Friday Football 5 ~ Grey Cup Edition ~

Is there any Canadian Football League event more anticipated than the week leading up to and including the Grey Cup?

1.  Admittedly it would be 1000 times more exciting if our own home team was participating in the Grey Cup and I don't mean just my Saskatchewan Roughriders but if you are reading this and are a fan of any other CFL team, especially the Eskimos, you'd be wishing your team was included too.  Here we are with the match up of the Ottawa REDBLACKS versus the Calgary blackreds...er, Stampeders.  What a feast for the eyes this TSN broadcast will be.  The Stampeders elected to drive by bus to Edmonton.  They made quite an entrance in their "western" attire. (Alex Singleton 😍😍) I thought this

Who wore it better? Bo Levi Mitchell or Pharell Williams?

was a brilliant move...the bus not the clothing.  By this time in the season the team building should be done but much has been to-do about how this isn't the same Stamps team we've seen in the passed.  Just like hockey teams travel by bus, the Stampeders arrived under horse power and as a complete unit.  Of course this wasn't an option for our plaid clad friends from the east and their arrival shouldn't be diminished.  A good portion of Rider Nation (ABC!) is rooting for the Rough Riders/Renegades/Redblacks.  It also shouldn't be over looked how well this Rick Campbell coached team has done since rejoining the CFL in 2014.

2.   What We're Made Of. Alex Dormuth of Piffles Podcast sums up the sentiments of CFL week perfectly in his article. "It’s about making lifelong friends that you may only see once a year. I can’t wait to get to Edmonton and enjoy Grey Cup this week and see some of the great CFL Family that I haven’t seen in a year."  The CFL Family puts rivalries aside for a massive celebration.  What I've learned is that when you need to count on help and support from a community of people no one steps up more than fans of the Canadian Football League.  Case in point of how members of Rider Nation banded together to send New York native Joe Lozito (@joe_lozito/Twitter) to Mosaic Stadium for the Labour Day Classic.  I've personally experienced something similar when fans reached out to us in 2016 when we were in Ontario for medical appointments.  I don't know of any other community with such heart.

3.  I've watched on Twitter this week as fans tweeted their excitement about packing and hitting the road or flying to Edmonton for the 106th Grey Cup festivities.  While, as I said above, it's amazing, those of us at home are feeling a little left out.  Sure, the best way to remedy this is to ensure we are all there, but sadly responsibilities and the cost of it all get in the way as well as the apprehension of desire to sit outside in frigid prairie temperatures.  Talk is snowballing about moving the season up and this blogger (@smilingriderfan/Facebook) thinks the CFL better think strongly about it.  If each team only played each other twice the season would already be two weeks shorter.  I think if the Grey Cup was held closer to the beginning of November instead of the end, attendance at Grey Cups would skyrocket and by the way, I've heard there are still approximately 300 tickets left for this years game plus all the others being advertised for sale around social media.

4. "It ain't about me"  Those were the words Thursday night when Saskatchewan Roughriders General Manager, Vice President of Operations, Defensive Coordinator and Head Coach Chris Jones was presented with the Coach of the Year award by Henry Burris.  I remember that it was only days after the 2015 Grey Cup when it was announced that Chris Jones was hired by Riders President Craig Reynolds.  I

Merry Christmas 2015

had seconds earlier turned on my Christmas lights which I had wrapped around my Roughrider bear and reindeer which was handcrafted by my father several years ago.  It was a Merry CHRISmas and a "new era" in Rider football began.  Social media is such an interesting place and while I was always on board with everything Jones has done many fans have held grudges and gone to the extreme of cheering on ex-players and their teams against us which I could never fully comprehend.  Saskatchewan sports media often commented "he wears too many hats".  This season we saw him adopt our Rider green by wearing the Strength is Diversity tee shirt every game as mandated by his group of players who it's apparent love him tremendously.   2016 was a massive gutting and rebuild which saw many fan favourites leave for bluer pastures.  In 2017, CJ brought the Riders within 3 minutes of a Grey Cup birth. In 2018, Jones and company brought Rider Nation a home play off game, the first since 2013 and the very first at new Mosaic Stadium. I can't wait to see what Chris Jones has in store for Rider Nation in 2019.  

