  Thanks tons Quinn!