When Christion Jones ran back the punt to score a touchdown towards the end of the fourth quarter in Sundays East Final to tie the game I leaped to my feet and jumped up and down in front of our 55 inch LG TV. We aren't going home! We aren't going home! We planned for 21 days and we aren't going home! It was the height of emotion but with a sinking feeling I knew we weren't going to hold back Ricky Ray and the Argonauts and with my green heart pounding wildly in my chest I prayed and hoped and BEL13VED. I was in denial. I had thought at half time we had lost the game. My Saskatchewan Roughriders who were the underdogs and who wanted desperately to rewrite history and prove all the doubters wrong just weren't playing with any motivation or urgency. We were going to lose.
When the Argos scored the touchdown to win the game to advance to the Grey Cup in Ottawa I got angry. It's really hard not to try to place blame. The refereeing was bad but it's been bad all season and whether or not roughing the passer happened or there was a bad block or unsportsmanlike penalties at the end of the day the Riders just weren't prepared enough. People spouted off about quarterbacks and conspiracies...then I thought about Corey Chamblin and how much he and Tyron Brackenridge might like to really stick to the Riders for being fired and released. I thought about how cool as a cucumber Marc Trestman is and how to me he'll always be "that" Head Coach from the 2009 - 10 Grey Cup games and how much 09 hurt especially. I really wanted to write all those feelings down but I was so upset I couldn't put anything down on paper and went to the grocery store instead where I shared a knowing glance with a fellow Rider fan. The trouble has always been that I care so much and often too much and end up being hurt.
OK...sucking it all up....life goes on....
There is no one to blame. The Roughriders just didn't play well enough to win this playoff game. They came close but the defence just couldn't hold them. Let's face it...Rider Nation got two extra games this season! We haven't had a play off game in 2 season and now here in only the second year of a massive rebuild under the Chris Jones regime we got within 1 game...30 seconds really...of going to the 2017 Grey Cup. I had said back in June or maybe it was Training Camp that if this team went 9-9 I'd be happy. The Riders ended the season 10-8, won the East Semi-Final and was competitive enough in the East Final to make Ricky Ray really work for it. I was a first time season ticket holder and getting to experience my favourite team during the Inaugural Season at new Mosaic Stadium was amazing! We couldn't be happier with our seats and the friends we made around us and getting to be on the field during pregame was mind blowing. How blessed are we to have a General Manager/Head Coach (plus VP & DC) of Chris Jones and his whole staff. Because of him we have the team we do with the character and family feeling that we do.
Hope. No matter how we feel or that it took me two entire days to reach this point I know that 2018 looks very promising for Rider fans. I've scrolled through Twitter looking at all the terrific posts from Rider players who are saying their goodbyes and thanking Rider fans. When I thanked them in return they often "liked" my post. I wonder if fans of other teams in the CFL have that happen too or if we are indeed special in this province. I watched on the news as players cleaned out their lockers and offered things up to fans. They're looking forward to going home wherever that might be and celebrating the holidays while this loss gets put to the backs of their minds. Coach Jones is already working on next year and starting to firm up contracts. We've spent a lot of time in Riderville thinking of "next year" but I truly bel13ve the 2018 Roughriders team will be a force to be reckoned with.
As we turn to the Grey Cup this weekend I have to admit I've lost interest. My only hope is that Calgary is redeemed for their loss last year. That's how the football Gods seem to work in the CFL... if you came close one year - you'll make it the next. Without the downs we'd never have the happiness of the ups.
If you are American and reading this have a Happy Thanksgiving! If you are Canadian enjoy the Grey Cup festivities and I hope that this little blog which so many of you have helped support over 2017 has brought a little sunshine into your day.
As always - GO RIDERS.
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Go East Young Man!
The Hamilton TigerCats, BC Lions and Montreal Alouettes will all be cleaning out their lockers this week as their seasons are over. This time last year my Saskatchewan Roughriders were doing the same...the last couple of years for that matter. Not this year! With the deciding factor being the loss to the Edmonton Eskimos in Week 20 Chris Jones and crew are heading to Ottawa to invade the Eastern Division.