5.  BOLD PREDICTION.  The majority of the CFL talk this Grey Cup week has been around the subject of the Jonathon Rose suspension due to events during the Eastern Conference Final and whether or not he'll play in the big game.  In case you missed it, Rose was ejected from the game after bumping into a referee. It turns out that while he's appealing his suspension he's allowed to play.  Something doesn't seem quite right with that rule if you ask me.  My belief is that this controversy will overshadow the Redblacks team.  It's often happened where this sort of thing occurs and the team just isn't able to fight through the adversity to come out with a win on the other side.  The Calgary Stampeders, twice the bridesmaids never the bride, will come out victorious as the 106th Grey Cup Champions.  With so many changes possible for this Stamps team in 2019, with all the talk of Bo Levi Mitchell trying out for the NFL among others and Devone Claybrooks possibly moving on to the BC Lions, this might be their last chance to win it all.  Is the 3rd time a charm?  Will the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie and Special Teams Player Lewis Ward be called on in the dying seconds to kick the game winner?  Can Trevor Harris have another game of his life or will the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Bo Levi Mitchell reign supreme? That's why we'll all be watching at home on TSN (or following ABC Rider Fans Facebook Groups game thread) Sunday at 5:30 Saskatchewan time to see what transpires in this Canadian Football League we all adore.  Whichever way the cookie crumbles...this year a team wearing red and black will be winning the 2018 Grey Cup.

My favourite kind of CHRISmas cookie.

Friday Football Five

I had a terrible dream last night that the Roughriders CFL season was over...oh wait.....  It wasn't a dream and in fact it's very true and here we are watching 2018 wind down around us.  Part of me wants to say "It's Christmas Now" and the other is holding on tight to the tail of a game worn jersey. 

1.  BIG NEWS.  You may have noticed the title of this blog has undergone a slight name change.  I decided that because I seem to have my paws in various platforms that I needed to link them all together in some way.  I've had this blog for several years and traffic has ebbed and flowed but never anything very consistently.  Believe me, I am not complaining in any way and in fact I'm just wanting to make it easier for people who enjoy my pages to be able to find me and my friends.  So "Football" has become "ABC Football".  I've created a Facebook page using @smilingriderfan where I can post blog links and updates and in conjunction I've linked the Facebook Group ABC Rider Fans, which I started June 1st, all together.  So I see you're looking at me with that glazed over eye look.  Here's a fancy graphic showing it all for you.  

2.  So the Commissioner of the CFL Randy Ambrosie (from Winnipeg) took his time all week deliberating on how to handle the fall out of the Western Semi Final, player safety and Rushing the Passer type calls.  It was announced that the CFL would add another official to the field.  An eighth official has been added to specifically look at quarterbacks and calls to them.  I don't understand how another body on the field is going to change anything.  The officials on the field were already supposed to be in charge of these things and missed it...not only missed it but admitted he couldn't see what was happening.  What makes anyone think that this 8th guy will be any better?  Oh look! Squirrel! Whoops, I missed your QB getting killed.

3.  At least it's something.  Jackson Jeffcoat was fined the "maximum amount" for his helmet to helmet contact, if we can call it that.  In the CFL, the maximum fine is half a game check.  Not knowing Jeffcoat's contract that amount could be a couple thousand dollars.  It hits him in his pocket book but *if* the Blue Bombers make it to the 2018 Grey Cup (1990) will it really matter to him?  I doubt it.

4.  TWO OTHER BLUE BOMBERS WERE FINED.  I've heard around the interwebs fans of other teams call my Saskatchewan Roughriders the dirtiest team.  How is that possible when the Winnipeg Football Club had 3 players fined in the same game in which people touted they were the least penalized team?  Bombers offensive linemen Patrick Neufeld and Sukh Chungh are also facing fines for late and unnecessary hits on Saskatchewan players during Sunday's game.  Coach Mike O'Shea defended Jeffcoat but how can you justify three of your players getting fined in a play off game? As I wrote in my previous blog, It's a Wrap, this isn't the first time for Jackson and now he's a roll model for his team mates.

5.  It's all water under the Bridge.  It's old news and it's time to move on.  This weekend is the East Final and West Final in the CFL.  I feel disheartened because my team isn't there and to paraphrase the words of Coach Jones, unless you leave with a ring on your finger the season stats don't mean anything.  I'll likely still watch the games but not with the same fervor I had previously.  Even though I've often said Anyone But Calgary (ABC) I think I'm secretly cheering for them.  Just don't tell anyone!

