A Thrill of Hope

On Christmas Eve my husband any myself gathered around the TV to watch our church's Christmas Eve service streamed live on Youtube.  The service was largely about the true meaning of Christmas but pulled several lines from the carol O Holy Night.

A Thrill of Hope, A Weary World Rejoices.

Well I don't have to tell you how unprecedented or whatever the new catch phrase is to describe our feelings towards 2020.  Here we were back in February just looking forward to a CFL season and my Roughriders having a memorable season and hosting the 2020 Grey Cup.  

How quickly all of that faded.

Without a CFL season I turned my interest elsewhere.  We took more drives.  I took up painting.  I lost 40 pounds.  I discovered I liked free time on the weekends instead of rushing off to Regina for a game every weekend.  I discovered I really liked sitting down with a great cup of tea to relax at the end of the day.  I discovered I could bake bread.

If you'd asked me a year ago what I'd make of all this I know I most certainly wouldn't have had an answer.  Sitting here drinking my Panetone tea out of my snowman mug and still trying to be festive, I still can't put clearly into words what's gone on over the last 8 months.  We've all experienced it differently.  Both myself and my husband have been blessed to both keep our jobs and with the exception of working from home nothing much has changed.  There was a steep learning curve but I taught piano lessons online for 6 months and returned to mostly in person lessons when school resumed in September.  

Everything we've looked forward to has been cancelled and I go back and forth every day about renewing my Roughrider season tickets.  I never even got to sit in my newly upgraded seats.  Just as the song says and as the Roughriders and other CFL teams re-sign and re-negotiate with players we do see a thrill of hope.  Vaccines are rolling out and the Health Authority says that we may see a return to "old normal" by fall 2021.

When the clock strikes midnight our problems won't magically disappear but I also know that when we are finally able to gather again to cheer on our favourite teams we will rejoice.  Imagine how glorious it will all be when another touchdown is scored at Mosaic Stadium and Gainer tours the field buckled into his car while we high five all the fans around us. A weary fanbase will rejoice.

Until that time arrives, stay safe, cherish your loved ones, Happy 2021 and Go Riders Go.

CFL Subscription Club

Imagine experiencing the same anticipation every month that you have when waiting for your season tickets to arrive.

I drink tea at least every evening.  Sometimes it's hot and sometimes it's iced.  I decided to treat myself last week and looked into what kind of subscription boxes are available for such a thing.  I've subscribed to Ipsy before so there surely must be something for a tea connoiseur.  I found a relatively inexpensive Canadian company called The Tea Club and for less than $10 a month I get samples right to my door.  I'm not trying to recruit you but if you want I do have a code which saves you some $$ if you sign up.

There's subscription boxes for all sorts of things.  You can watch hours upon hours of unboxing videos on YouTube.  There's a box out there for everyone.  There's one for the make up artists, book lovers, exercise people, candy and meat people...

What if there was one for the football fan.

What if as a CFL fan you could receive a specially curated of goodies from your favourite CFL team?  Imagine once a month receiving a box that included a player autograph, a CFL sponsor coupon, a pin, players favourite snack, a Charleston Hughes recipe, a small item from the team store, a post card... the list could go on.  You could get the Quarterback box which may include Spitz and Twix and coffee coupons. 

I'm just an ideas person.  I have no idea how to make this happen.  What I do know is that after putting this out on Twitter Sunday night A LOT of people said this would be cool and amazing and would be totally on board with signing up for something like this.

It has to be relatively affordable.  I know the subscriptions I've had have only been around $20 but I could see a CFL box being $30 with quality items. 

This would be a whole new way for the league to reach fans around the world.  It's marketing to people who possibly can't get out on game day and who maybe never will due to location.  It would create a buzz because "oh did you get this in your CFL loot crate?" No, what is that?  It's an exclusive club that a lot of people would want in to just to get the special items that you wouldn't be able to get otherwise.  Mail subscriptions are trendy and it could lure in some of the borderline aged fans.

This idea is a way for the CFL and it's players to reach out to fans when 2020 is so unpredictable.  We have no idea what's going to happen.  Will there be a season or not?  No one knows and everyone is frustrated and impatient over it all.

Of course there's no way to get this off the ground for 2020, I know that.  Like I said - I'm just the ideas person.  I'm sure someone out there might see this and think I'm on to something and hopefully they would know how to make it happen.

Just think.  What if your CFL box was due to arrive tomorrow.  Wouldn't that be amazing?!

Everything's Changed

This last weekend should have been Green & White Fan Day in Saskatoon.  CFL Training Camps should have gotten underway across Canada.  We should have daily updates and giddy anticipation for the upcoming season and games.

Except that's not the case is it.

I started working from home on March 17th.  I had no idea how to teach piano lessons via Skype.  In the course of 24 hours the music academy moved nearly 600 students to virtual music lessons.  I quickly learned how to deal with it all.  It seems that in the "new" world we are forced to adapt and adapt quickly to be able to continue in our work and businesses.

How does the CFL adapt?

Everything has been in a holding pattern.  So much is up in the air.  There's no way to know what's going to happen.  At first it seemed like the CFL was just going to wait and see what was going to happen.  Then it became clear that camps couldn't open because not only are we not able to gather in large numbers but with the Canada/US border closed to travel, players are wherever they call home.  Being stuck at home certainly isn't hard but it is frustrating when you thought you were on a certain path and want to get your plans underway.