A lot of sports media enjoy the topic of the Roughriders quarterback tandem of Kevin Glenn and Brandon Bridge or maybe they just can't wrap their minds around the concept. Who should Jones start? Jones names Glenn starter. How short of a leash should Jones give Glenn? Kevin still starts the game. I don't understand why this discussion keeps going on in spite of what's happened this last half of the season. Against the Alouettes, Jones played Glenn, Bridge and Adams Jr. What I think it comes down to is that Kevin Glenn has never lead a team and won a Grey Cup. He's been close (Blue Bombers in 2007) but because of never winning he doesn't get the respect and praise that others do. I also think this is why Jones is adamant about naming him starter every week. For one thing, it shuts up the talkers and debaters but for another, when the Riders make it (and I bel13ve they will) Kevin Glenn will be the starting quarterback who gets his name on the Grey Cup. Finally. I love the mentor that Kevin Glenn is; I love his comradery with fellow team mates and perhaps Kevin Glenn is the glue that keeps the Roughriders together.
The topic I don't hear discussed much is Chris Jones himself. People and fans have an obvious dislike for the man. They hollered for his head through most of last year and the start of the 2017 season as well...until the Riders started winning. I remember one of the Piffles Podcast members putting out a scathing blog just before they started winning. Where is the love now that the Roughriders are 10 - 8? *crickets* I'll tell you what the pundits do enjoy chatting about though. Why does Jones wear all black? Why won't Jones wear Rider colours? Why won't Jones wear a jacket? Why won't Jones wear a poppy? What would they do if they found out he lives at a hotel? GASP! This is all they've got to complain about now in November. I honestly could not care less about how Jones dresses on the sidelines as long as he is dressed. I care about how he coaches the team I am passionate about. I care that the players love him. I care that we win.
Canada's Team is off to the nations capital to play the Redblacks for the first time in post season since 1976. Let's all give a collective aRg as we think of Tony Gabriel together. *wince* Okay, so I was only 4 years old and don't recall anything about the match up at all except for The Catch. That might seem like ancient history so let's move on to present day. The Roughriders have played IN the home of the Ottawa Redblacks 4 times since they re-entered the CFL. The Roughriders are 3-1 against them. The last game in Regina the Redblacks were victorious by 1 point while on the Riders Eastern road trip the Riders were victors by 1 point. But let's talk about that Eastern swing... The Roughriders played in Ottawa and got the W then stayed out east to play the Toronto aRgonauts where they also got the win. Since this play off run could be a redo of that road trip the Saskatchewan Roughriders could possibly stay East for 21 days.
So my theory in my previous blog was incorrect. I have a new idea! If the Riders were to win the East (which I agree is likely a tall order) and the Blue Bombers (also a tall order with Matt Nichols injured) were to win the West we could see a scenario such as a Labour Day Classic Grey Cup. How crazy would that be? If Kevin Glenn lead the Roughriders to a victory over the Blue Bombers in the Grey Cup TEN years after they lost because Glenn was injured (they played Ryan Dinwiddie) Blue Bomber fans would go berserk.
I like it. :)
There's nothing Rider fans love more than tying the present to the past with stats and trivia. I love to pull out things that happened on previous teams and seasons to try to predict how this season will end. The Roughriders used quarterback tandems in 1983 with Barnes & Hufnagel and more successfully in 1989 with another set of 5 & 16 numbers aka Austin and Burgess. It would only seem fitting that the 2017 combo of #5 Kevin Glenn and #16 Brandon Bridge would provide us with some sort of karma. In that same way one should note that the Riders lost the final games of the season in the years 1989, 2007 and 2013 and went on to win the Grey Cup. Does it mean anything now? We just have to wait and see.
Hasn't this season gone by quickly? The funny thing is I still have a line on my right leg from the wicked sun burn I received at Training Camp the first time I attended back in June. In June all the hype was about Vince Young. I remember Chad Owens running back a punt and the crowd reacting at the scrimmage game. I recall Duron Carter's wide happy smile making me smile too. Aren't we blessed to have one more game to look forward to? The Eastern Semi-Final starts at noon Sunday. Go Riders!
