Once in a Super Blood Moon

 You may have noticed I didn't post a blog last week.

~ crickets ~

I was sick. I had that cold/flu that is going around which ends with a hacking cough so bad you wonder if you've given yourself a concussion. My birthday was the 22^nd so that sucked because even though I know it happened the cold meds had me in a blurry state of mind.

But finally here I am with a clear mind and a year older and holy smokes the Riders won a game!

Did I dream that?

Things in Rider Nation had been pretty quiet. My Twitter feed was full of Blue Jays and people wishing for hockey season. It's creepy when no one is talking about anything regarding the Roughriders. Either they were all sick like I was or they stopped caring. Neither one of those things is something we want going on.

September 25^th was the Plaza of Honor dinner which we saw the ol' 96er Scott Schultz and Tim McCray get inducted. It was really great to hear McCray's account of the lead up to the 1989 Grey Cup and how the Riders beat the Eskimo's in the west final when everyone had counted out the Riders. There's nothing like being the under dog and showing everyone what you're made of.

September 18^th Kory Sheets was in Saskatoon signing autographs. I wanted to go see him so badly but the last thing I wanted to do was spread my plague to my favorite running back. He was at the game as well. It surprised me that none of the Rider media seemed to pick up on it. I was expecting an interview or some speculation on what he was doing back in Saskatchewan. I am completely hopeful and maybe it's the goggles or that I just loved that man in 2013, but could you imagine the tandem of Jerome Messam and Kory Sheets in 2016? That would be amazing and my green Rider heart would really appreciate that after what seemed like the running back merry-go-round in 2014. I pray that Sheets second Achilles surgery rehab goes well and he can return to the player he was. If he can do it once or twice, why can't he do it a third time?

Responded on my birthday by the way :)

Speaking of Achilles, some Rider fans are obsessed with seeing Darian Durant on the sidelines. I'm sure now that he's walking it's not as dangerous for him to be there as he's getting more mobile. But what's all this talk of doubt that he'll be the same player he was before the injury? I know we barely saw him recover from his arm injury but I know how hard of a worker Doubles is and in my greenest of hearts don't doubt that he'll not only recover fully from this leg injury but be the same or better as before. Via Twitter I asked Kory Sheets how he responded after the first time he injured his Achilles. He responded that he was the same. Durant is a tremendous leader and completely elevates the team. I only remembered how much when I heard his voice when rewatching the 2013 Grey Cup.  I think we've all forgotten that in his absence from the field.

How wonderfully consistent is Kevin Glenn?! I was concerned after seeing both KG and Doubles in training camp and fretted over a quarterback controversy. Who knew this season would turn out like it has? As Darian was seen on the sidelines recovering from his Achilles injury, the questions of who should start, Glenn or Smith, seems to have quietened down. In my opinion, Glenn was always the starter in this scenario. Glenn can just see down field, anticipate defences and get the ball to the guys who can make plays. But I hope Smith is watching and learning. He will get his time again. It's just not now.

With the TigerCats starting quarterback Zach Colaros being injured it has been suggested that Kevin Glenn be traded to Hamilton. I honestly believe Kent Austin will want to develop the back up quarterbacks he already has. Wouldn't it be Corey Chamblin mentality to trade for a vet? Besides, if.....IF.....there is still mathematical chance of the Roughriders still making the playoffs then the Riders need Kevin Glenn to do it.

Do I really think the Saskatchewan Roughriders have a chance at making the 2015 Grey Cup play offs? Heck no. I'm not delirious still from the cold medication. I know that there's little to no chance at all of it happening. I'm realistic and logical and know they'd have to win out the rest of the season. That's a lot to ask and hope for and it's highly unlikely.

But could you imagine? Could you imagine if it did happen? It would be epic. Legendary. Magical. And that minute shred of hope is what makes Rider Nation what it is. That belief in last minute wins and heart pounding drama that makes us rabid fans yearn for miracles at Mosaic.  It's pure Rider Pride.

Does the house on Piffles that Ron and George helped build have enough left in her for one more go in 2015?

I wanna find out.

A Roll of the Dyce

Many a blog has been composed at my dining room table coffee cup in hand. At 3pm Thursday afternoon my two year old Keurig moaned and groaned but did not product any coffee.

I'm not sure life can go on as we know it.