Normally this week is my busiest week as a piano teacher.  It would normally be our huge music festival.  I equate it to the Grey Cup of music festivals.  Everything my students have worked for the last 5 months would pay off during this week.  Except it's been postponed.  Likewise, we found out last week that the CFL season is also postponed and *if* things play out the way we want the best case scenario is the season gets under way at Labour Day.  Don't we always say the real season begins on Labour Day anyway?!  Because of this, the season may only be 8 games long and there's the likelihood that the Grey Cup will be pushed back to December.  

Oh and Regina/Saskatchewan was supposed to host the 2020 Grey Cup.  That's been cancelled too.  It's been written that Roughrider fans aren't upset.  What choice do we really have?  I myself have high anxiety about just getting prepared to go grocery shopping.  I find it very hard to picture myself with 30,000 people in a few short months.  The protocols that would have to be in place are mind boggling.  I mean wearing masks are one thing but how do we physically distance?  How do we have handwashing?  Do we market Rider hand sanitizer next?  If it takes waiting in line at the Co-Op for 15 minutes to get inside...what does it look like for people to gain entry to a football stadium?

Then again maybe in a year all of this is just a faint memory.  Maybe we will laugh about it like Y2K.

Yes, I know that's doubtful.

The trouble is that while being a CFL fan is what unites us, we also have to face facts that this is about much more than football.  It's about players, coaching staffs, their families, the people who work concessions, the people who work security, the volunteers, tourism, restaurants, hotels... I could go on and on. It's a tough concept to think about.  A CFL season or no CFL season - the effects are felt far beyond the game day.  We just don't know enough at this point.  We don't know enough to decide whether we can even have a season or even if the league can survive 2020.  What we do know is that after the Spanish Flu ran it's course, life did resume.  I stay hopeful that the same will be said when 2020 is all said and done.

Some great things have emerged to help us during this time.  If you are on Twitter then you definitely need to follow Dan Clark.  Everyday or regularly he posts a "would you rather" and it's nearly mandatory that you respond with gifs.  Charleston Hughes is either building flower beds or meals.  The pictures are phenomenal. The Rod Pedersen show has been ticking along happily all during this time on Facebook Live.  Today he had on Randy Ambrosie and it was a great interview!  The CFL has from time to time posted and encouraged fans to show their loyalty via photos using the hashtage #HowICFL.  If Twitter isn't your thing then try following your favourite players on Instagram.  I love to see Cody Fajardo's posts and his cute doggie.  Love seeing who Isaac Harker is throwing footballs at next (spoiler it's usually his brother).  Facebook might be more your thing and you know that even though the news is few and far between fan groups like mine (ABC Rider Fans) are still active.  Not all the posts are football related anymore but it does certainly give us that sense of being together in the same community while being apart.

Thank you for the friendships running this blog has afforded me.  Thank you for all the social media interactions.  I hope to see you all again soon.

Go Riders.

Home Field Advantage

How many days has it been now since sports was cancelled?  I honestly can't remember.  It seemed so crazy at the time when the NBA season was cancelled and shortly thereafter all major sports and events followed suite.  The CFL training camps have been postponed and we are waiting word as to what will happen to the season.  The city of Toronto has banned all events until July.  It feels surreal.  It feels like we are in some kind of apocalyptic movie.  We've all found a new way of life and we continue to adapt to all kinds of isolated situations.

A few months ago my biggest disappointment was that Roughrider training camp was moved back to Regina for 2020.  

A couple of years ago I had some minor health problems.  I had two breast MRI's that year.  I won't go into details but they aren't very comfortable and if you've ever had an MRI you'll know that you cannot move while in the chamber.  What got me through was the constant visual in my head that when it was all over I'd get to hang out at training camp in Saskatoon at Griffith Stadium.  

My husband had to travel to Toronto for eye surgery.  It was a two week trip.  At the beginning of it we attended a Roughriders versus Argonauts game at BMO Field.  While the game was prior to the surgery it made the trip so much more endurable when we got to start it off that way.  We engaged with fans and Torontonians and it made our hearts full.

I've seen on ABC Rider Fans (not a plug - just my experience) posts from members saying 'thank you for this group because it's helped me through cancer treatment'.  Most recently a member said thank you for continuing to bring fans together when I posted the weekly Sunday Funday post which I actually had hesitated in doing for a few weeks.  I mean - we all know what we are doing on Sunday now, right.  

Football gets us through a lot of things in life.  We form groups and communities.  We wear our Roughriders and CFL colours everywhere we travel.  We share, rejoice and commiserate.  What are we left to do when our event isn't there anymore.

We adapt.  

No the CFL news articles aren't there for us to banter over anymore but teams are finding new ways to reach out.  There's colouring books and activity books where families are encouraged to post and share their work.  Quarterbacks are challenging each other to online games.  Fans are going to remember which teams were there for them when it mattered most and fans will reciprocate with their loyalty. 

For myself you'd think a profession such as piano teacher would mean I am out of a job.  Not so.  In the course of 24 hours I went from in person lessons to teaching via Skype.  I retained nearly all of my students and I am so thankful that they are able to continue with me and I can share the music with them.  My husband works from his basement office.  We are blessed to still have jobs in a time when so many others won't.  

