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!

You Lose Some & You Win Some

The Saskatchewan Roughriders lost in tragic fashion to the worst team in the league only 6 days ago and everyone...even you Rider Nation...gave up.  All the so called CFL specialists figured there's no way this team can show up and beat the hottest team in the league aka the Hamilton TigerCats.  Except that's just what the Riders did.  They lost the game they should have won and won the game everyone figured they should have lost.  That's exactly what happens on any given week in the CFL and that's exactly how Week 4 turned out for our Saskatchewan Roughriders.

I woke up Thursday morning with a good feeling in my heart.  We were going to win this one.  I'm not a fortune teller or some sort of medium but I knew it was going to be a beautiful Thursday night of football from the best stadium in the country.  No it wasn't a sell out but when so many members of Rider Nation travels into Regina from afar for each game and given their sad performance less than a week earlier it's no surprise that just over 30,000 people were in attendance.  In my opinion, it's the fans who made the biggest difference in this game.  Just as the team came out flatter than a crepe against the Alouettes so did the fans.  There was nothing happening in the stands.  No dancing.  No cheering.  Zip.  In contrast, the Thursday night game lit a spark under the fans and people were on their feet and cheering and yelling and making noise with whatever means available.  Just like in theater the actors feed off the audiences reaction so it is in football as we saw late in the game with under 4 minutes to go members of the Roughriders standing on the benches encouraging Rider fans to be even louder.  Poor old Taylor Field would have crumbled under the vibrations.  It was incredible.

Two pundits were sitting directly behind me.  I had to hear their commentary all game long.  This was a such and such play.  That play was called this.  That guy was open.  Yaddah yaddah yaddah. The one guy didn't even know that Thigpen was on our team!  "When was he signed?"  I sat there biting my tongue when the one guy said Watford threw 4 interceptions last game.  THESE are the people who phone in to the post game shows and criticize our coaches and players for things they don't comprehend.  There's no point in conversing with them or telling them otherwise so instead I endured their lack of insight all game long.  Oh, and they didn't cheer once.  So there's also that.

O Line during warmups.

For a long time now I've said with a poor offensive line ( and offensive they are!) it's not going to matter who the quarterback is because they'll have to run for their life almost every play.  This is the number one problem with our offence in my opinion.  For whatever reason, maybe size or strength, they can't hold their own and back peddle almost every play.  Can they run block? Can they pass protect?  Are they just old and slow?  Was the release of Travis Bond a mistake?  Was there more to that story than we know? How about the development and constant injury of Josiah St John? Let's hope over this bye week there is some serious reflection and correction going on to help our quarterbacks out.

Now all that being said about our O Line what quarterback do you play?  We barely got to know Zach Collaros before his concussion injury sidelined him.  Brandon Bridge is the next guy up.  You'd think after spending 4 years in the CFL he'd have a good handle on what's required of him and starting a game.  I remember thinking last season how Bridge would look great when entering a game in relief of a pulled Kevin Glenn but when he started he was less than stellar.  Throw in an offensive line that can't protect him or any QB, poor decision making, lack of timing and you've got a guy who has to run for his life and turtle on the ground faster than Tino Sunseri can say uncle. This is why, in my opinion, we saw the use of Watford who is a rookie in the league in his first year with the Roughriders.  He looks sure of himself in the huddle, is able to move the pocket, and scramble when he needs to.  Neither quarterback threw an interception and protecting the ball was paramount. This was a huge mistake that was corrected over Week 3.  Messam was used with Bridge to pound the ball and Thigpen and Mason was used with Watford or we saw a mixture.  Instead of trying to use the tandem to confuse Hamilton's defence, I think it was used to force our O Line to protect no matter who was in the game. I think there's a lot of nonsense going around about leadership, but I'm looking for the leadership from the hoggies up front and not the guy who is forced to run for his life because of their play.  There seemed to be no rhyme or reason for which QB was in the game at any given time but that's fine with me.  I'm not the coach and I don't know what is supposed to be happening.  Just because we don't understand it doesn't mean it isn't the right thing to do.  Only Chris Jones knows these details for sure.