I hope to make this a somewhat regular feature on my blog sites.  I hope you join me in this celebration of the 2018 Grey Cup and the off season.

It's a Wrap

I said last week that I wasn't ready for the season to be over.  Well, it doesn't matter how I feel or felt at the time because now I've just got to suck it up and move on because it is indeed all over.  Second Season was short in Rider Nation.

I planned all week (Friday Football Five) what to wear as we were warned of how cold the weather was going to be for the Western Semi Final game between the Roughriders and Blue Bombers.  I saw the updates on social media from the Riders about the players in the cold and as much as the weather should never be the story for some reason it was.  Some of the sports media talked about the "real" football players and how they don't wear sleeves in the cold.  One even went as far as to say the players who wore the sleeves weren't going to win.  I have no idea if there's any truth to that and as the girl who wore two pairs of pants, 3 shirts, winter coat, thermal socks and plastered Hot Hands in her mittens and boots...since when is trying to stay warm a sin?  I've lived in Saskatchewan my whole life...born and raised...and I've never adjusted to winter.  Why on earth do we expect guys from Florida, California or any southern states to adjust better than us?  All that being said, both teams had to play in the same conditions and only one of the two were truly prepared to play.

We were so hopeful all week long.   Collaros was practicing.  We stood a chance.  Then Friday Brandon Bridge took first team reps.  Fans started to chatter.  It's all good we thought...just prep.  Of course he needs reps we tried to tell ourselves.  Then late Saturday, TSN's Dave Naylor broke the news that Collaros was not only not starting but he wasn't even dressing.  Rider Nation flipped out.  It was a strange report.  Dave Naylor tweeted the breaking news and then used the tweet in his article which seemed to me like he was using himself as his source.  The Riders not only lost the game Saturday night but lost the West Semi the week before when Odell Willis took out the Riders starting quarterback.  No amount of rationalization was going to change it.

This was my very first play off game experience.  I've only been able to be a season ticket holder for 2 years.  I live in Saskatoon and have mentioned several times that it's a time commitment as well as a money commitment in the form of gas and food dollars.  There were moments sitting in section 126 where it felt absolutely magical.  The snow would come float down around us and sparkled in the lights of beautiful Mosaic Stadium.  The trumpeter performing for the Remembrance Day ceremony and moment of silence afterwards was breath taking.  The halftime act was an interesting mix of heavy metal and celtic music which I didn't even know what a possibility but thoroughly enjoyed their performance.  The only thing missing was the legendary story of how the QB coined Air Canada would lead us to the first ever play off win at home...and the Riders 13th man flag which failed to unfurl.  As my Hubby pointed out - The Riders never win when the flag isn't flown.

No.  Instead, all the news after the game and for a few days now has been centred around player safety.  I know the Riders were not winning that game.  The Bombers took control of the line of scrimmage at the end of the first quarter and it wasn't getting better from there.  I just think it's interesting that a guy would deliver such a violent blow to a player with only 8 seconds left in a game that the Riders weren't in control of winning anyway.  I had someone tell me that we should all know danger and injuries are a part of the game and how there wasn't a penalty and on and on.  I tried to explain that it's all fine and dandy until it's your quarterback laying prone on the field.  Every player knows that injuries happen but I'm pretty sure none of them play with the expectation of being knocked out.  I think what's even more awful is when you find out that Jackson Jeffcoat did the same thing to Mike Reilly in 2017.  Where does the CFL draw the line?  Why do the Riders have to have this happen to not only one quarterback but both starting quarterbacks within 3 weeks?  Why is this the story instead of how the Bombers came in and executed a great game plan to win them their first play off game in many years?  It's sickening and the CFL and Commissioner Randy Ambrosie (also from Winnipeg) needs to stand up and do something before someone is seriously and devastatingly injured.  

Meanwhile, fans of other teams say we are making excuses for losing.

If that's what makes you feel better for supporting your own team then so be it.