I may not have the football at the end of the covid tunnel but I know we will get through this too.  When football is ready for us - we will be ready for it.  

Won't it be glorious when Rider Nation can gather at Mosaic Stadium once again.  Just 30,000 of our closest friends...shoulder to shoulder...cowbell in hand.

I can almost hear the noise.

This is the time when home field advantage matters most. For now, STAY HOME.  We can beat this if we stay apart.  Stay apart so we can be together again soon.  

A Throw Back Blog: Hello Goodbye

The following is a blog published in May 2016.  I began by talking about how busy the season was and I begin now by saying all those busy events are now in question as we fight this global pandemic.  I don't want to go on about that, but I want to give football fans some brightness in what might be some dark days.  

 

So share with me...your memories of Taylor Field...your first memories of Mosaic Stadium and any other happy things about being a Roughrider fan or CFL fan in general.  I think we all need it right now.

 

HELLO GOODBYE

 

The end of May signals two events for me in my life. It's the SAM music festival which for many of my students is the culmination...Grey Cup if you will...of their piano music year. My reward for successfully navigating the four day event is that Roughrider Training Camp starts at the end of it. Finally, the off season is over, the new regime has rebuilt our team and Rider fans can finally move on from 2015. Just as I tell my piano students, if you can make your audience feel something, whether good or bad, during your performance you will be more memorable. They may not recall the notes but they will recall the emotions you evoked. The same can be said for Roughrider fans. We've ridden the lowest of lows and the highest of highs. We've run the gamut of emotion and that etches deep memories in the fabric of Rider Nation.

I was asked yesterday about my memories at Mosaic Stadium. 2016 is the final year at Taylor Field at Mosaic Stadium before the Saskatchewan Roughriders move into their new digs at “new” Mosaic Stadium. Being as big of a fan as I am, it haunts me that I wasn't at the 2013 Grey Cup. Why? WHY? Wasn't I there? I try to tell myself that it was too cold the week before and we didn't know what the weather was going to do. Then there was the question of accommodations and oh yeah, Hubby and I didn't have tickets.

* Sigh *

What I know for sure is that on that single night in November 2013 The House on Piffles shined and glittered like no other stadium in the league. The aerial shots on TSN were breathtaking. Winning the 101^st Grey Cup on our own turf was magical. From the Bring 'em Out ditching of the player introductions to the final snap, Darian Durant led our team to glory under the lights before those colourful seats and 44,710 weeping fans.

If 2013 was the year all our dreams came true then 2009 was the ultimate nightmare. It's true to some extent that the 2013 Grey Cup win was redemption for losing in the unspeakable fashion that my Riders did in 2009 however, nothing can erase the bitter taste and sickened stomach as I recall kneeling on the living room floor praying for that kick to go wide...again. The next day was cloudy and insanely quiet. I stopped at a nearby Tim Hortons on the way to the music academy where I rolled my eyes at a poor fellow sporting an Allouettes jersey who obviously had lost a wager. I silently swore I'd never teach that song again. When I arrived to my classroom my Roughriders poster had been pulled off my door and tossed on the floor. Emotions were the lowest of lows but in true Rider Pride fashion it didn't stop fans from welcoming the team home to Mosaic Stadium. Darian Durant returning home cupless, broken hearted and devastated yet swearing to be Grey Cup contenders again was inspiring misery.

When you go to a football game at Taylor Field/Mosaic Stadium it is a total experience. Tailgating is a real thing where there are barbeques in the backs of pick up trucks, fans wandering in 'get ups' from watermelon helmets to green Spiderman outfits. It's a meeting place for fans who have connected on social media. It's a type of congregation. The house on Piffles of Roughrider worship under the retired numbers of the players who we continue to honour. If you haven't been to a game you absolutely must. No questions. It's heart pounding, messy, and exhilarating fireworks as Gainer rides around the field after a touchdown to the ear splitting chants of On Roughriders.

Seriously, go before you can't.

I am too young to know what Taylor Field was like when Ronnie and George made their mark. I was a stupid Grade 12 student and didn't appreciate Kent Austin enough in 1989. I wasn't there when Bon Jovi, Rolling Stones or AC/DC played Mosaic. I made absolutely sure that I was there to see Sir Paul McCartney. Imagine! One of the Beatles coming to Saskie to play a concert! Mind blowing! I've never attended a concert that made my jaw drop open in disbelief and left me feeling so incredibly loved and positive. I'll never forget Mosaic Stadium lit with thousands of tiny lights for Hey Jude or the eye popping fireworks of Live and Let Die.

I remember a time in the province of Saskatchewan when concert events didn't come here. People fled green pastures for Alberta oil fields. Lot's of musicians, if they came to Canada on tour only went to Toronto or Vancouver. It seems like another world now because we are attractive to CFL players who not only want to play here but live here. The province attracts business and promotes a sense of community. The Roughriders and Saskatchewan go hand in hand. Football is something that binds together neighbours and citizens right down to Premier Brad Wall. “How are the Riders doing?” It's something we can all discuss while waiting in line at Timmies or around the water cooler. It's also why we are picked out in crowds world wide. We are green, proud, this is where we come from and this is what Rider Nation represents and that's why it's so fitting that SASKATCHEWAN is embroidered in the very fabric of every new Adidas jersey.

It's What We're Made Of.