Cue the fire Jones brigade. Some people have never liked Chris Jones and nothing I say, or anyone says, will make a difference.  But hear this.....  Chris Jones is General Manager, Vice President of Football Operations, Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator.  Chris Jones is FOUR people.  You fire him and then what?  Not only do you have to find someone to replace him but you need to replace those four other salaries as well.  Who do you get at this point in the season?  Are you prepared to pay out his salary?  Are you prepared to have a coach strip the team down and embark on another three year rebuild?  Next up, people are criticizing John Murphy for not being able to find the right talent.  Where does it end?  We won on Thursday!  We won!   Shouldn't we all be happy with that?

Apparently not because next on the bash list is Duron Carter who should be commended for his disciplined play on Thursday night.  He didn't take one penalty.  He did whatever was asked of him.  At one point he was in the secondary and in the next play was in the offence.  How many players can do that?  In the pregame he was signing autographs and this morning (Friday) answering questions over breakfast on Instagram.  The CFL likes nothing more than to pin the villain tag on a player but they are barking up the wrong turd and tree here.  If they want to pin that on someone we have to look no farther than Kyries Hebert who has a history of playing dirty and got a one game suspension for doing as much although we all know one game was not nearly enough.  I saw Duron develop in this game.  His play was entirely improved over week 3 and we saw his team mates helping him out to do it.  To all of you who think DC needs to be on offence...with the way our offence is playing do you really think Carter would be getting the ball anyway?  Let's use his incredible athletic talents in any way we can until Nick Marshall is able to return or we find a suitable replacement.  I remain, if this was just a DB in there making DB mistakes no one would care - but you do because it's Duron Carter.

The scene from my seats July 5th.

The last thing I want to discuss is how the CFL and TSN are knocking these Thursday night game broadcasts out of the park!  The crowd was electric.  People were dancing.  The music by Tim Hicks was great although personally I enjoyed the Hunter Brothers from Saturday's game slightly more but it was good nonetheless.  Kudos to the TSN crew for putting this all together and Brodie Lawson for hosting the festivities.  Let's keep doing this if not more - to attract everyone young and old out to these terrific games!

So bye week, eh..... enjoy the summer, head to the lake, spend some time with family or friends and lets all get back here to cheer our Saskatchewan Roughriders on in the rematch in Hamilton in Week 6.

GO RIDERS!

Game of Numbers

23, 34, 1, 4, 81, 89, 7....

When the Saskatchewan Roughriders brought in Zach Collaros to compete for starting quarterback of the Saskatchewan Roughriders we all wondered if he'd be wearing number 4.  Cameron Judge is the current rookie player to don that jersey number and then we watched Zach in Regina unveil his 17 jersey, a number which Crezdon Butler wore in 2017.   Butler said he'll wear #5 in 2018 since it has now become available.  It all made me think about the attachment fans have to the numbers CFL players wear, how they change over the years and our memories and feelings.

There was a contest in the LeaderPost to choose a number for Quarterback Henry Burris. Ridernation chose the number 1. It's a number Hank wore throughout his career while Ridernation jeered at him at every game.  Flash forward to Kory Sheets...  his name evokes instant visions of #1 scooping up DD4's near fumble in the 2013 Grey Cup game which likely completely changed the momentum of that game. I wonder if anyone remembers that Marshay Green also wore number 1 and that one of his missed tackles (stood and watched the receiver run by)  had a distinct flavour in a game against Ottawa in 2015.  Jovon Johnson is the current #1 and is a proud member for the second time of the Roughriders who does incredible things for the community through fund raising for Lyme Disease.  His first tour of the Riders was in 2007 but because he felt he didn't deserve it, he regretfully sold his Grey Cup ring. 

Is Rider Nation ready to see another quarterback wear the number four? Part of me is relieved that Collaros didn't take that number.  There's just so many feelings associated with it and I don't think enough time has passed for any of us to see it without evoking some sort of feelings. Now here is another aspect of football numbers - Darian Durant is reportedly due a bonus from the Alouettes and by the time this blog is posted we will likely all know the outcome. He had another dismal season after he failed to negotiate in Saskatchewan he chased the money to Montreal. Now he finds himself in an even tougher situation. Will he take less money this time? That answer was no as later on January 15th it was announced the Montreal Alouettes released the 2013 champ only a year and 2 days after he was traded from Saskatchewan. 

Contracts in the CFL are a big deal. CFL players make far less than American football players and often have second careers to help them make it through the offseason. Players are signing shorter term contracts which is resulting in more movement between teams. It's possible that my 89 may be your 89 in 2018.  Of course I'm thinking about this with Free Agency on the horizon and there are fewer Rider players signed on that list than I'd like. This is the business of football.  Players come, we get attached and often they go on to careers elsewhere. Duron Carter comes to mind as he was the latest player to wear 89 and is currently not signed. The last notable player to wear that number was Chris Getzlaf who upon his arrival back in Regina wore number 84. Getzlaf - a Saskatchewan native,  was very lucky to retire a Rider after 11 seasons in the CFL.

