5 Biggest Stories of 2018 in the CFL

Are you an exhausted reindeer, in the throws of turkey hangover and in deep CFL football withdrawal?  This post might just save you.  In today's Football Friday 5 I'm discussing the top 5 stories of the year.  Pour yourself a coffee or rum and eggnog and settle in to find out what the stories of 2018 were according to my discussions with CFL fans around social media and ABC Rider Fans.

5. The CFL expands to Halifax.  When the CFL was waiting to select it's next Commissioner for the league this was one of the topics I thought was relevant and wrote about it in a 2017 blog titled The Commish.  The CFL expanded to 9 teams in 2014 and I always thought that to make the league truly Canadian and unite all fans across this great nation there needed to be a 10th team located in the maritime provinces.  A 10th team would even out the schedule...no more having to play the Blue Bombers three times in a season...and there could be great Labour Day match ups without some teams having to sit out on bye weeks.  While it's true that the name, the Atlantic Schooners has been chosen and registered there is still much discussion and planning to be done with the biggest question mark being where will they play.  I'm sure this will continue to be a big story in the upcoming season.

4.  From Jon Gott guzzling beer to the Blue Bombers climbing their stair cases the CFL Celebrations were interesting in 2018.  At the start of the season things like sword slashes, ball spins or using props were penalized but mid season that rule was changed and they threw the door wide open to everything and anything as long as the players took responsibility.  Read the rule change HERE.  Now the problem is that without rules (and people love rules) things can run amuck.  When Jon Gott epically took a beer from his girlfriend in the stands and guzzled it on live TSN TV well it wasn't long before the CFL was saying "whoops, my bad" and amended the celebration rules.  If only they acted so quickly when it came to player safety.....

3. TSN's love affair with Johnny Manziel was something else.  First it was will he or won't he arrive in the league.  Then it was about him being signed in Hamilton and how he had to sit out while Masoli rose to fame.  When Montreal traded for Johnny Football no one could hardly wait for him to make his starting debut.  I'll admit that I did watch but for some reason I only remember the seagulls and Rod Black's reaction a la the movie The Birds instead of Manziel's actual performance.  I do recall the Monday after the Glenn Suitor discussing on Green Zone how many times the name Manziel was called on the broadcast and while he didn't seem to think it was that much...it was completely sickening to the rest of the fans watching or flipping channels at home.  Hopefully in 2019 the media circus will be over and John will be able to develop into the quarterback we are waiting to see.

2.  As I eluded to in number 4 injuries to CFL QB's was a story from the get go whether we knew it in June or not.  Zach Collaros was suffering from a concussion from a preseason game, Matt Nicholls was out and Streveler made a remarkable start and then there was the devastating neck injury to Ricky Ray who had contemplated retirement in the off season.  It was horrible to watch him lie prone for what seemed like forever before responders finally removed him from the field.  The talk about player safety and quarterback safety was only a murmur at that point but when the hit from Odell Willis to Zach Collaros happened and how that whole debacle was handled or lack there off fans were irate.  Where was the discipline?  Fines?  Suspensions?  Why was the Commish able to change a celebration rule but didn't have the gumption to look at the safety of the players who make this league what it is?  That conversation continued until Jackson Jeffcoat took out Brandon Bridge in a meaningless play in the West Semi Final and in a game that the Bombers seemed to care most about winning because they certainly didn't play with same determination against the Calgary Stampeders a week later. Let's hope that this is a huge discussion while the CBA is being negotiated in 2019. 

1.  Number One could easily be Darian Durant scampering off with $70k, Duron Carter being released, Rob Bagg's return, Messam's or Hughes charges or even how the Eskimos missed the playoffs while hosting the Grey Cup, but, I felt the number one story, even though not a football story was indeed and without question the Humboldt Broncos.  I live about an hour from Humboldt and pass through there a few times a year.  I didn't know any of the players.  I'm not even a hockey fan.  When the bus crash happened I was in New York on Easter vacation.  I was back in my hotel room after being out all day and had tuned in to CKRM's Sportscage and had tweeted in that I was listening.  Rod and Luc proceeded to roast me for listening when I was in such an amazing city.  While I was listening and scrolling through my Twitter feed I saw a post about the bus crash and then that the hockey game was cancelled.  It was one of those 'where were you' moments that I will never forget.  Everyone was in mourning in Saskatchewan and around the world.  The Roughriders held a special fan day and some of the players dedicated their play to the hockey team.  A Roughriders home game was held in the Broncos honour and fans were given green and yellow ribbons to wear while the Riders donned Humboldt Strong on their helmets for the season.  We may all enjoy different sports and even some of the same sports but regardless we are a community and in times like this we all come together and forget all other differences for the betterment of each other.  Be kind.  Love one another.  I don't know of a better theme for us all to follow now and into 2019.  