So how did I answer that question about memories at Mosaic Stadium? The season opener of 2015 was against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Darian Durant was back after his shoulder injury on labour day the previous year. Excitement was at an all time high. Everyone was hopeful. This was supposed to be a great group of players. We wanted them to get on track and get to that Grey Cup again. It was awesome to feel the elevation and leadership when Doubles took the field. It sounded right to hear the “black any choice” of his voice over the hush of the crowd. Then the unthinkable happened and Darian Durant went down with what we now know as an Achilles injury. “Something's wrong.” I said to Hubby. “Oh no oh no oh no. He's hurt.” And with that the stadium fell to pin dropping quiet.

I wish I had remembered anything else. This isn't exactly a happy memory. I could have recalled the preseason game against the newly expanded Ottawa REDBLACKS when it was their home game so the Riders were on the visitors bench. I could have remembered Labour Day 2015 and the massive card trick that changed from BRING 'EM OUT to the Canadian Flag. No, I mentioned our doomed seasons with Darian Durant's injury instead. It's because of the roller coaster emotion and that's what I remembered most.

We might not remember how Park de Young and Park Hughes came together to form Taylor Field. The memories of Ken Miller in red curling pants fades over time as will the pain of the 13^th man. As we know the opening refrains and dynamic endings of anthems past, the middle parts become blurry, but those middle parts are where the life of Rider Nation happens...where bridges and next verses are composed. We find ourselves in a sweet evolution chorus of saying goodbye to Old Mosaic while waving hello to the New...

...And I can't wait for more memories to be made.

My First CFL Game

"Write about your very first CFL game", he said.

"It was Calgary.  Darian spent the game looking at the sky.  The end."  I said.

Ok.  So maybe it wasn't quit like that but it sure seemed a lot like that.

Picture it.  The year was 2010 and we had decided to go on a road trip to Calgary.  Hubby lived there for a while and jumped at the chance to see his old 'stomping grounds'.  

Here is a major issue.  It was 2010 July 24th to be exact and even though that was only 10 years ago I didn't have a smart phone and if I took pictures they aren't on any computer I own now.  I have zero proof of this trip.  I'm sure there's a USB stick somewhere I haven't checked...

We had borrowed my dad's GPS which took us on a tour of Acme Alberta.  I'll never forget.  This is the point at which we realized the GPS was of no use to us at all.  The highway goes straight passed Acme but the GPS decided we should drive through it instead.

* face palm *

Just outside Calgary the sky grew very dark and before you knew it us and all other traffic was pulled into ditches as hellish hail plummeted around us.  My car was fairly new.  I don't know how it came out unscathed but it did.  Cars in Calgary didn't fair as well.  The car lots located near our hotel and McMahon Stadium had giant dents in them.

We spent the week taking in all the sights of Calgree - we went to the zoo where my favourite attraction was the dinosaurs and not actual animals.  We went shopping because stores like Sephora weren't in Saskatchewan yet. We ate at Big T's. One thing was apparent, Rider fans wore their colours everywhere which seemed to bewilder Calgarians because we were asked everywhere we went if there was a game or something.

We stayed in a hotel across the street from McMahon stadium and we had really only booked for 3 days so when we went to extend our stay there were no rooms available however the staff said they'd work something out.  We were upgraded to a suite.  Wow,  and at no additional charge to us.  There was a continental breakfast and every morning Hubby would go down and return with waffles or "wobbles" as we've since coined them.  You see the machine to make them had to be rotated hence the wobbling part.  It's weird how some things stick with you.

So here's the thing.  I really had no idea that tail gating was a real thing.  I hadn't given it much thought.  I guess I figured it was something you saw on tv because...well, tv.  So when we treaded over the walkway to McMahon Stadium and I saw what was going on I was flabbergasted...shocked...amazed...thrilled.

It was a super hot cloudless day.  It was so hot in the stands that the fellow sitting in the next row with all the body paint gradually sweating down his body had to leave and shower.  I don't remember the score but the Riders lost.  Darian did indeed get sacked a lot.  There was no relief.  That was until a miniscule cloud floated over the stadium and for a few brief seconds we were shaded.  We trudged back over the pedestrian walk way.

But wait there was evidence.  I've found a very bad video which I had posted on my old youtube channel. Here it is with brand new commentary...

How Cody Fajardo Saved Rider Nation

We aren't that far removed from the days when Darian Durant would step back after calling "black 182" and let a ball fly.  I wrote in those days about the feelings I had once he was recovered from his injuries and the sense of dread that would befall the stands at Taylor Field when he'd have to come out of the game.  The sense that 'well there goes this game' as someone relatively unknown would come in and the Riders would lose again.

Since then the Riders had Zach Collaros and while we all were hopeful that he'd be the right guy he never really caught on with fans.  I don't know why exactly.  I saw him interacting with fans at camp just like any other player would.  For some reason we felt detached.  I think that's why when he moved on to the Argonauts (where he didn't play a snap at all) and then the Bombers all of Rider Nation wished him luck.  We just didn't wish him THAT much luck.

Even the two of us in my household declared the 2019 Roughrider season over.

Cody Fajardo was completely unknown to us when Jeremy O'Day signed him in 2019 Free Agency.  All it took was once Kerry Joseph-esc play when Cody put it all on his own back and ran the ball into the endzone for a touchdown knocking the orange cone down in the process.  That one play changed the projectory of that game and the 2019 Roughrider season and the entire outlook for the club.