Kevin Glenn triple-ex-Rider number 5 was released shortly after the signing of Zach Collaros. Last year he played in tandem with Canadian number 16 Brandon Bridge. I thought it was cool that the last time the Riders used a tandem style was in 1989 with #5 Kent Austin and #16 Tom Burgess. Monday Kevin Glenn was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos making them the 9th (all of 'em) team to hold Glenn's rights in the CFL.  That's a pretty awesome thing to have happen and will go into the record books for that reason I am sure. Lot's of people like to knock Glenn for not winning a Grey Cup in his career and when you browse his CFL career you'll see that he's missed some championships by just a year.  I don't think it's understood how difficult it is to win a championship in this league. Omar Morgan #1 played his entire career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders except for 2007 in which he was an Eskimo. He retired not winning a Grey Cup and yet Omar and Eddie (Davis #29) are a legendary Riders backfield duo.

Eighty-One.  Superman. Was it a dream or was Geroy Simon really a Saskatchewan Roughrider? It's no matter because 30 year old Bakari Grant holds the number now. Just think, he was 2 years old when Ray Elgaard wore it in 1989.

Lucky number seven. It was worn for many years by Weston Dressler and for a time his jersey was the highest selling jersey in the Rider store. Next came Justin Cappiocotti and well...that didn't turn out.  Then came in a player newly released from the NFL in the form of Willie Jefferson and the #7 has never looked so good.  We often rush to buy the jerseys while merchandisers lick their salivating lips as they rake in the money for a customized jersey. But not so fast! Remember when players like Maurice Price, Shawn Lemon, Keith Toston or even Vince Young were signed and fans rushed to get their jersey's only to have them abruptly get released or traded.  For this reason I've always found it hard to justify a custom jersey in my life.

I've never played sports.  As much as I love football I am pretty uncoordinated in real life. If I had to choose a number though? Thirteen is my number. 13 because I am a member of Rider Nation. I love the team and the players. I attend Training Camp and am a Season Ticket holder.  I cheer through the painfully bad times and the amazing glorious times.  I am from the team of fans - my people.  I am 13 because even though I cannot be on the field my support is loud and clear and unwavering from my living room chair or my seat in section 126. 

Years pass, players change and numbers change but we can hold those special times in our hearts and minds always. Free Agency opens at noon Valentine's Day Eve aka February 13th.  I like the sound of that number.

All Heart - All In

My Dad worked for the PA Daily Herald as Press Room Foreman for half of his life.  He had immense pride in his work and I enjoyed the excursions he would take me on when we'd pop in on a day off.  I remember the smell of the machinery and ink like it's hanging in the air in my dining room as I type this.  I remember the excitement as the first editions of the newspaper would roll off the presses.  I suspect this is why when it was time for me to go off to university I chose journalism...however, I was already teaching piano at that point and well, my heart wasn't quite in the whole university scene.


But I remember that feeling as the press bells sounded and it whirred to life....


Saturday I felt my little green heart whir back to life just like that.  We attended the Roughriders Fan Day at SMF Field.  The event started at 2pm with cheer leaders, Gainer and face painting.  At 3pm was the State of the Union address.  4 o'clock was what I was really there for and that was for the Scrimmage game.  We found some good seats relatively easy even though there was a very large crowd on hand.  I was doused in sunblock in the 30 degree sun...having learned that lesson the hard way at Griffith Stadium Monday.  Then, Rod Pederson came over the PA system "Introducing your Saskatchewan Roughriders!" and the crowd leapt to their feet, me included, clapping and cheering and I thought....I wish I had remembered my cowbell.


I'm not going to recap the scrimmage because frankly you can find that info almost anywhere.  What I will tell you was that it was fun fun fun.  The team looked totally improved from last season and even though there were time count violations they looked much more cohesive than before as well.  There's wasn't scrambling and it appeared as though every player knew their assignments.  There was a sense of camaraderie and that rippled through the crowd as we compared comments with our neighbours in the stands.  It was so much fun to see Chad Owens, Willie Jefferson, Duron Carter and others not only do their jobs but get that acceptance from Ridernation. 


