Here
we are again.
One
and Nine.
We've
become dear old friends over the last two seasons. It's a love hate
relationship really. We love our Saskatchewan Roughriders and
desperately hate the losing record. Then to lose Sunday to our most
hated rival after eleven years of winning the Labour Day
Classic...well, it's rough.
In
2014, Darian Durant suffered an injury in the Labour Day game on a
play which should have been a penalty but wasn't. The Riders won the
game. In 2015, Darian Durant wasn't playing the game due to the
Achilles injury and the Roughriders had just fired Taman and
Chamblin. They named Bob Dyce Head Coach and the Riders went on to
win the game. This year, under the Jones regime, Doubles single
handedly brought the team back from a dismal first half, scored a
touchdown himself then scored the 2 point conversion using the same
play. It wasn't enough to win the game but it was more than enough
to reaffirm just why Darian Durant is our starting quarterback. I
turned to my husband and said “THAT'S why he's our starting
quarterback.” I've never seen a player with so much heart. He
wants nothing more than to win for the fans. When I heard him in the
post game interview...my heart broke for him. Darian's contract was
only for 2016. I am afraid to think of what might happen in 2017. I
don't want to know a Riders team without this man.
Obviously,
it'll happen at some point in the future. I'm not crazy. I just
want it to be down the road and after the rebuild and on Darian
Durant's terms.
As
far as “why didn't the Riders win that game”, I don't believe it
comes down to the referree's mistakes. I surely would like to blame
Andre “turd an tree” Proulx for blown calls, phantom calls and
anything else I could but I'm too rational for that. Our
Saskatchewan Roughriders didn't play very well in the first half of
the game but rebounded in the second half. There are many young
players and rookies on our team due to rebuilding and injuries. When
penalties and stupid mistakes happen we simply aren't good enough
(yet) to over come them. Losing a game shouldn't come down to a
missed kick or a controversial penalty decision and for good and
great teams it doesn't. Just because I think this doesn't mean I'm
blind to what's happening in the CFL with everything from the
officials right on up to the commissioner. It's just not logical to
say the Riders got screwed when it's happening in every CFL game
every week. However, when players of the likes of Nik Lewis are
tweeting saying the Riders got screwed...well, you know there's big
issues. Is it embarrassing? Naw, not for me. It's freaking
maddening. Just as I say the Riders aren't good enough neither are
the officials. I don't believe they just want to get it right – I
believe they don't know what is right.
Enough
dwelling.
Hubby
and I were in Section 43 Row 1 which is located on the West Gate
(which I still sometimes think says Wes Cates). This is the last
time we will be on this side of the stadium during this Farewell
Season. We had great fans sitting around us and that includes Blue
Bomber fans. Every one was well behaved and we all had a great time.
How
about the play of Naaman 'the President' Roosevelt and Caleb Holley?
These guys have been impressive and I am very encouraged as they
continue to develop.
Dressler
who? We let him have a couple plays but we didn't let him score a
touchdown in spite of Paul LaPolice's insistence of continually
trying to get him the ball. I love that we were almost able to shut
him down.
Kendial
Lawrence. After weeks of harsh criticism, he finally broke loose and
scored a touchdown. We nearly went berserk. I was jumping up and
down and shaking my cowbell and screaming then seconds later high
five-ing everyone around us. It was amazing and down deep in my
heart I felt a sensation of relief. Seeing the back flips in the end
zone was pretty cool and made me think back to the Hugh Charles days.
The only thing more amazing than witnessing this in person was
hearing the play call by The Voice of the Riders Rod Pederson. It
was right up there with “that just happened” and “they just
don't stop”. That thing that it makes me feel while I sit
here writing this is essentially Rider Pride at its very nucleus in
my little green heart. Man, that feels good.
And
that's about the best way to describe it.
Saturday
is the big rematch. The Banjo Bowl. I have no idea who will win but
of course I hope my Roughriders do. I'm happy for the Blue Bombers
to be having a more successful season but not happy enough to hand
them another win. No matter the outcome, it'll be entertaining. We
can always count on our Riders to put on a great show. Go Riders! //=S=//
