Week Five

Here we are at the end of July and I am in full summer vacay mode and the CFL is heading into week 5.

Well, week 5 for the Riders.

This season is a weird bazarro world.  Not only are last years bottom dwellers of the Western Division now leading the league, but, because of this being an expansion year, we have a rotating bye week.  Some have discussed that it's hard to get on a roll when your teams bye week falls in week 2 or 3.  The media talked lots of a down week and "what are they lacking" in their broadcasts.  I thought that for the Riders the bye week would serve as a reset after playing 3 games ending in 1 win and 2 losses.  I think I was right because going into the bye week the bandwagon had a bit of leg room for the Rider faithful as people and media panicked, but the week off gave players time to reconnect, get their mindset right and come back with drive and determination.

During the bye week, I had the pleasure to stand in line at the new Co-Op store at the Circle Centre Mall in Saskatoon with hundreds of other fans to see Riders Quarterback Darian Durant.  We arrived a half hour early and the line up was already to the end of the magazine isle.  Poor bewildered grocery shoppers had no idea what was going on and just stared.  I took my two Darian's DariO cereal boxes to be signed.  They were empty.  We ate all the cereal.  I didn't see anyone else in line with cereal boxes although I saw anything ranging from Grey Cup jerseys to footballs.

My Hubby wasn't going to go with me.  I was going to go alone, but he couldn't help himself and donned his Grey Cup Champion tee shirt.  See I had to go...I missed training camp and didn't get any signatures this year, which is a routine for me as I've got four other signed footballs.  We even missed our annual voyage to the Watrous Co-Op customer appreciation days where Taj Smith and two other Riders went this year.

I never know what to say.  Something goofy always comes out of my mouth.  I wish I could have told Darian that I've believed in him since I met him in 2009.  But I didn't.  He gratiously signed my cereal boxes and poised for a picture.  Then I wished him good luck against Toronto and I saw his eyes light up.  And I knew.  I knew that he had this.  All the stuff the media says about aprehension and players not meshing and all that stuff went out the window.  I knew whatever it was that plagued them before was gone.



Then Saturday the Riders beat the stuffings out of the Argonauts. 

Oh how I love a good thrashing!  Remember how Ricky Ray was the #1 quarterback in TSN's Top 50 CFL players?  Well I shouted "TAKE THAT!" as Tearius George smashed into him and forced a fumble.  It felt so good!  Let's face it...it's how we always want the Riders to play.  Close games are exciting but my heart (and my fingernails which get chewed off every game)  can't take it!  No, I want a good old fashioned thumping!

So now the Riders are heading to Ottawa and I will be in a place where I won't even be able to chant "HEEEENNNRRRYYYYYY".  I am going into a wifi free zone for five days.  Not only wifi free, but very low to zero connectivity and (*cries*) I won't even be able to watch the game or listen on radio.

The horror!

But you know what?  I will still represent with all my little green heart has in me.

You can take the girl away from the Riders, but you can't take the Riders out of this rabid fan girl.

Raining Champs

Tonight is the very first game for the Ottawa REDBLACKS.  After week one, they unbelievably sat in first in the east without even playing a game.  Ufdah! [as my mother in law would say] How is it possible to not even play a game and come out better than the guys who did?  Yikes. 

I did have the pleasure of seeing the REDBLACKS preseason game in Regina.  My opinion is that everyone will underestimate them.  They did hold their own in the game.  They've got the talent.  Even though, I picked the "Willypeg" Blue Bombers to win tonights historical game, I think Ottawa is going to surprise everyone.

Who else surprised us last week?  I already mentioned the Bombers who are probably wishing they were still part of the eastern division, but what about those Eskimo's?  It seems they've maybe got it together for this season.  I am never one to count out the Lions, but they really aren't the same team who made us all throw our beer cans at the tv back when.  The Stampeders aren't either.  I used to think Hufnagel was one of the toughest coaches, but this year...I don't know.  They just don't seem as dominant as they once were.  Of course it was only game one and there are 17 more games to be played so who can tell how things will turn out?  One thing is for sure, the Lions have tons of pressure on them since they are hosting the Grey Cup this year and if the trend were to continue they logically [but not hopefully because I know my Riders will be there instead] would make it to the big game as well.

So.  How about those Riders?!  We had concerns didn't we?  We didn't know who would fill those gaps vacated by those favorite players of ours.  Did we miss a step?  Because wowzers the Riders came out to defend their championship in mid season form.  We played a very unprepared TiCat team.  That is for sure.  Poor Collaros couldn't stay upright for all the chickpeas in Saskie.  His offensive line just didn't care or couldn't do anything about it against our totally dominant defense.  Admittedly, if I saw Chick and Foley rushing me I might fall over too, but 10 sacks?!  That tied a Rider record.  And look at that offensive line.  Undoubtedly, the Riders have the best Oline in the league.  Heck, I could run through the gaps they create.  Lastly, who is this Anthony Allen dude?  Where did he come from?  The Hubs kepts saying he reminded him of Robert Drummond.  I can see him getting more and more effective as we get into the season.  Soon #26 Allen jerseys will be flying off the racks.

Speaking of that.....a certain blogger said she figured Keith Toston was the guy and if he wasn't she'd eat her Rider flag.  Ugh.  All I can ask is...what goes better with nylon - ketchup or mustard?  How can a guy who looks like the guy get put on the practice roster?  *shrugs*

This week the Riders head to Toronto to take on the Argos who lost last week.  Remember the TSN top 50 players?  Ricky Ray was named #1.  It will be interesting to see how we match up.  Playing a team like Toronto is also a good reminder about what can happen if we let it.  They won the Grey Cup two years ago.  They are close to not having a stadium to play in.  Rider Nation is strong but it wasn't really all that long ago that we weren't and as Rod Pederson mentioned on Sportscage the other day, there was a time you wouldn't be caught dead in a Roughrider shirt. 

By the way, I ended up 7th in the pool on PoolTracker.com.  How the heck does a flag eating female football fanatic end up 7th?  Shocking particularly because my rational is not always stats but "ooh, they wear blue and I like blue".....unless the colour is green.  Green is always the colour and you can count on me choosing them to win any week any day.  As coach Chamblin says "win all day every day."

One last parting thought - Journey to the Cup was a great production.  It was a mere half hour and was really well done by the guru's at TSN however, I actually liked "All In" better.  Tell me your thoughts!  And until then Go Riders!