A lot of sports media enjoy the topic of the Roughriders quarterback tandem of Kevin Glenn and Brandon Bridge or maybe they just can't wrap their minds around the concept. Who should Jones start? Jones names Glenn starter. How short of a leash should Jones give Glenn? Kevin still starts the game. I don't understand why this discussion keeps going on in spite of what's happened this last half of the season. Against the Alouettes, Jones played Glenn, Bridge and Adams Jr. What I think it comes down to is that Kevin Glenn has never lead a team and won a Grey Cup. He's been close (Blue Bombers in 2007) but because of never winning he doesn't get the respect and praise that others do. I also think this is why Jones is adamant about naming him starter every week. For one thing, it shuts up the talkers and debaters but for another, when the Riders make it (and I bel13ve they will) Kevin Glenn will be the starting quarterback who gets his name on the Grey Cup. Finally. I love the mentor that Kevin Glenn is; I love his comradery with fellow team mates and perhaps Kevin Glenn is the glue that keeps the Roughriders together.
The topic I don't hear discussed much is Chris Jones himself. People and fans have an obvious dislike for the man. They hollered for his head through most of last year and the start of the 2017 season as well...until the Riders started winning. I remember one of the Piffles Podcast members putting out a scathing blog just before they started winning. Where is the love now that the Roughriders are 10 - 8? *crickets* I'll tell you what the pundits do enjoy chatting about though. Why does Jones wear all black? Why won't Jones wear Rider colours? Why won't Jones wear a jacket? Why won't Jones wear a poppy? What would they do if they found out he lives at a hotel? GASP! This is all they've got to complain about now in November. I honestly could not care less about how Jones dresses on the sidelines as long as he is dressed. I care about how he coaches the team I am passionate about. I care that the players love him. I care that we win.
Canada's Team is off to the nations capital to play the Redblacks for the first time in post season since 1976. Let's all give a collective aRg as we think of Tony Gabriel together. *wince* Okay, so I was only 4 years old and don't recall anything about the match up at all except for The Catch. That might seem like ancient history so let's move on to present day. The Roughriders have played IN the home of the Ottawa Redblacks 4 times since they re-entered the CFL. The Roughriders are 3-1 against them. The last game in Regina the Redblacks were victorious by 1 point while on the Riders Eastern road trip the Riders were victors by 1 point. But let's talk about that Eastern swing... The Roughriders played in Ottawa and got the W then stayed out east to play the Toronto aRgonauts where they also got the win. Since this play off run could be a redo of that road trip the Saskatchewan Roughriders could possibly stay East for 21 days.
So my theory in my previous blog was incorrect. I have a new idea! If the Riders were to win the East (which I agree is likely a tall order) and the Blue Bombers (also a tall order with Matt Nichols injured) were to win the West we could see a scenario such as a Labour Day Classic Grey Cup. How crazy would that be? If Kevin Glenn lead the Roughriders to a victory over the Blue Bombers in the Grey Cup TEN years after they lost because Glenn was injured (they played Ryan Dinwiddie) Blue Bomber fans would go berserk.
I like it. :)
There's nothing Rider fans love more than tying the present to the past with stats and trivia. I love to pull out things that happened on previous teams and seasons to try to predict how this season will end. The Roughriders used quarterback tandems in 1983 with Barnes & Hufnagel and more successfully in 1989 with another set of 5 & 16 numbers aka Austin and Burgess. It would only seem fitting that the 2017 combo of #5 Kevin Glenn and #16 Brandon Bridge would provide us with some sort of karma. In that same way one should note that the Riders lost the final games of the season in the years 1989, 2007 and 2013 and went on to win the Grey Cup. Does it mean anything now? We just have to wait and see.
Hasn't this season gone by quickly? The funny thing is I still have a line on my right leg from the wicked sun burn I received at Training Camp the first time I attended back in June. In June all the hype was about Vince Young. I remember Chad Owens running back a punt and the crowd reacting at the scrimmage game. I recall Duron Carter's wide happy smile making me smile too. Aren't we blessed to have one more game to look forward to? The Eastern Semi-Final starts at noon Sunday. Go Riders!
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