A Birthday Being

Do I look older?

Well my birthday was monday and I proclaimed Sunday aka Rider Game Day "Birthday Eve".  Hubby doesn't believe Birthday Eve is a thing...he's wrong.  What can a rabid fangirl Rider fan want most for her Birthday Eve gift? A HUGE win of course.

So last week was Tino Sunseri's first start at Quarterback.  We can all agree that he appeared slow...took too much time in the pocket...and just wasn't seeing the field.  We lost that game to the Hamilton Ticats who looked to have it all together.  As you can imagine it not only added fuel to the Burris fire but "fans" were counting the Riders out of the Grey Cup chase and bailing off the bandwagon.

I remember back in 2009, a new starting quarterback named Darian Durant, spent the bye week by staying in Regina and practicing to get better.  Well, Tino took a page from the Durant playbook and had extra practices.  I liked that very much when I heard that.  Sunseri has the drive, I think.  If you read my last blog I think you'll know that I support him.  It's always important to put your faith behind developing for the future instead of trying to relive the past.

In Sunday's game, Tino came out and I immediately saw the progression over the previous week.  He looked much sharper and faster. Admittedly, it didn't look promising until Chamblin's honesty at half time.  "We're getting our asses handed to us." he said.  I've never seen him so fired up.  Obviously, it snapped everyone out of the fog they were in because the Riders came out fighting.  Terrius George recorded 4 sacks. Weston Dressler not only returned a punt for a touchdown but also scored a 60 yard touchdown that had me yelling WOW...WOW...WOW! from my frantically rocking recliner.

The Riders sure delivered a great Birthday Eve present wrapped in an overtime win.  But I'd sure love it it wasn't such a nail biting heart thumping recliner rocking ending!  And I don't know about anyone else, but when the REDBLACKS lined up for that field goal in overtime I had a Grey Cup 2009 flashback.  I was silently screaming COUNT YOUR MEN!!!!  But karma smiled on all the 13th men this time...and Peters blocked the attempt.

Wow.

The Riders now sit at 9-3 and second place in the West.  Hot on our heals are the Edmonton Eskimo's. What happens?  Well an Edmonton radio station puts together some very pathetic attempts at tongue in cheek sarcasm advertisements calling Rider fans great but "horrible human beings".  Wha?  So besides that a five year old can probably write a wittier ad - do they really think this will get extra butts in the seats at Commonwealth?  I'm not offended by the ads because I just plainly think they are dumb.  What I really don't understand is how this would entice Eskimo fans to buy tickets.  It certainly doesn't manipulate Rider fans into wanting to go.  In fact, I know of a few Rider faithful who live in the City of Chumps...er, Champions, who are seriously questioning giving up their season tickets.

I know the Riders have taken out all the billboards. "Green is the new Orange".  But isn't that a clever play on words?  It also doesn't insult anyone.  It isn't name calling.  In fact, if you have to resort to calling the fans of a team horrible, then you sound very desperate.  Come on marketers and radio ad writers...You can do a heck of a lot better than this!  And if you think Rider fans are obnoxious, it's because we demand better.

Geroy Simon promotes Coats for Kids.  John Chick helps the Diabetes Association.  There are Co-Op Game Day products with players like Durant, Dressler, & Getzlaf with proceeds going to the Childrens Hospital Foundation.  Rider fans help out with these projects.  Rider fans lead the league in supporting the CFL by buying merchandise.  If that's what you call a "horrible human being" then I'd rather be called that than anything else.

My name is Sandra.  I'm a rabid Rider fan.  And I'm a horrible human being.

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 ;)