* * * * *

How great was the Labour Day Classic? I was again in section 14 but got moved up to row 13 and I have to say, WOW, what an interesting (crazy) and fun (drunk) group of people. Someone actually brought a massive jar of pickled eggs and was serving them to seat mates with a spaghetti ladle. Sunflower seeds were shared as were touchdown high fives. It was great. I have to say any Bomber fans near us were good sports in spite of my Hubby's incessant yelling of BOMBERS SUCK!!! One turned around and motioned as if to say 'yeah, well, you're right.' Still these fans make the pilgrimage every year and help make the day into the event that it is.

This has been a season of rumours. Going back to the story by Gary Lawless, which we now pretty much know was leaked by Brendan Taman himself, we all said at the time it was hogwash only then a couple weeks later and after the outcry of fans what he said became truth. Knowing now that Lawless and Taman are friends is interesting and has made me think of two scenario’s.....one being that BT was just wondering out loud and Lawless took it and ran with it OR two, that it was a publicity stunt of sorts where Taman was trying to drum up Chamblin support and squash the firing rumours. That's all water under the bridge because then Jeremy O'Day and Bob Dyce were named as interim GM and Head Coach. Rider Nation was high after the Labour Day win. It seemed like the team was the one we remembered. It kind of seamed like everything was fixed. It's a new O'day! Then a new rumour emerged saying John Hufnagel was going to leave the Calgary Stampeders to become the Roughriders new GM and Head Coach.

Wait, wha?

I don't know where this story started but I know for sure it did not start in good old Saskie.

Before the firings, while everyone was speculating, call in show hosts talked about how the position of head coach would be a difficult one to replace and that it would pretty much be career suicide because when the season is over they'd be relieved of the position as well. Then, once the names O'Day and Dyce were put out there it seems like all of what I just stated went out the window. Suddenly everyone is on board with the hiring. What I can honestly say is that besides knowing that Jeremy O'Day was a previous player and was Taman's assistant, I know nothing else about him which would make him ready to not only right our Rider ship but make it the premier team that we all want it to be. I also ask this question.....if Bob Dyce wasn't good enough to be named Head Coach in 2012 after being Rider Offensive Coordinator and now Special Teams Coordinator, what makes him ready for the job going forward?

I'm not saying I don't like these men because that simply isn't true. The players certainly seem to like them and want to play for them. Just consider the inexperienced coaching staff we currently have.....who could possibly fix it? Not only fix it but completely turn it around into a winning team next year? And that's why whether there may be any truth to the Hufnagel rumour or not....it actually could be considered because you cannot deny how successful he's made the Stampeder franchise.

I know what you're saying.

ABC – Anyone But Calgary.

Since I'm on the topic of ex Roughrider quarterbacks.....how about that little skirmish Kent Austin got himself into? In case you missed it, he gave Dave Stala a bit of a shoulder shove on the Tiger Cats sidelines during the game the other night. This whole thing is so amusing to me. First of all we all know that Kent has sideline antics from eye rolling to arms flailing so much so a Twitter account was created called Angry Kent. Taking that into consideration, it doesn't surprise me that a hot headed Kent would shove a player in this fashion. But really...was it a thing? I mean, a big enough deal for Austin to issue an apology and then be fined $5000 by the league?

:)

By the way, word on the street is that Kent Austin's contract in Hamilton is up at the end of this season. Would we want him back?

Why is another teams cast off supposed to make the Riders pearl necklace?

Shrugs

Remember that time the Roughriders were favoured to thrash the Blue Bombers in the Banjo Bowl? I'm not going to rehash a game where we saw our 3^rd string quarterback run for his life as our mostly veteran offensive line failed repeatedly. In my opinion the game ended exactly the same as the Ottawa game where Brett Smith was pulled and we saw Sunseri get sacked again and again as our offensive line failed.

The questions this week are all about who starts at quarterback as Kevin Glenn comes off the injured list. Since our O line can't seem to protect anyone for three quarters never mind four.....does it really matter who the starter is? Playing armchair coach, I think you have to go with the veteran in this case. He has the experience in seeing the defences. Glenn put up great numbers prior to his injury. The choice is simple for me. The goal even though the play offs aren't even a consideration at this point is to win games. We still have to play games and try to win and by playing anyone else you are waving the white flag.

The stats say that typically teams who fire their head coach tend to win the following game, however, the season usually finishes the way it starts. If you read my last blog I went back in Roughriders history and looked at the coach firings two to three years before Grey Cup wins and the season records.