How did he do it?  With a sprinkle from Jesus of course.

How was he going to celebrate?  A Carnival corndog.

Sure it's easy to say he saved us all one corndog at a time but there's a lot more to it than a little catch phrase or a box of snacks.  For once, instead of feeling the dread of 'here we go again' Cody actually succeeded in scoring.  He scored a touchdown, got the win and gave every Roughrider fan hope.  Hope can be a dangerous thing.  Hope is contagious.

Even on Thursday March 12th, when all the worldly news was bleak, Cody shared an Instagram story which got shared in ABC Rider Fans and immediately boosted all the moral of those visiting the page.

He's welcomed new Roughriders signed in Free Agency.  He's congratulated Grey Cup Champions and those players on his team and others who have been given all star awards.  Cody Fajardo is an all around great guy and very much seems like one of us.  To me he also has some sort of familiar 1989-esc feeling to which we all know is charming and lovable. 

But I don't think I really need to hype him that much.  His actions speak for themselves.

Pogo Corndogs are on sale at the Co-Op $5.99 a box this week.  It feels like a good time to stock up.  Step away from the toilet paper though *wink*

The Grey Cup Logo Gets My 👎

Long before Randy Ambrosie started his cross country popularity tour the logo for the 108th Grey Cup in Regina was unveiled.  It's green.  Is it anything special and unique?  Definitely not.  In fact, it is literally interchangeable with the 107th Grey Cup logo and possibly even the 106th as well.  

This is a side by side comparison of last year & this year. 

Randy Ambrosie was in Regina on "Randy's Roadtrip" which I think is his attempt to connect with fans in every CFL city.  While in Regina, which apparently had 200 in attendance, he talked about the state of the league and promoted his global dream CFL 2.0.  He also helped to promote the Grey Cup festivities for 2020.  The Grey Cup will be held all in one area so it's completely accessible to fans and for the first time ever will be free to attend.  An understated part of the announcement is that it will also include the League of Legends tournament.  If you talk to someone who partakes in this - it is HUGE.  

So let me take a step back here for a second.  My Grey Cup tickets (which I've chosen not to purchase) were $400 each.  That means for myself and my husband to attend the game it would cost $800 and that's with the $25 discount the Roughriders gave season ticket holders.  Let me contain my excitement.  So the Grey Cup festival better be free in my opinion.  Who can afford all this?

Stack a hotel room, gas or flight dollars and food expenses on top of that too!

The province stands to make a gopher hole full of tourism money.

The fangirl in me says "but Sandra it's all worth it if the Riders win at home again." It could be yes.  Celebration in Ridernation was amazing on so many levels.

That logo.

I tend to keep my eyes on the merchandise the Roughriders and CFL produce.  Several seasons ago I posted a blog which went semi-viral about the sizing of merchandise and the quality of it all.  I know that since that time great strides have been made and the merchandise has really improved with new sponsors coming on board.  However, does this new Grey Cup design make you want to rush out to the nearest Rider Store and buy it all?  It doesn't for me.  I mean it's green and I'm sure it will sell regardless but I'm afraid to say - it's boring.  If it's only fractionally different than the last 2 designs why do I need it?

Oh and how much does that green Grey Cup merch cost?  The most inexpensive tee shirt is $30.  Want a zip up ladies sweater?  That's $104.  Would you pay that much for a sweater in any other store?  Likely not.

We know that Roughrider merchandise sells.  Slap that logo on a loaf of bread and we will flock to the store for it.

Let's also remember that the Riders recently closed stores in Saskatoon.  To get this merchandise you'll have to go to the new store at Midtown Plaza or order online if you don't live in Regina.  Why are they closing stores?  That doesn't seem like a good thing for the team with the greatest spread of fans does it.

I seem like I'm whining here and yes well I am.  I just remember all too well how the city of Saskatoon spent tax payer money to come up with “rRemai” and I hope the same isn’t true for the CFL logo.  I love that my team and province get to hold this event once again.  I'd love it even more if the Roughriders can repeat their 2013 at home win.  We all have to wait and see if that comes to fruition.  I know one team would love to spoil our fun.  Meanwhile, the pressure is on.

I Watched an XFL Game & Here's What Happened...

If you're a follower of this blog page then you will remember I was challenged in a YouTube comment to watch an entire XFL game to see what all the hype is about.  So I did and here's what happened.

Spoiler:  I watched an XFL game.

I set my PVR so that I could watch last Saturday's match up between Houston and Tampa Bay.  It was on at 4PM Saskatchewan time on abc (no relation).  

That evening I settled in to put my feet up and watch the game.  My expectations were high.

I guess I chose the most CFL XFL game I could have.  At first mass confusion ensued.  It was like I was watching the Montreal Alouettes versus the Oregon Ducks.  The Houston Roughnecks were the team in red, white and blue.  The Tampa Bay Vipers were in green and white.  To add to my confusion (and I did know this but had forgotten) Marc Trestman is the Head Coach of the Vipers meaning he's coaching the green team.  Jaime Elizondo is the Offensive Coordinator while Jerry Glanville is the Defensive Coordinator.  So on the Vipers we have an ex Alouettes Head Coach, and ex Redblacks coach and an ex TiCats coach.  That's not all though because on the opposite sideline stood June Jones ex Ticats coach as Head Coach of the Roughnecks and there were a few ex CFL players in the lineup such as kicker Sergio Castillo.