After the game, Rider fans were invited to stand along the fence and the players would come to us for autographs and pictures.  Hubby and I found our spot beside a young man who had an injured wrist from a sport and was delighted when players asked him what happened.  The other side of me was a young boy who barely reached the height of the fence and he was very particular in who signed his shirt.  Myself, I got every players autograph except for Vince Young who for some reason didn't start at the end of the field and only signed half the autographs.  It was terrific and awe inspiring to meet these players up close...some sharing jokes and thanking us for coming out. 


There is a big connection between the Roughriders and the city of Saskatoon.  We give them our bikes to use for 3 weeks but we also give them our thumping green hearts.  We turn out in droves (pay the U of S to park) and tolerate the elements for a glimpse of the newest Riders.  We LOVE having you in our city and I hope you keep coming back.  For some of these people/fans, it's their only chance to see and meet a professional football player and I know it's my only chance to connect too.  I have American friends and family who ask how I manage to meet these players because it's practically unheard of to meet an NFL player.  We are so incredibly lucky and blessed to be able to see our Roughriders develop in front of our eyes over the training camp weeks.


We all love our Riders and there is nothing more fantastic than talking about it with fellow fans.  We meet up at Camp and discuss this and that.  It's a commonality in the grocery store lineup as well as at the football field.  Walking into SMF Field at Gordie Howe Bowl and seeing all the Rider green...well, it's so great to walk among my people.  Besides the music studio, Ridernation is where I fit in best.  We accept you for the green jersey, the green hair, the pirate patch, the watermelon helmet...the costume doesn't matter...you are one of us.


The next best family is the CFL family.  Sure, we have varying opinions and loyalties but we all end up cheering for the same teams come November.  The CFL family is bigger than just football.  We share in joy, pain and loss.  I've seen more fan bases come together this off season than any other to support our fans.  You might be a Bomber fan and come off as annoying but so does my older brother.  Under the football umbrella we can all come together and forget about our worldly troubles.  Isn't it awesome!?!


This Saturday is the pre-season game between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers at new Mosaic Stadium.  It will not be on any of the 5 TSN channels.  I'm pretty excited to see the stadium from my new seats in section 126.  It'll be amazing to once again chant Bring Em Out as the team runs on to the field, high five after touchdowns and ring that cowbell.  If you recognize me come and say hi - we are family!  Like Derek Dennis said to me at Fan Day, I am all in.  That thumping of excitement in my chest and butterflies in my stomach can only mean one thing...football is back!


Go Riders Go!

So Long, Farewell

Tee shirt. Bunnyhug. Jacket. Jersey. These are the layers I wore to Saturday's epic farewell game at Taylor Field and “old” Mosaic Stadium. For the last time this season we drove the double lane highway from Saskatoon to Regina as many other Roughrider fans do. Lunch was at A&W on Albert Street which is a popular stopping off place for many who travel. Then it was to Northgate mall to catch the now free Fan Express.

Panorama from my seat before the game.

For the first time I've seen the stands were nearly full long before the anthem. It was fantastic to have members of the Piffles Taylor family there and for the great granddaughter to sing O Canada.

The last Snowbirds fly over and the last Bring 'Em Out.

The football game itself is a memory I'd like to forget. The team was flat and just couldn't get anything going as our sub par O line failed again and again...sack after sack. Ugh. Doubles deserves so much better than this. Even our defense took a step back with the exception of Willy Jefferson and Henoc Muamba.

What I've come to understand is that every time a game comes along that has a lot of meaning or some kind or symbolism the Riders don't have it in them to pull it off. Maybe that's just recent history. Maybe I'm just grumpy and tired of losing. The Riders just didn't look prepared for the tilt against the BC Lions and made Waaaaalllllyyyyyy and the Lions look like the play off team they are. The record tells us what we are and are very much a 5-12 team.

But look out in 2017.

The only game I've seen my Saskatchewan Roughriders win this season was the game Hubby and I went to in Toronto at BMO Field. What happened to that team? Did their playbook get lost with the baggage on the way home? I have lots to say about that game and experience but I'll string you along and make you wait for another blog.

Lets all go and Paint the Whole World Green

The extended halftime Saturday featuring Jason Plumb, Joss Moskeluk and the Jack Semple band was good entertainment. There was a serious lack of flying snowmobiles but we can't have everything perfect now can we? * smile * I sang and danced along. It was fun and we even cheered for the winner of the Ford truck.