It's a Wrap

I said last week that I wasn't ready for the season to be over.  Well, it doesn't matter how I feel or felt at the time because now I've just got to suck it up and move on because it is indeed all over.  Second Season was short in Rider Nation.

I planned all week (Friday Football Five) what to wear as we were warned of how cold the weather was going to be for the Western Semi Final game between the Roughriders and Blue Bombers.  I saw the updates on social media from the Riders about the players in the cold and as much as the weather should never be the story for some reason it was.  Some of the sports media talked about the "real" football players and how they don't wear sleeves in the cold.  One even went as far as to say the players who wore the sleeves weren't going to win.  I have no idea if there's any truth to that and as the girl who wore two pairs of pants, 3 shirts, winter coat, thermal socks and plastered Hot Hands in her mittens and boots...since when is trying to stay warm a sin?  I've lived in Saskatchewan my whole life...born and raised...and I've never adjusted to winter.  Why on earth do we expect guys from Florida, California or any southern states to adjust better than us?  All that being said, both teams had to play in the same conditions and only one of the two were truly prepared to play.

We were so hopeful all week long.   Collaros was practicing.  We stood a chance.  Then Friday Brandon Bridge took first team reps.  Fans started to chatter.  It's all good we thought...just prep.  Of course he needs reps we tried to tell ourselves.  Then late Saturday, TSN's Dave Naylor broke the news that Collaros was not only not starting but he wasn't even dressing.  Rider Nation flipped out.  It was a strange report.  Dave Naylor tweeted the breaking news and then used the tweet in his article which seemed to me like he was using himself as his source.  The Riders not only lost the game Saturday night but lost the West Semi the week before when Odell Willis took out the Riders starting quarterback.  No amount of rationalization was going to change it.

This was my very first play off game experience.  I've only been able to be a season ticket holder for 2 years.  I live in Saskatoon and have mentioned several times that it's a time commitment as well as a money commitment in the form of gas and food dollars.  There were moments sitting in section 126 where it felt absolutely magical.  The snow would come float down around us and sparkled in the lights of beautiful Mosaic Stadium.  The trumpeter performing for the Remembrance Day ceremony and moment of silence afterwards was breath taking.  The halftime act was an interesting mix of heavy metal and celtic music which I didn't even know what a possibility but thoroughly enjoyed their performance.  The only thing missing was the legendary story of how the QB coined Air Canada would lead us to the first ever play off win at home...and the Riders 13th man flag which failed to unfurl.  As my Hubby pointed out - The Riders never win when the flag isn't flown.

No.  Instead, all the news after the game and for a few days now has been centred around player safety.  I know the Riders were not winning that game.  The Bombers took control of the line of scrimmage at the end of the first quarter and it wasn't getting better from there.  I just think it's interesting that a guy would deliver such a violent blow to a player with only 8 seconds left in a game that the Riders weren't in control of winning anyway.  I had someone tell me that we should all know danger and injuries are a part of the game and how there wasn't a penalty and on and on.  I tried to explain that it's all fine and dandy until it's your quarterback laying prone on the field.  Every player knows that injuries happen but I'm pretty sure none of them play with the expectation of being knocked out.  I think what's even more awful is when you find out that Jackson Jeffcoat did the same thing to Mike Reilly in 2017.  Where does the CFL draw the line?  Why do the Riders have to have this happen to not only one quarterback but both starting quarterbacks within 3 weeks?  Why is this the story instead of how the Bombers came in and executed a great game plan to win them their first play off game in many years?  It's sickening and the CFL and Commissioner Randy Ambrosie (also from Winnipeg) needs to stand up and do something before someone is seriously and devastatingly injured.  

Meanwhile, fans of other teams say we are making excuses for losing.

If that's what makes you feel better for supporting your own team then so be it.