The Roughriders lost for the same reasons that plagued the team throughout 2018.  The offence couldn't execute.  There wasn't a running game.  Our receivers were scrambling and it seemed only one could get open.  Because the Bombers game plan included running the ball and very few throwing opportunities the Riders defence couldn't do what they do and force fumbles, strip the ball or gain interceptions.  The Riders had found ways to win by using the defence when the offence couldn't score.  On Sunday, neither was put in a position to do anything but kick field goals and thank goodness for Brett Lauther.  This is where the Riders need to spend their focus this off season.  With Collaros, Bridge and Tate being free agents one has to think none of them will be back and mostly for the health of Zach Collaros.  Conversation on ABC Rider Fans has quickly turned to which quarterback do we go after for 2019?  Bo Levi Mitchell, Mike Reilly and Trevor Harris are all free agents.  Will we end up seeing one of those guys sporting green?  Before you say "oh hell no" - it's funny how likable hated players become when they're wearing the right colours.

So the Riders fell to the Winnipeg Football Club 23 - 18 and it's the Bombers who move on to Calgary in the West Final.  Calgary has faced their own set of challenges but are hungry after losing in back to back Grey Cup games.  Did the Bombers game plan to teach the Riders a lesson?  Have they planned for Bo Levi and the Stamps?  The Stampeders had the bye and it sure would be fun to see them annihilate the Riders arch rivals...but I'm not hitching my horse to that wagon.  

My Saskatchewan Roughriders have cleared out their lockers.  Players are heading home.  There's plenty of free agents but Marcus Thigpen isn't one of them.  He re-signed quickly.  It's possible some of the players will head to the NFL or want to even test out the new American league.  Chris Jones is having to give coaches their walking papers as the new cap comes into place in 2019.  The CFLPA is heading in to negotiations.  There are 3 clubs wanting to bid on the 2020 Grey Cup including the Riders.  This off season will give us plenty to talk about.

Thank you as always for indulging me in this little blog.  I appreciate everyone who comments and follows along with me.  I believe this isn't a wrap on 2018 - it's the beginning of 2019.  

BEL13VE

Friday Football Five

Can you feel it? The excitement is mounting and I've heard there are less than 2,000 tickets available for Sunday's Western Semi Final game in Regina's Mosaic Stadium.

1.  I've spent all week thinking about what clothes to wear to the Remembrance Day Labour Day feeling play off game between our Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.  I already own ski pants and I think layering 3 or 4 tops/sweaters under my winter coat will suffice.  I have shearling lined winter boots and we've been trying on various styles of mittens.  I'm still toying with the idea of going to Cabella's for some of those hot pocket doo-dad's for extra warmth.  Do I go with Santa hat or the standard tuque or both?  Oh and I've also got a blanket to sit on or be wrapped in.

2.  The players have been commenting on how cold it feels and apparently Coach Jones is tired of hearing about it.  For many of these players, they haven't experienced snow before never mind this depth of cold.  Hubby reminded me of how Lancaster and Reed would dip their hands in freezing water to acclimate themselves to the cold.  All I know is, I'm happy my team is talking about the weather and not concerned with pumping in crowd noise.  By the way, these leather mittens sound louder than thunder sticks.....

3.  As concerned as I am with what I'm wearing, it's possible that a major key to the game is similar.  A running game is only as good as your footing is sure.  So Bombers if you're reading this...who needs tread on cleats?  I jest.  Kind of.  At the same time, ball security can be an issue too.  Can you hold on to the ball?  Grip is sure a lot different at -20 than it is +20.  I trust the Jones regime and I'm sure they've prepared for all scenarios.

4.  As hopeful and confident sounding as I am about winning Sunday's game (because I think we have all the tools in place)  I've also thought about my feelings for this being the end of the 2018 season and I can only say this - I'M NOT READY FOR IT TO BE OVER.  Our offence needs to score at least 14 points, our defence has to do it's thing and a special teams play would be super fun as well.

5.  On the Thursday morning CKOM Gormley show the guests were the Mayors of Saskatoon and Regina.  They declared today Rider Green Friday and Mayor Fougere discussed making a bet with the Mayor of Winnipeg.  I've dug out my BEL13VE tee shirt which I had the entire team (almost) sign at Fan Day in Saskatoon during training camp.  I'm carrying the team on my back.

As always - Go Riders!  I'll catch y'all on the flip side where Rider Nation is all hoping to be rejoicing in the win and planning for the West Final.  As always, find me on Twitter (@smilingsandra) or join us on ABC Rider Fans on Facebook.  Let's make a new memory together at beautiful Mosaic Stadium.

