Sandra's WK21 CFL Power Grouping

Week 21.  If I didn't know better I'd swear the season just started however the cooler temps and skiff of snow on the ground (along with Christmas décor in all the stores) tells me different.  We have indeed reached the end of the regular CFL season.

Before we look at how the season ended let's flashback to Week 1 and what my power grouping looked like then.

Flashback to Week 1

Let's have a moment of silence for the Redblacks who were in the forefront of Monday morning news with the departure of Rick Campbell.  For weeks it's been speculated upon that he'd be making a move in the off season but I don't think anyone could predict that he'd take it upon himself to resign.  What truly is sad about the situation is that most fans firmly believe the Redblacks GM is to blame for how far the team fell this season.  Will there be repercussions?  Rick Campbell was guarded in his words and for the most part as I watched his press conference streamed on Twitter he was emotionally distraught about having to come to this decision.  Players and coaches bailing on the organization should be a huge wake up call.

Moving on.  Here is how the season finished.

How the season wrapped up

Saturday was another CFL triple header and while some football fans might enjoy planting themselves in front of the television for that long I do not.  I don't understand why the CFL or TSN bothers to get us all involved in Thursday night football only to abolish it once September hits OR to avoid Sunday's like the plague only to have all play off games AND the Grey Cup held on Sundays.  It's perplexing and for the casual fan it's probably a bit hard to follow.  I was en route to Regina and of course a return jubilant drive home ensued so I missed everything but the last play of the triple header.

Conversation about declining attendance is becoming an annoyance.  There was only 29,000 fans at Mosaic Stadium.  "ONLY".  Now it's being said that once the Roughriders secured first place in the west that the Western Final better be a sell out.  I'm a season ticket holder so by hell or high water (or a blizzard) I will be there but I don't blame anyone else who decides not to attend.  It's warmer at home, the bathroom is right there and snacks are just a trot to the fridge.  How people and fans consume entertainment of any kind has drastically changed in recent years and we shouldn't begrudge anyone for making a choice to support from afar.  

I also read a commentary from a fan complaining about the entertainment at the football games and saying there's a lack of halftime shows.  Isn't the football supposed to be the entertainment and all the other stuff is a plus?  Also there were several halftime concerts throughout this season and on Saturday at the Rider game someone won a brand new Cadillac.  It was fun watching that go down.  What other entertainment do we need?  Have our attention spans become so warped we can't even watch football now?

Put down your phone!  After you finish reading this...

So I think my "ranking" speaks for itself.  Hamilton has the best record in the league.  The Roughriders eked one out with a last minute pick 6 from Cameron Judge.  What do we have to do to get his dad to a game?  Winnipeg was on bye week so they just sat back watching and wondering who they are going to be playing next week in the West Semi Final.  The Edmonton Eskimos are crossing over to the East to visit the Montreal Alouettes who have had a heck of a season after Kavis was relieved.  Talk on ABC Rider Fans has been about who we'd rather play in the West Final and while that's up in the air we all agree we hope they annihilate each other before the Riders play either Winnipeg or Calgary.  Personally, I don't care for the Collaros versus Fajardo storyline and would far rather we play the Stampeders.  Only time will tell how that all plays out.  One thing is for certain, it's possibly now viewed as the single thing that changed the Roughriders season for the better...Zach Collaros being injured 3 plays in to Game 1.  I don't mean that maliciously at all, but because of that Cody Fajardo emerged as a leader and fan favourite eating corndogs and creating a belief system with his Sprinkles of Jesus that the club and fans haven't felt for years.

I don't do post season rankings so this will be the last one from me but you can certainly look forward to other posts following the playoffs and off season.  This Rider fan isn't planning on the off season coming soon.