The Roughriders lost for the same reasons that plagued the team throughout 2018.  The offence couldn't execute.  There wasn't a running game.  Our receivers were scrambling and it seemed only one could get open.  Because the Bombers game plan included running the ball and very few throwing opportunities the Riders defence couldn't do what they do and force fumbles, strip the ball or gain interceptions.  The Riders had found ways to win by using the defence when the offence couldn't score.  On Sunday, neither was put in a position to do anything but kick field goals and thank goodness for Brett Lauther.  This is where the Riders need to spend their focus this off season.  With Collaros, Bridge and Tate being free agents one has to think none of them will be back and mostly for the health of Zach Collaros.  Conversation on ABC Rider Fans has quickly turned to which quarterback do we go after for 2019?  Bo Levi Mitchell, Mike Reilly and Trevor Harris are all free agents.  Will we end up seeing one of those guys sporting green?  Before you say "oh hell no" - it's funny how likable hated players become when they're wearing the right colours.

So the Riders fell to the Winnipeg Football Club 23 - 18 and it's the Bombers who move on to Calgary in the West Final.  Calgary has faced their own set of challenges but are hungry after losing in back to back Grey Cup games.  Did the Bombers game plan to teach the Riders a lesson?  Have they planned for Bo Levi and the Stamps?  The Stampeders had the bye and it sure would be fun to see them annihilate the Riders arch rivals...but I'm not hitching my horse to that wagon.  

My Saskatchewan Roughriders have cleared out their lockers.  Players are heading home.  There's plenty of free agents but Marcus Thigpen isn't one of them.  He re-signed quickly.  It's possible some of the players will head to the NFL or want to even test out the new American league.  Chris Jones is having to give coaches their walking papers as the new cap comes into place in 2019.  The CFLPA is heading in to negotiations.  There are 3 clubs wanting to bid on the 2020 Grey Cup including the Riders.  This off season will give us plenty to talk about.

Thank you as always for indulging me in this little blog.  I appreciate everyone who comments and follows along with me.  I believe this isn't a wrap on 2018 - it's the beginning of 2019.  

BEL13VE

Ten Thought Tuesday

It's been a long time since I've done a blog like this and a bit of time since I've blogged period.  What can I say? Life gets busy.

1.  Did you hear that the Riders are bidding on the 2020 Grey Cup?!  I am thrilled!  Why wouldn't we want to bring the Grey Cup to the best facility in the league?  I can't think of one reason not to.  Sure, that means it would have been in western stadiums 3 years in a row but I don't have a problem with that at all.  If you look historically, the Grey Cup never came West in the first several years of the leagues inception.  We all know that Regina and the province of Saskatchewan throws a heck of a party.  A word from my witty husband - we better pray for global warming.  LOL 

2.  What is the deal with TSN and particularly Rod Black's love affair with Johnny Manziel?  TSN should be embarrassed for not only the telecast but the follow up highlight package.  Guess what?  The Alouettes lost!  The team that won was barely mentioned.  Don't go blaming Rider fans for the outrage either.  CFL fans from far and wide are sick of the bias.  If you say his name is good hype for the league, I'd say competitive games and successful teams garner more interest south of the border.  I do recall the Riders name being hyped and mentioned during NFL broadcasts...

3.  Stupid questions.  If you are going to do a sideline report with a player during a game or intermission then you better be asking him good questions.  Asking Tre Mason in one of his best performances of the season about his college alliances is disrespecting to the CFL game.  I loved his answer - all he cared about was the Roughriders and the Alouettes game.

4.  The Edmonton Eskimos fired their special teams coordinator.  Why?  Was he to blame for their recent losing skid?  That poor man was nothing more than a scapegoat.  There needed to be "consequences" and that fella was the one to pay the price.  Perhaps the Eskimos need to look at their offensive and defensive schemes before throwing someone else under the bus.  But don't do it this week...please wait until after Week 17 to do that.

5.  Monday is Thanksgiving and the Eskimos take on the Roughriders at beautiful Mosaic Stadium.  The temperature is forecasted to be zero.  Most of us are wondering what happened to autumn.  If you are heading to the game you might want to pull out your winter woollies and hot pockets.

6.  Another head coach who should be under the microscope is Blue Bombers Mike O'Shea.  He's been in the organization for 6 years now and only got 1 play off game.  They might be lucky enough to be the crossover team but as we know, no western team has ever made it to the Grey Cup through the east. 1990.