Needless to say I was hooked because of all the CFL relatability.  The TV shots even looked similar to a CFL game.  The XFL does have some gimmicky rules but then it has to doesn't it because it needs something to be able to hold our attention and compete with the NFL which according to some is the best football in the world.  

I found myself cheering for the green team.  I mean that's only natural right.

My cheering for a great catch brought my husband back into the room for a replay.

I really really (did I say really?) liked the camera's in the booth during the reviews and they said every call was automatically reviewed.  WOW.  This seems like it's a huge effort to always make the right call and it's revolutionary to be able to hear and see the review happen and the referees discuss it.  This aspect is fantastic.  I didn't find it slowed the game down at all.

The thing was that initially I liked what I was watching but the excitement was short lived.  After half time I got bored.  The Vipers were losing and apparently aren't a very good team because they haven't won a game yet.  My attention drifted to online conversations and I channel surfed. 

What I didn't like was the television commentators refused to discuss anything CFL related at all.  Apparently in the bio's of Trestman, Jones and Glanville there's a blank space where their CFL time existed.  What's up with that?  How can you be trying to inform viewers about something but leave out key information like where these men have been working the last few years?

I didn't watch the following game.

Please don't take this commentary as I want the XFL to fail.  That's not the case.  I want to like it but the truth is that I don't have a connection to the teams outside of these two which I happened to watch in Week 3.  I would be likely to watch these two teams again.  I would be likely to watch a game if I happened upon it on tv.  I can't say that I'd honestly go out of my way to make sure I watched every game in a week.

What I do know is that attendance is declining over the 3 weeks and so is television viewership.  I also know that is to be expected with anything new.  It will be interesting to continue to follow the numbers.  If the decline continues, regardless of the money Vince McMahon can inject into the XFL, we know what will happen.

As I've said before - if you like it then by all means support the XFL and watch all the games.  Who am I to say you shouldn't?  I was asked to watch a game and I fulfilled that promise.  I was asked because I wrote a blog and posted a video discussing whether the new league is a threat to the CFL.  I remain that it isn't.  Please feel free to check out The CFL vs XFL: Should We Feel Threatened?

Don't take my word for it.  Check out the games yourselves and form your own opinions. Here is the TV schedule for the rest of the XFL season.

So You Want to be a Roughrider Fan...

We are coming up on that time of year where we see new fans coming to the league.  Twitter sees its round of "I'm going to follow the CFL which team should I be a fan of?" tweets.  Then of course every Saskatchewan Roughrider fan within earshot puts in their two cents...er, well five cents (because no pennies) and pretty soon we are indoctrinating new fans to the nation.

So what do you need to be a Roughrider fan?

Well, nothing really.  That would be the end of the blog and thanks for reading.

No, of course you need things to show your solidarity with the green and white!  Read on to find out what needs to be included in your Saskatchewan Roughrider Fan Starter Pack.

You need a jersey.  It doesn't have to be a Charleston Hughes customized jersey like the one in the photo.  We all know that players tend to change teams often so no one can place blame if you don't want your clothes emblazoned with the name of the guy who just abandoned the team.  You can't go wrong with a retro jersey and names like Lancaster, Reed, Aldag, Jurasin or Fairholm.  Don't forget you may need more than one.  If one jersey doesn't create a winning atmosphere and gets discarded to the depths of the closet, you're going to want to wear another one with better mojo.  You are going to want to wear this jersey to every major event you attend world wide because there is no other brand that's as recognizable as that of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.  Rider pride is world wide!

I am not a drinker but even I know that Pilsner beer is synonymous with Roughrider fans.  Roughrider fans flock to liquor board stores to purchase the coveted case of beer in hopes of acquiring the famed Pilsner Roughrider flag.  Fans can go as far as choosing to watch games from Pilsner Place at Mosaic Stadium.  Even this fan has a hard hat with the famed Pilsner rabbit on it.

Bring 'em out!  Bring 'em out!  You are going to need a cowbell when the team gathers in the tunnel and we welcome them to the field.  There is nothing more thrilling than when Rider Nation is standing and cheering and those pyrotechnics start going off.  While cowbells are somewhat controversial and not everyone likes them you are going to wish you have something more effective than clapping and stomping from the opening kick off to the waning moments of the fourth quarter.  Warning:  You will go home with a sore throat and a lost voice but it will all be worth it and you will be anxious to do it all over again next week.

Your smart device whether it be an iphone or android will be a necessity for not only in game interaction but for snapping those impromptu photos.  Sure, I like to think back to that time but isn't it better when you have a photo too?  Like last season when the 1989 Grey Cup team appeared on the field right infront of my seats or when the Stanley Cup was brought to the stadium or even when Gainer gets to drive around strapped into his car.  Something exciting happen?  Can't wait to share it online after the game...I mean if we don't talk about it immediately on social media did it really happen at all?