Second Season

All 21 weeks in the CFL have been played.  There's been highs, lows, challenges, adversity, injuries and surprises.  The standings have been set and the play off picture solidified.  Second Season has arrived.  It's one and done.  Survival of the fittest.  Take your torch and leave the island.  Hang up your chef coat.  You're chopped.

A couple weeks ago, a students parent stopped in my classroom and looked at my 2013 Roughriders Championship sign.  "Are you a fan of this team?" She asked.  Yes.  "Oh, they've only won 4 times...that's not very good."  😐 Blue Bomber fans are quick to also point this out.  The Roughriders, after playing them three times this season and winning the season series, will be playing them one more time at home in beautiful Mosaic Stadium.  It's been 28 years since the Blue Bombers have won a Grey Cup and this will be the first time since 2007 the two teams have met in the play offs.

2007 in my opinion was the year we got away with one.  It was the year of the last minute Labour Day victory on the legs of Kerry Joseph.  It was the year of the black out game.  It was also the year the Kevin Glenn led Blue Bombers had a legitimate chance at winning the 97th Grey Cup.  Kevin Glenn got injured and they were forced to play Ryan Dinwiddie.  The game was held November 25th in Toronto at Rogers Centre. The Roughriders won 23-19.  Lenny Kravitz was the halftime act.  It was the first time a Labour Day match up had played in the Grey Cup and the last to be broadcast on the CBC.  

The Riders are now finding themselves in a similar situation.  Odell Willis "sacked" Zach Collaros in the Riders final game of the regular season and after a few plays was removed from the game.  It's true that there hasn't been an official announcement on Collaros' health but I'd like to think that if he were in question for the Sunday play off game the Riders wouldn't have allowed him out on the weekend making an appearance at Capitol Ford to sign autographs and engage fans.  I also think that Zach is the kind of player who might have to be seeing blue birds and have broken legs before not committing to play.  At any rate this is a question which is in the back of all the minds of Rider Nation.

The Roughriders did cause a stir by coaxing ex-Rider, ex-Stampeder, ex-Bomber, ex-Redblack, Drew Tate out of retirement.  They also signed Quinn van Gylswyk at the same time but that virtually went un-noticed.  What could this mean? Speculation was rampant on social media.  Firstly, I don't think anyone is completely or even slightly convinced that Brandon Bridge could relieve Zach Collaros and effectively command the offence.  After having a great showing in 2017, Bridge just has not been that guy and as much as he seems liked the coaching staff has restricted his plays this season...some would even say handcuffed.  Even in short yardage, the Riders have elected to use DB Nick Marshall and QB (3rd Stringer) David Watford instead of a taller and more experienced Bridge.  It would not hurt to have the expertise of someone like Drew Tate.  Secondly, and lastly, to me the play offs aka Second Season are a "no holds barred" and "win at all costs" type of scenario.  You use whatever tools you can.  If that means signing players who can and willingly give intel on their previous teams...especially teams who you know you will meet in your play off run, well, you do it.  You go all out.  I think this is also why we've seen a few other signings which for the most part have flown under the radar.  Jones, you green wearing sly devil you!

Still us Rider fans are having to ward off the usual smack talk from other fans.  The most common one is the reminder of how the Winnipeg Football Club (the official CFL name by the way) forced the Riders to lay a giant goose egg in their last meeting of the season.  I'll also remind those people of another game back in 2012 where the Riders beat their team 52-0.  I've also had to endure the ribbing of Stampeder fans who told me it wasn't mathematically possible that the Stamps wouldn't finish first and yet there we saw them on Saturday having to play Bo Levi and as many starters as they could muster (those who aren't still on IR) to secure their spot.  It's okay...we all know how their play off runs usually end anyway.

So there's plenty of stuff being flung in all directions.  Isn't it fun!  Isn't this what makes the CFL so cool and appealing?!  I know I can hardly wait for this Remembrance Day play off match up.  I've got my play off ticket.  I've planned what to wear.  I've printed and laminated my signs.  This will be my first ever Second Season game and the first for Mosaic Stadium.  If you don't have your ticket yet, why the heck not?  Get out there.  The 13th Man needs to be out in full force. Let's paint the world green.  Again.  

I'll be in 126.  Cowbell in hand.  Go Riders!