7.  The Riders have a bye in the last week of the season.  For this reason I've decided they are far better off to finish 2nd in the West.  There's no way we'd want our team to sit 2 weeks and then play in a play off game.  That being said, is it possible for the Riders to win out?  Is it possible for the Stamps to win out?  The ending of this season is pretty exciting.

8.  I am looking forward to New Era taking over the CFL merchandise.  I hope their have comfortable clothing made for real CFL fans and affordably priced.  I was in the Rider Store last weekend and spied a really great bunnyhug.  A quick look at the price tag? $70.  Why bother when a jersey is only $40 more?  

9.  Speaking of clothing, as long as I keep wearing my Rider shirt purchased at Giant Tiger the Riders keep winning.  I'm superstitious although my husband keeps informing me that my clothing/fashion choices have no impact on how the Riders play.  If that's the case, then why does Chris Jones stick with the green Diversity is Strength shirt?  Maybe, just maybe, there's something to it.

10.  We pvr a lot of sporting events just so we can fast forward through the commercials.  It usually puts me in a tough position because I also love to follow and post on ABC Rider Fans game threads.  If I don't watch it live how can I join in with the rest of the community?!  This reminds me of my favourite quote from the TV show Instinct - "If I don't watch it live I have no control over it."

Happy Turkey Day Rider Fans!

How Sweet It Is

Six and Four!

A few weeks ago when the Montreal Alouettes beat a struggling Roughriders team everyone was ready to throw McAdoo and Jones to the wolves but suddenly in week 12 of the CFL pitch fork and torch sales have plummeted in the wheat province.  We find our Saskatchewan Roughriders on a three game winning streak with the last win coming on another Labour Day Classic against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers which moves them into second place in the western conference after the Edmonton Eskimos fell to the first place Calgary Stampeders.  How sweet it is!

Chris Jones is now three-for-three wearing the green "Diversity is Strength" tee shirt.  When asked about it in a media scrum last week he said wearing it had been mandated by the players after an apparent vote was taken.  He said it gets put in his locker and he puts it on.  It would appear to me that our Saskatchewan spirit has permeated to Chris Jones black shirt wearing core.  I've always been a Jones supporter and as hard as some of his decisions have been to accept I have been so happy that we have someone in place to make them.  I've never been concerned with what his wardrobe was because in spite of my own superstitions I've been told what I wear has no bearings on whether the Riders win or lose.  And yet...here we are, while Jones has been wearing green I am three-for-three wearing my Giant Tiger Rider shirt, denim capris, green shoes, Hillberg & Berk earrings, The Balm eye shadow and the most important - 306 Chad Owens signed hat.  The combo seems to be working and I'll be sporting the look until our next loss which hopefully is not in the Labour Day rematch aka the Banjo Bowl.

While my Riders are sporting this record which moves them higher in the standings I'm not planning any parades yet.  What I know is that this Riders team has an amazing defence.  Charleston Hughes who was the best pick up of the off season has 13 sacks.  If he's not chasing down quarterbacks then Willie Jefferson is and if he's not then you've got the likes of Tobi Antigha, Sam Eguaven, Matt Elam,  Nick Marshall and Ed Gainey to contend with just to name a few.  In the LDC, the defence wasn't putting out their best performance and yet were able to get pressures and cause enough issues for the Blue Bomber offence to knock them off their game plan.  Special Teams are really putting together some special performances.  Christion Jones banged up?  No problem we'll just have Kyran Moore in only his second CFL appearance run back a punt for a touchdown.  The offence is the part of the three phases that can cause some concern.  On Sunday the offence did just enough to win.  We all know offense wins hearts and I feel like we are just begging to see some razzle dazzle or explosive plays.  The Zach Collaros led offence shows flashes of that brilliance and I feel like they are so close to finding that groove.  We didn't know who Jordan Williams-Lambert was coming out of camp.  We do now!  Naaman Roosevelt continues to play with incredible heart, mind and body.  We aren't missing Duron Carter at all, but that's a whole other subject.