Break out star Cody Fajardo has become known for a few things but none as viral as corndogs and sprinkles of jesus.  In those dying moments when your heart is sinking but you are so hopeful the Riders can score and you look at the clock and say a little prayer...then you see Cody Fajardo take the ball and fly over the pilon in the endzone?  Well that is what has become known as a sprinkle of jesus.  In other words you don't really need a bottle of sprinkles but you need to have undying faith in the most dire of situations.  When it happens and we are rejoicing in a walk off victory there is no better way to celebrate than with a corndog and according to Cody Fajardo himself a carnival corndog is the best but they are available at your local Co-Op in a pinch.

Last but not least the watermelon.  There's all kinds of stories about how the watermelon came to be known as the head gear of choice for the most rabid of Roughrider fans but no one knows the true story for sure.  No we aren't interested in eating them.  Didn't you know watermelon hats are the height of fashion from June to November?

The CFL vs XFL: Should We Feel Threatened?

Three CFL Free Agents have signed XFL contracts.

CUE THE MASS PANIC!!!!!

Ok.  Let's be real here, literally 3 CFL players have signed XFL contracts.  Three.  Is this reason to believe the XFL is a threat to the livelihood of the Canadian Football League?  In my latest video on the ABC Football YouTube channel, I talked about this and I admitted that I don't have a full opinion on the XFL because I haven't dedicated any real time to watching a game and I've really only viewed a few minutes here and there and maybe five minutes in total.  While we've heard for over a year about the XFL coming to fruition the league itself has only been in existence for 2 weeks.  Without watching one can know what's going on.  I haven't read Harry Potter but I get the gist of what it's about.  

*cue more shock and outrage*  

I know that Vince McMahon has poured a fortune into the venture.  I know that it was advertised along side NFL...but guess what?  The NFL season is over now.  Yes, the XFL is on major networks like ABC, FOX and ESPN but again in Canada we get TSN as our major sports provider and all 5 channels are dedicated to curling right now.  So as a CFL fan, I'm not seeing the talk that "KingOfGames2007" mentions in his comment on my video.  All the discussion has been on social media sites.  As well, we are assuming that Vince McMahon will be able to continue to support the league.  It all depends on game tickets sold, merchandise sales and TV revenue.  After only two weeks why would we believe the league can survive beyond a year or two or three?  We have to wait for at least 8 more weeks to make that judgement and while week one saw large crowds week two had lower numbers despite their social media gains.

Reality check.  The three CFL players to sign XFL contracts are SJ Green, Derek Dennis and Amanti Edwards.  All three are CFL free agents.  None of them were garnering interest from any of the 9 CFL teams.  All of them are older than 30.  Disclaimer: I am in no way calling them old or washed up.  I am stating facts.  Yes, every CFL player just like any regular human has to provide a life for himself and his family.  If I was essentially laid off from my job I'd go in search of a new job too.  We all would.  The idea that these players are fleeing the CFL just isn't true.  They are looking to make a livelihood just as an ex-CFLer might go into coaching or training etc.  It's possible these three players believed they should be paid a higher amount in the CFL and priced themselves out of a job as well.  Wouldn't that mean their only choice is the XFL if they wanted to continue their careers?

What we also know is the base salary in the XFL is $55,000 US and that's less than the base salary of a CFL player.  An XFL contract might give these players a chance to be "home" or it may not but since many players are American it's logical they'd want to work and play near families.  However, when an athlete signs in the XFL they sign with the league first and foremost and then they are delegated to a team.  At least that's my understanding.  So if a player has family somewhere it's also very possible they'd end up playing far from home anyway.  I don't see this as a benefit at this stage at all.  It would be no different than playing for a CFL team and living miles away from family with the exception they'd be paid in American dollars instead.

Every CFL player currently under contract cannot sign with the XFL.  Periodtt.  There is the possibility of a player with the XFL also gaining a CFL contract and playing in both leagues.  Think about this though... the XFL season is 10 weeks long plus the possibility of a week of play offs and another for the championship game.  The CFL season is an 18 game schedule plus 2 weeks of playoffs and then the Grey Cup.  If a player were to play in both leagues that's at least 28 games.  Can a body sustain that?  We already know the CFL schedule can be grueling.  Injuries happen just in training camp alone.  It might be a nice idea to try to gain 2 paychecks but at what cost to the longevity of a football career?  How many ice baths does that equate?  Furthermore, once under contract with the CFL unless it's only for one year, that player would have to become a free agent or be released to once again return to the XFL the following season.  This sounds like a CFLPA nightmare.

So now I'm going to talk about me for a bit.  I'm a busy person.  I have a job which I am dedicated to.  I have family responsibilities.  I am a rabid CFL and Roughriders fan.  I'm a blogger and administrator of ABC Rider Fans.  I enjoy shopping and weekends often take me grocery shopping and to the horrors of Costco.  It's currently the CFL off season but I also enjoy watching NBA and Nascar.  I also don't like to spend my entire day glued to the television.  We PVR a lot of things and we go out and live a life.  The only XFL games according to the schedule I downloaded which I can watch in week 3 are Houston/Tampa Bay on ABC 2pm ET or Dallas/Seattle on FOX 5pm ET.  If I intend to fulfill what "KingOfGames2007" asked me to do and watch an entire game - it will have to be one of these and it will have to be recorded too.  There's a whole debate to be had about watching sporting events live... but that's another topic.

