Flashback Friday

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have fallen to 0 – 4 and look to turn things around in week five against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Let's face it, Rider Nation has learned to have high expectations from the football club in the last few years and the Grey Cup win in 2013 at home has put fans over the top in reaction to losses. It's not easy being green these days. Canada's Team has the moniker of “bumbling losers” and that didn't come from anywhere else but the pile of losses the team used to have in seasons past. So just where were we the last time the Roughriders were 0 – 4?

Well jump in your DeLorean, Doc because we're headed back to 1995.

In 1995, I was 23 and had been married 3 years. (For the love of Gainer, don't do the math!) The number one song on the radio was “Waterfalls” by TLC. Who? And the movie we were all headed to the theatres to watch was Apollo 13 starring the iconic Tom Hanks. Windows 95 was being released and the newfangled technology of DVD was announced.

1995 was the year the Oklahoma City Federal Building was bombed killing 168 people. The President of the United States was Bill Clinton and our Prime Minister was Jean Chretian. Terrorism was a thing that happened over seas. There wasn't airport security and you didn't need a passport to travel.

Major League Baseball players were on strike.

OJ Simpson was found innocent.

The San Francisco 49ers won the Super Bowl while the BC Lions were coming off their win over the Baltimore Stallions in the 82^nd Grey Cup with Kent Austin as their starting quarterback.

It seems like another world, doesn't it?

What would you say to 1995 you? If you would have told me I'd be a rabid Roughrider fan back then I'd probably have laughed at you. Football was the farthest thing from my mind back then and even if I'd have wanted to watch most of the games were blacked out.

And I don't mean the power was off.

Rod Pederson was ending his tenure as voice of the Prince Albert Raiders.

Things were awfully different in 1995.

The Riders played on Taylor Field.

The guys who are on the banners now, played for the team then.

The coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders was Ray Jauch while the GM was Al Ford. Ray Jauch was only the coach for that year. I suspect it was because the Riders failed to make the playoffs.....again.

Next year country. That's the way it was.

There were lots of players on the '95 team who we now consider legends. I bet they didn't feel like legends when they went 0 – 4.

There were highlights of 1995. Gene Makowsky was drafted in the 2^nd round in 1995. This year, 2015, Geno-Mak is being inducted into the Hall of Fame on August 22^nd . What an amazing career and to think he had it all with our Riders. That is special and doesn't happen often.

Don Narcisse was MOP while Ray Elgaard was MOC.

Interestingly enough, Paul McCallum was the kicker in 1995 and he's “forgotten all that crap” and returned this year. Thank goodness because we needed him.

So maybe you're wondering, what happened to the Roughriders back then?

What happened in week five?

I'm not sure you really want to know.

They lost.

They lost 36-15 to the San Antonio Texans.

Since 1995, we've developed a new Roughrider fan culture. We buy merchandise and we go out in droves to grocery stores to meet players and buy anything with a wheat sheaf emblem on it. We've created something that no other fan base has but they all admire. We are in touch and connected and we care about winning more than any group of people could.

On Sunday at 5pm I will be in my section 14 seat ready to cheer on my Riders as Kent Austin brings his TiCats in to Mosaic Stadium for only the second time since they were defeated in the 2013 Grey Cup.

Let's make another magical memory.

"Don't go chasing waterfalls
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to
I know that you're gonna have it your way or nothing at all
But I think you're moving too fast"

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.

Travelling Rider Fans

One of the things that makes Ridernation so unique is how fans travel from all over the country to take in games. It's not uncommon for someone to drive not only a couple hours but all day or night or even hop on a plane just to get to Mosaic Stadium. I am also one of these fans. I live three hours away in Saskatoon. I'd love nothing more than to be at every single game, but it's not always possible due to driving hours versus work hours. It's not only the time but the money involved in getting to games. It's an all day adventure.

Game Day Eve we start to get ready. I make sure I have bottled water and snacks for the trip. I make sure our tickets are packed. I actually make sure the tickets are there repeatedly. How bad would it be to drive three hours to only realize the tickets were forgotten?! Ack! We also have a special Rider satchel to carry our seat cushions in which handily has enough room for all the other stuff too. Because I have a condition called Solar Urticaria, there is also an ample supply of sunblock. You have to look after the skin!

As I said, going to a game is an all day affair when travelling from Saskatoon. Hubby is an accountant and has crunched all the numbers and for this reason we don't buy food at the stadium. Oh, we'd love to! It smells awesome! We also do not indulge in wobbly pops. We are there to enjoy the game and driving home can be treacherous enough as it is. We do, however, make sure to have a substantial breakfast or lunch before jumping in the car.

Hmm...is it Steve?  Is it really?

Last week, since the game was an early game, I found a recipe for “Egg Muffins”. I'd seen them posted on Pinterest but never really knew how they actually tasted. They are FREAKING AMAZING! You cook them in the oven in a muffin pan and they pop out and are totally portable and freezable for another time!

My Egg Muffin Recipe

Prepared Egg Muffins...YUM!

6 eggs

1 cup diced omelet/pizza mix from the Co-Op deli

1/2 cup grated tex mex cheese

dash salt & pepper.

Whisk or mix the whole thing up. Portion out by soup ladle into a muffin pan sprayed with cooking spray. Cook in 350 F degree oven for 15 minutes or until the centers are solid. Makes 9 egg muffins @ 56 calories each.

Anyone ever go to the A&W on Albert Street? It seems to be our stopping off place once we've arrived in Regina. It really helps that a few weeks back we were delivered a whole page of coupons in the mail. This is our pregame meal. Usually we'd have a Teen Burger combo or something similar, but last game we managed to get to Regina earlier than expected and they were still serving breakfast...probably because there wasn't a check stop in Chamberlain. Anyone who knows me knows I love pancakes or waffles. I was so happy to be able to have pancakes on game day. The syrup it's served with is pretty great too. 3 pancakes for $2...sign me up! My only complaint about that A&W is the size of the restrooms. I've been in bigger broom closets.

I get parking lot rage. I admit it. I cannot stand driving around looking for a place to park and I detest having to walk miles from the car to the stadium. So because of this The Hubs and I catch the Fan Express from the Northgate Mall. It's pretty handy. The first bus comes 90 minutes before game time and for $3 drops you right outside the south gates. The price went up over last year though. Now it's a $12 bus ride for us. Still it's a great option. We just hop on after the game and get delivered back to the mall and before you know it we're back out on the highway heading for home.

On the car ride home we eat sandwiches (honey ham for that trip with a smattering of mustard) which we packed picnic style and listen to the post game show on ckrm with Michael Ball and guests. It helps to keep the mind occupied while driving and winds us down and helps us rationalize all facets of the game. The callers make us angry and make us laugh but most importantly, it's broadcast long enough to get us to our doorstep and for that we are thankful.

The game? Well the Roughriders/Argonauts game was highly entertaining. I've never seen our offence so dialled in. It was amazing. Kevin Glenn performed awesome and I'd argue Durant couldn't have done better. Argo's Trevor Harris played calm and cool and collected. Many have complained about the officiating and phantom penalties, but I'm not going to go there. What I do see is a very strong Rider team and I think if they clean up the penalties this team will be the team to watch. The defence and coaching of Corey Chamblin was under question but I really didn't see a failure there at all. Remember there is no fan base as finicky as Rider fans.

After all, it's not the start of the season that matters...it's how you finish!

What's your game day regime? Have any tips for those of us travelling? Let me know! Maybe I'll include them in future editions of this blog.

Until then, I remain faithful. I believe. And I predict a win in BC Friday night.

Go Riders Go!