Two weeks ago Matt Nichols was upset that Blue Bomber fans were booing at the end of their game against the Ottawa Redblacks.  Nichols had been shaken up and for some unknown reason was allowed back into the game.  The crowd not liking the coaching decision boo'd the coaching staff but Matt took it to heart and spoke out about it in the media.  The following week in the Bomber loss to Calgary he seemingly threw his receivers under the bus by saying he couldn't find any open receivers.  Matt, I know you seem to be an emotional player as most football players are but for the love of meatloaf stop talking to the media.  Your team needs leadership.  Even though Mike O'Shea has said he * thinks * Nichols is his quarterback there's already murmurs to put in Streveler and you can bet those shouts will only get louder in the Banjo Bowl if the fans don't see that Nichols is getting the job done.  Just imagine if Darian Durant had been their back up.  He's not and I'm sure he's enjoying his family and retirement to the fullest thanks to the Bombers signing bonus.

I think it's also an interesting theory that the Blue Bombers were winning when they were using trick plays to get the job done.  When they moved away from the tricks they started losing.  Was it that they showed their cards too early in the season?  Was it that other teams are now expecting them to try trick plays, are anticipating them and shutting them down?  Is it that they decided they had to be able to learn to play fundamentally sound football instead of resorting to those style of plays?

Saturday the Roughriders are at Investors Group Field where the fans are apparently the loudest in the CFL.  I can see the Bomber fans being restless and if they find their team faltering in any way they likely won't be as loud or even still sticking around the stadium to see the end of the game.  I know I'm sounding pretty sure of myself but trust me I'm not drinking the green Kool-Aid.  I know how hard it is to play the same team back to back and come out victorious however the Roughriders were able to pull it off against the Hamilton Tigercats.  They can use that experience to gut it out and get their seventh win of the 2018 season.  This Roughriders team is learning to play with confidence and play the full 60 minutes of every game.  They are believing in each other and that leads me to BEL13VE in them too.

~Friday Football Five~

A long long time ago on another blogging platform the Friday Five was a regular blog that everyone in the circle would post.  I haven't thought about it for a while and decided today was the best day to return to that idea and format.  Is there a better subject than the horrendous Thursday night game by the Saskatchewan Roughriders?  I think not.

1.  Ugh.  It was day one of piano recitals (5 days of recitals with students in 11 of them) and I was at my work BUT I was keeping up with the Game Thread on the ABC Rider Fan Page.  If you haven't checked it out, please do, it's a ton of fun.  The game wasn't sounding good and I wasn't able to follow along after halftime and later upon my return home was informed the Riders hadn't played that awful in about 3 years. Yikes.  Regardless, I watched the game on pvr.

2.  Give credit where credit is due.  Let's not forget that the Redblacks had a whole week to prepare and prepare they did.  The Redblacks came to play and the Roughriders did not.  They did a better job of coaching and game planning.  The Redblacks were motivated and our Roughriders?  Maybe that yoga session on Parliament Hill made them a little too relaxed.  Whatever happened - Ufdah.  The biggest thing I learned from Darian Durant is the 24 hour rule.  Today is a new day.  Let's brush the nasty of this loss off our shoulders and get ready for the next home game.

3.  There are no more passionate and irrational fans than those in Rider Nation.  Calling for coaches to be fired or old players to come back doesn't help anyone and all it does is stir up social media.  In week Two of the CFL season no one will fire a coach.  Are you prepared for 3 more losing seasons?  We love those old players but wanting them back doesn't erase how the team played Thursday night.  Going back in time doesn't prepare the team to compete in the future. I for one also do not want a coach who panders to the fans.  I leave the coaching to the coach and never will I pretend to know better.

4.  Collaros concussed.  It's rather curious how it happened.  We can only assume it was the hit he took to his chin or jaw since there were no other bumps that would have jarred his head.  I'm not a doctor - just a fan, but that's how it appeared to me.  Is it possible that Chris Jones felt things were getting out of control and pulled him from the game?  We will find out next week when the Riders start preparing for Week 3 against the Montreal Alouettes. 

5.  Duron Carter is an incredible athlete.  Sports media has had a hay day trying to comprehend Duron Carter playing in the injured Marshall DB spot.  Should he?  Shouldn't he?  The guys saying last week he shouldn't are eating crow and the guys saying he should have now reversed their opinion.  Thank goodness DC gives them something to talk about!  Instead of debating it why not give the guy credit for getting his second career Interception which he's returned for a touchdown?!  Good on you Duron!  Let the haters hate because without you Life would be boring.