Auf wiedersehen, good night.

Where were you when they closed Taylor Field? I think it's going to be the major question going forward. I made sure I was at the stadium. Going back to the spring when I received my Flex Pack renewal I KNEW we had to be at this game. We were in Section 25 Row 35 Seats 15 & 16. It was so completely worth the layers and frozen toes. I did not bang my leg on the seat back nor did I attempt to remove a seat. I preferred the Mosaic Moments and Memories instead.

On every seat was a Farewell bracelet for every fan to wear. Hubby was a party pooper and didn't want to wear his so I wore both. “I wear my bracelet on my ankle.” he quipped as I rolled my eyes. The bracelets were remote controlled and lit up in different colours or twinkled in sync with the closing program. I'd probably still be wearing them but Hubby made me remove them before driving home saying they'd be a distraction. I did wear one on Halloween though.

I don't always wear green. Meh, yeah, I guess I kind of do!

Screenshot from the TSN broadcast

The closing ceremony (which I've since found out was orchestrated by my Aunt Judy's brother, Bill Wright) … the closing ceremony, if I can call it that, was amazing. It started with fans sharing memories of their experiences via video, there was the story telling how Taylor Field came to be from the beginnings of Park Hughes and Park de Young and following history right up to the present. Then special guests were shown under spotlights on the field. Legends or the Four Pillars of Roughrider history. George Reed. Roger Aldag. Gene Makowsky. Darian Durant. (<---- sign that man!) Then the Grey Cup itself was brought in by the RCMP which always gives me chills and was passed from Grey Cup winner to winner. (sigh snibble snibble) Then Darian Durant gave a countdown to honour of the 13^th Man and fireworks lit up the night sky. What a glorious send off to the stadium and legacy that Ronny and George built.

My little green heart is/was very full of Rider Pride.

It took a long time for fans to leave the stadium. It's true we kind of didn't want to leave right away. The East Side was very slow to exit. We made our way back to the Fan Express to Northgate Mall except this time the traffic was too crazy and of course there was a train so the bus took a far different route than before and we passed new Mosaic Stadium all lit up in splendor just waiting.....

Rider Nation is ready. Let's get Darian signed and let's break in this wonderful new place with winning 2017 mosaic memories.

But first...Let's show the BC Lions what they have to look forward to next year.

The Riders Upside Down

You've said it yourself. The CFL has been a bizarro world, crazy place, or even The Upside Down. Teams who have been good are losing while losing teams are winning. Every week CFL Pick 'Em is a gamble. All this time Rider fans are sitting here thinking, “When will the cloud of 2009 finally lift?” One sure has to wonder. We thought it did in 2013 but that was just an anomaly...a blip on the radar. Just when you think things are finally looking up -  Ridernation is chop blocked.

No flag on the play.

In case you missed it, the usually absent CFL Commissioner after an apparent two week investigation levied the biggest fine to a football club in the leagues history not only sending a message to the other 8 teams but making a spectacle of the Saskatchewan Roughriders as well.

Ridernation is the largest fan base in the CFL. We buy the most merchandise, travel while representing the //=S=// and fill other stadiums besides our own. Other fans want to be like us or have an intense hatred on for us because of it and the latter seems to be more and more true recently with other fans attacking us before we finally turn on ourselves as well. In 2010 Ridernation won the Commissioners Award and yesterday? …..Well it seems to me that Jeffrey Orridge called everyone associated with the Roughriders an embarrassment to the league.  Well sir, I think you have this upside down.  We sir, are the example of what a CFL club should be and others should aspire to be.  They WISH they could have a fan base as loyal as Ridernation.  You could learn from us.

Yes, we broke the rules.  Yes, we got caught.  Yes, we will pay the fine.

It's only 545 jersey's sold.

Now I don't pretend to know what has been going on. There's all kinds of rumours and speculation from extra players and practises happening to housing and

feeding of them as well as our beloved players afraid to speak out about it. I don't know about any of that but when Chris Jones says he was only following the practises of what's happened at other teams he's coached for then I believe him. The Saskatchewan Roughriders cannot be the only team to have tried out players and bent the rules a little. Bend but don't break, right? But that same Commissioner who says we are an embarrassment better be looking into all the other teams too. Ridernation should demand it.