1964 9-7

1986 6-11

2005 9-9

2011 5-13

Even though in two of those seasons the Riders made it to play offs, they still weren't successful winning teams until two or three seasons later. Are you ready for that Rider Nation?

* * * * *

Some good news. I McGyvered my Keurig by using a steak knife and vinegar and gave it a second life.

Coffee cup in hand, I ask you, can the Saskatchewan Roughriders gain some W's in these last 7 games? My guess is as good as yours.

It's a roll of the Dyce.

Fire & Brimstone

I will admit when I am wrong.

I was wrong.

I put my support behind the Roughriders and coaching staff because I honestly didn't see a reason not to. Yes, things were done I was surprised by and didn't understand and yes, it got harder and harder to see every game and I felt for the players deeply. I wasn't blind nor did I sport green goggles but I just didn't know all the facts. It's definitely hard when you are the one voice against the herd.

After Sunday's game I put my faith in the Roughriders organization. My belief was and continues to be that those on the board and who hold the power know what the right decision was and should be. They have all the inside knowledge and run the business while I am just someone on the outside viewing the field. I won't pretend to have the knowledge to decide whether someone should have a job or not.

I've also said a firing was a dangerous road. I could see how if not controlled correctly it could be the beginning of a coaching carousel which would take years to recover from. I hope I am wrong on that account too.

The last time the Saskatchewan Roughriders made a statement by firing both the General Manager and Head Coach was December 8^th, 1986. Those positions were held by Jack Gotta and Bill Quinter. Three years later the Riders won the Grey Cup.

There were two coach firings before Eagle Keys led the Riders to the 1966 Grey Cup. Danny Barrett was fired before Kent Austin came in 2007. Greg Marshall in 2011...then Cory Chamblin led us to the Grey Cup of our wildest green dreams.

It feels like a cycle.

Can it be broken?

* shrugs *

In previous blogs I've mentioned how the culture in the province has drastically changed. There was a next year mentality. Losing was okay. Rider Nation won't stand for mediocrity any longer. In 1963 it would have been word on the street of discontent that would have spurred the team to make changes. In 2015 the people who would be on the street are now on their smart phones.

Before the 2010 Grey Cup, Rider Nation was awarded the CFL Commissioner's Award.

"This award is for everyone who has ever worn a watermelon instead of a toque to a CFL game," CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon said in making the announcement during the Gibson's Finest CFL Player Awards.

"Each year, I have the privilege of handing out the Commissioner's Award to a person or group that has made an outstanding contribution to the development of Canadian football," he said.

"This year, the one hundredth year of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, I decided to pay tribute to a group that epitomizes the way CFL fans love our league: the Rider Nation, which collectively does so much to make our league vibrant and strong and fun."

While every team in the CFL has tremendous fans, Saskatchewan fans are known for filling stadiums for their team's road games as well as home games, making the Riders the league's best draw. They are responsible for more than half of the CFL's merchandise sales. And their team's games are routinely among the most watched on TSN.

Oh how the mighty have fallen.

Sunday evening and continuing on to Monday throughout the day and leading right up until the news of the dismissal of Cory Chamblin and Brendan Taman broke, Rider Nation picked up torches and pitch forks and went on a witch hunt of the likes that no one has seen since Mary Shelley put pen to paper.

Is that the legacy you want Rider Nation to have?

I've never been so embarrassed or ashamed in my whole life to be a Rider fan. As my pal, Tony Brice commented, “Rider Nation is too dark for me.” Folks, that's what it looks like on the outside looking in. No wonder other fan bases hate us! It's the reason Rnation is giving us a run for our money. It's the reason if we aren't careful that football players and coaches will start backing away. We've touted that this is the place to be, yet chased away Henry Burris and dumped manure on Paul McCallum. Why? Why would anybody in their right mind want to come into this fish bowl?

Le sigh.

So it's a fresh start. We are moving forward with interim Head Coach Bob Dyce and General Manager Jeremy O'Day. The Saskatchewan Roughriders are now in their hands. Wednesday practice is open and we've got a Labour Day Classic to prepare for. Brett Smith will be the starting quarterback and we've got a beaten and battered team to get behind as the struggling Winnipeg Blue Bombers fly into Mosaic Stadium Sunday afternoon at 2pm.

Use your passion, Rider Nation, in a massive show of support. These players and coaches deserve the very best. Let's make it a sell out.

Bring your cow bells. Leave the spears at home.

Put Owen in his place and put the win back in SaskatcheWIN where it belongs.