It's difficult to fully commit.  We've seen the XFL try and fail before.  We've seen the AAF fold before barely getting off the ground.  We've seen the AAFL go bankrupt after being somewhat established.  The CFL is well over 100 years old and has a history and legacy.  That doesn't mean it's on sure footing either but it leads me to think it's a more viable choice and it's where my loyalty stands.

In the end, if you enjoy watching XFL then watch XFL.  Who cares what I think?  Is the XFL a threat to the CFL at this point?  No, I sincerely don't think so.  The CFL is quiet right now and Free Agency is basically over.  If there is some panic it's because it's nice to have something to talk about at the end of February when winter has gotten old and us Rider fans are busy dreaming about gophers instead of groundhogs.

Roughriders Free Agency 2020

After the "legal tampering period" of last week, Free Agency opened up Tuesday with a flurry of signings.  Some will say the LTP made Free Agency more exciting or in the very least more active.  All I know is that in it's first day (February 11th) ABC Rider Fans saw 42 posts of signings from all CFL teams...and that was just from one member posting.  It was hard to keep up and while day 2 of Free Agency was quieter there was still some activity.

Did the Toronto Argonauts leave anyone for other teams to sign?  Do they know there's a CFL cap?

I jest.

This post will review who the Saskatchewan Roughriders signed and re-signed, fans reaction and of course my opinion...if that counts for anything.

The entire time Chris Jones was Head Coach of the Roughriders it was said he wanted James Franklin at Quarterback but he was never signed.  I always said that if Jones wanted him here he'd be here.  Then Chris Jones exited Riderville and Jeremy O'Day brought in Cody Fajardo.  I thought we'd finally moved on from rumours.  That was until LTP opened the first week of February and speculation resurfaced about James Franklin coming to Saskatchewan.  *sigh*  Fans thought "why WHY?!"  2019 saw James Franklin as a Toronto Argonaut and while he looked somewhat promising as an Eskimo all that hype was distinguished when his play suffered setbacks as an Argo.  So you can imagine what we were all saying when news broke on Tuesday morning that the Roughriders had indeed signed James Franklin.  Pretty soon the media was putting their spin on it and talking about Franklin being a solid back up for Fajardo and quickly demoting Isaac Harker.  I think a lot of people forgot that the Riders actually already had 4 quarterbacks...Fajardo, Harker, Bennett and Hansen.  Harker was a capable backup against the Edmonton Eskimos in the final game of 2019 while Bryan Bennett became a really great special teams player.  Justice Hansen hails from Arkansas State and is a young 25 and if retained will be on the practice roster.  So where does James Franklin fit into things?  What we do know is that he worked under Riders new OC Jason Maas in Edmonton so there is chemistry as well as playbook knowledge there.  Franklin has said that he knows what his role is and that Cody is number one.  Isn't that what they all say?  We all know there is no one more popular than the back up Quarterback so I hope there is no controversy brewing here.

The next signing came in the form of Defensive Linemen Jordan Reaves.  He was signed to a one year extension.  His impact was mostly on special teams and according to his bio recorded 12 tackles in 2018.  This will be his third season in green and white after being injured at the 2019 training camp.  

Another Defensive signing came in the form of Linebacker Solomon Elimimian.  It was a little surprising that the Riders inked him because it was speculated that he'd be moving on.  While I still struggle with pronouncing his name, I know he is a valuable asset to the Riders.  He brings maturity and veteran presence at age 33.  I'm not going to list off his stats because that information is available everywhere...I just know that I'm pleased to have him back in green.

So that was the news on day one of Free Agency.  Some were critical that Jeremy O'Day didn't make a big splash but yet again in the media scrum February 10th he said they were mainly interested in bringing back the Riders own people.  He mentioned moving on from Naaman Roosevelt as well as Micah Johnson.  Those two big character names stir up all kinds of feelings among members of Rider Nation.  Micah ended up signing on with the BC Lions but as of the writing of this blog (Wednesday 2:10pm) Naaman is unsigned.  I think Naaman Roosevelt could be an entire blog topic on his own so I will leave it for another time.

Wednesday morning the Saskatchewan Roughriders announced the signing of Offensive Lineman Josiah St John.  Many may remember him as the hold out in the 2016 CFL Draft.  He was late to camp and many felt that because of these tactics never caught up with the team.  Then he was plagued with some injuries and the Riders moved on from him in 2019.  Before he was let go it did seem as though his play on the field improved and when I read his bio on the Riderville website he does sound impressive.  From all the things I listed above many Rider fans are left scratching their heads and mumbling things I can't post here.  After I put some thought into it and looked at what everyone else was saying I remembered that I myself saw his play improve when he was a Roughrider the first time but it was right at the end of his tenure.  This makes me believe that he can learn when given the time to prove himself.  In 2019 he worked under Jason Maas as an Edmonton Eskimo so there is some knowledge of scheme and playbook there with our new Offensive Coach.  I'd like to believe that the Riders GM wouldn't make a decision like this easily or lightly and he obviously knows a lot more than I do.  After all, JO get's paid the big bucks and...,well, I have this blog.

I love that Free Agency has everyone talking about football again.  We often say that there is no off season in Saskatchewan but interest does wain for sure.  If you are one of the people craving more football talk ABC Rider Fans is open for business 24/7.  Check out my About page to see where you can find all my social media outlets and don't forget to check out my new ABC Football YouTube Channel.  

Thanks for reading and as always... GO RIDERS.