Who Did This? (Thanks to @fakeGainer)

There's also another matter at hand. It seems like this “pre-practise” squad was common knowledge with everyone around the league except those right here in the easy to draw province. Seriously. None of us would have known a thing about it at all until the ruling if “wha-mpeder” Bo Levi Mitchell hadn't tweeted his rather lame attempt at a joke. Of course Ridernation came to the clubs defense. What did BLM expect to happen? Then to say he'll use that as motivation is just sad. My thoughts on this is just this: If he knew something was jinky then he should have taken the proper route to the CFL instead of spewing it on social media. If the Stampeders have any kind of social media rules like the Riders do then he should be fined for his unsportsmanlike conduct. It was not his place to comment on the operations of another team publicly.

Thirdly ( I wasn't numbering my points was I? Meh. ) It feels like there is a snitch or mole, if you will, among us. By that I mean that it seems that since 2013 or maybe even before that as if someone was out to get us. I must not be alone in this hunch because fans were not only asked to sign in at Riders practise thursday but to provide picture I.D. It also makes me think back to when Corey Chamblin was closing practises and banning the media. Perhaps he was on to something. Whatever it is...we are circling the wagons...your day is coming.

Riders gotta ride.

August 13^th the Stampeders are in town and whether we like it or not it has motivated ticket sales. For the first time this season we might have a sell out. It'll be a celebration in Ridernation of the 1980's. Players like Bobby Jurasin, Glen Suitor, Dave Ridgway, and the Pole-cat will be in town. Wouldn't it be amazing to re-inact “The Kick” from 1989? Heck, I don't even care if he can't make it. I just want to see it in this stadium before we say goodbye. I'll be there with my back combed hair, leggings and swapping out the blue eye shadow for the green. Green is the colour after all. I know you don't want to miss a moment of this epic farewell.

Trust me when I say the feelings you've had this week as hard as they are to endure will pass. The 13^th Man, Dewdney Dwight, Darian's Fault...it's all water under the bridge. Step away from Facebook, Twitter and Rider Fan page. Let's just be CFL friends and enjoy some good old fashioned football.

See ya at the game.

Go Riders.

 

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.

Fire & Brimstone

I will admit when I am wrong.

I was wrong.

I put my support behind the Roughriders and coaching staff because I honestly didn't see a reason not to. Yes, things were done I was surprised by and didn't understand and yes, it got harder and harder to see every game and I felt for the players deeply. I wasn't blind nor did I sport green goggles but I just didn't know all the facts. It's definitely hard when you are the one voice against the herd.

After Sunday's game I put my faith in the Roughriders organization. My belief was and continues to be that those on the board and who hold the power know what the right decision was and should be. They have all the inside knowledge and run the business while I am just someone on the outside viewing the field. I won't pretend to have the knowledge to decide whether someone should have a job or not.

I've also said a firing was a dangerous road. I could see how if not controlled correctly it could be the beginning of a coaching carousel which would take years to recover from. I hope I am wrong on that account too.

The last time the Saskatchewan Roughriders made a statement by firing both the General Manager and Head Coach was December 8^th, 1986. Those positions were held by Jack Gotta and Bill Quinter. Three years later the Riders won the Grey Cup.

There were two coach firings before Eagle Keys led the Riders to the 1966 Grey Cup. Danny Barrett was fired before Kent Austin came in 2007. Greg Marshall in 2011...then Cory Chamblin led us to the Grey Cup of our wildest green dreams.

It feels like a cycle.

Can it be broken?

* shrugs *

In previous blogs I've mentioned how the culture in the province has drastically changed. There was a next year mentality. Losing was okay. Rider Nation won't stand for mediocrity any longer. In 1963 it would have been word on the street of discontent that would have spurred the team to make changes. In 2015 the people who would be on the street are now on their smart phones.

Before the 2010 Grey Cup, Rider Nation was awarded the CFL Commissioner's Award.

"This award is for everyone who has ever worn a watermelon instead of a toque to a CFL game," CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon said in making the announcement during the Gibson's Finest CFL Player Awards.

"Each year, I have the privilege of handing out the Commissioner's Award to a person or group that has made an outstanding contribution to the development of Canadian football," he said.

"This year, the one hundredth year of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, I decided to pay tribute to a group that epitomizes the way CFL fans love our league: the Rider Nation, which collectively does so much to make our league vibrant and strong and fun."

While every team in the CFL has tremendous fans, Saskatchewan fans are known for filling stadiums for their team's road games as well as home games, making the Riders the league's best draw. They are responsible for more than half of the CFL's merchandise sales. And their team's games are routinely among the most watched on TSN.

Oh how the mighty have fallen.

Sunday evening and continuing on to Monday throughout the day and leading right up until the news of the dismissal of Cory Chamblin and Brendan Taman broke, Rider Nation picked up torches and pitch forks and went on a witch hunt of the likes that no one has seen since Mary Shelley put pen to paper.

Is that the legacy you want Rider Nation to have?

I've never been so embarrassed or ashamed in my whole life to be a Rider fan. As my pal, Tony Brice commented, “Rider Nation is too dark for me.” Folks, that's what it looks like on the outside looking in. No wonder other fan bases hate us! It's the reason Rnation is giving us a run for our money. It's the reason if we aren't careful that football players and coaches will start backing away. We've touted that this is the place to be, yet chased away Henry Burris and dumped manure on Paul McCallum. Why? Why would anybody in their right mind want to come into this fish bowl?

Le sigh.

So it's a fresh start. We are moving forward with interim Head Coach Bob Dyce and General Manager Jeremy O'Day. The Saskatchewan Roughriders are now in their hands. Wednesday practice is open and we've got a Labour Day Classic to prepare for. Brett Smith will be the starting quarterback and we've got a beaten and battered team to get behind as the struggling Winnipeg Blue Bombers fly into Mosaic Stadium Sunday afternoon at 2pm.

Use your passion, Rider Nation, in a massive show of support. These players and coaches deserve the very best. Let's make it a sell out.

Bring your cow bells. Leave the spears at home.

Put Owen in his place and put the win back in SaskatcheWIN where it belongs.

Little 'stitious

I've always said I'm just a little stitious not SUPERstitious. I have to admit that as much as I'd like to say it - it doesn't matter what shirt or hat or shoes I wear - it has no bearing on if the Riders win or lose. I'm throwing a flag on myself.  Calling an audible. It totally matters to me in 2015. At oh-and-7 it has to be something I'm doing wrong, right?

Knock knock

Who's there?

Owen.....Owen Seven

* eyeroll *

I think every sports fan is a little superstitious. Some people say it’s a ritual. A procedure of doing the same things to bring about similar results as before. I watched an episode of the McCarthy's (check it out – John Ritter's son is on it) where the whole family had to wear certain things, sit in particular places & do actions just because their team won once when that happened and they HAD to reenact it every time. Guess what? Their team kept winning as long as they did it.

Didn't that just prove the theory?!

The first time I ever remember feeling this way was back in elementary school. I played clarinet in the school band and insisted upon wearing my blue and yellow striped sports socks. Yeah, I know, Bomber colours! They were great socks. At least, I thought they were. I thought they did something for me because I wore them for every performance that band gave in my grade 7 year.

I had a lucky yellow rabbits foot as well, but it was hardly lucky for the rabbit.

Fast forward to 2007 when everything changed for Rider fans. There was a surge in everything green and the CFL marketing guru's licked their lips. Any kind of Roughrider garb that you could dream up in your wildest of imaginations was stamped with the //=S=// logo and sold. Everything except make up for us girls. I bought a little compact of Maybelline eye shadow called Emerald Isle. It went with my green shirt which at that point was not an official Roughrider shirt but just the Walmart $5 variety. Gradually, I came to believe that this green eye shadow somehow held the secret to the team winning.

In subsequent years I've tried different combinations of make up and jewellery and Rider shirts and jerseys. I ditched the Emerald Isle eye shadow for a glittery brownish green shadow in 2009/10. That didn't work out so well for me. I've tried eye liners, eye shadows and outfits galore. White shirts, green shirts, beads, head bands, hair clips, and Hubby will never forget the crazy green glue on eyelashes for the year the Riders played the Lions on Halloween. Even the trick or treaters at the door wondered why I had green spiders on my face. One kid even asked if they were real!

I can’t exactly define the moment when I thought, “I know, I’ll do watermelon make up this season!” It could have had something to do with a pre-season game occurring during my work week and I needed something not so crazy. * SHRUGS * But I pulled out my Annabelle “Pinked” eye shadow and combined it with the tried and true Maybelline “Emerald Isle” …..

.....drew on black eyeliner and brushed on some black mascara and…..

That was the 2013 season.

In spring 2014, and having been to New York twice at that point, I found an eyeshadow compact by New York Color which consists of a pale green, dark green and purple. #789 West Vintage. Dressler and Getzlaf OR Dressler, Bagg and Demski. Which ever way you want to look at it. I've chosen to look at it as a sign. It seemed to do the trick since the Riders were pretty good out of the gate and right up until our starting quarterback Darian Durant was injured in that “non play” against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers I hadn't lost belief that it wasn't working.

Sigh.

Over the off season, as many people do, I cleaned out my closet and make up stash. I threw out the original Maybelline Emerald Isle eyeshadow. I just tossed it in the waste basket. Didn't even think about it.

Ugh.

I feel like I may as well admit that I in fact was the 13^th man.....woman.

It's my fault. Not Darian's. Fire me. Not Chamblin. Throw the flag. Toss me out of the game.

My name is Owen.

Maybe, just maybe the make up doesn't have anything to do with both our starting quarterbacks being injured this season. The Emerald Isle doesn't have anything to do with missed tackles or low sack numbers. #789 West Vintage isn't responsible for enormous amounts of penalties.

It just is.....what it is.

That's an eye opener, isn't it?

But hold on! Keep that flag in your pocket, Proulx. I've just realized I have failed to wear my jersey even once this season!

So, if I wear my jersey to the game on the 22^nd, The Hall of Fame game, the game against the Calgary Stampeders, MAYBE, my beloved Roughriders will manage to squeak out a win.

* fingers crossed *

 

Nope. This rabbit.....er, rabid fan is not superstitious at all. * wink *

Stay the Course

How many of you were around in 1979? I was. I was seven. At age seven I don't even recall the word Roughrider muttered in our household. No one ever mentioned them until I was what I refer to as “stupid teenager” in 1989 when my Dad professed that 'the Riders are good this year'.

That's a small snapshot of what life was like when the Riders sucked.

Pierre Trudeau was Prime Minister. People played Atari. We listened to music on a Sony Walkman if you were lucky enough to have $200. We watched M*A*S*H* and wondered who shot J.R.

Social media was chatting with the cashier at the grocery store.

2 – 14

That was the how the season went and that's why no one talked about them.

There were only four recognizable names on the 1979 team roster. Ron Lancaster had forfeited his role as quarterback and became the coach. Tom Clements was the quarterback and he had huge shoes to fill on a team that had to find a new identity. It was doomed from the start.

We live in a different world now. Rider fans came out of the woodwork during the 2007 season. Something magical happened and we had to put lifters on the bandwagon to support the additional weight. Now we wear our Rider green every single day and we aren't ashamed. We put it on our cars and houses and tattoo it on bodies. It's Rider Pride and it's been easy to back our team through recent winning times.

Roughrider fans are now are young and impatient. They weren't here in 1979.....weren't even a sparkle in someone's eyes..... and don't care to learn about the past. They point fingers, ridicule and want people to lose their jobs. The worst part is they are the loudest voice on social media. Instead, of doing their homework they follow the ill words of others like sheep.

Let's face it.....weeks before Gary Lawless wrote his article talking about Coach Chamblin being fired it was being discussed everywhere. All the radio programs were talking about how changes needed to be made and even though they weren't calling for heads to roll it doesn't take much to plant that seed of doubt in a smart phone obsessed mind. Who was Lawless's source? Heck, it could have been all of Rider Nation.

I for one have greatly adjusted my attitude. So what? We (the team) may not have glorious wins this year. Every game will be a struggle that will make you want to rip of your jersey and throw items at the TV. That's okay. That's passion. That proves you care. But when it comes down to it.....isn't it wonderful that we have this team in our province, which helps define our province and community? Isn't it great that we can come together to cheer for these guys who have left family and loved ones and come from across the United States and Canada to become the 2015 Roughriders!

We are so blessed.

The 13th Man.  Other CFL teams WISH they had a fan base like ours.

So I dare you – this week, week seven, look for the good things. Look for small improvements. Look for someone doing their job well. Look for better instead of the best. Trust me, we will all be happier and more content for it. This team has faced a HUGE amount of adversity this year that not many other CFL teams could easily recover from and now is the time to stick with this Roughrider team. The payoff will be down the road but I know in my greenest of hearts it will be sweeter than you could ever imagine.

And if not, well, I'm sorry you feel that way. Just know that one bad decision could turn the time back to 1979 and as much as I enjoyed Atari, I love the 2015 version of the Roughriders far more.

Stay the course. Persevere. And Always Bleed Green.