Revisiting ~ It's Not June Yet

My 4th most popular blog of all time is a post entitled It's Not June Yet from March of 2016.  A co-worker had asked me about the temperament of Rider Nation and I complied with a blog post.  Let me set the stage for you...Corey Chamblin had been fired as Head Coach of the Riders late in the 2015 season and Bob Dyce had coached out the remainder of the season.  In November of that year Craig Reynolds landed Chris Jones much to the chagrin of Edmonton Eskimo fans.  In December, Jones released an unprecedented amount of Rider players then in January Chick & Dressler, which was not taken well by much of the fan base.  By the time I wrote this blog in March some big names had been signed and news was just amping up for the season.


As I stated in the opening of that blog post, a lot of people didn't even really know I was a football fan in real life.  I can pretty much guarantee that has changed.  I've never been one to shout it from the rooftop because I feel that when I am at work, I am there to work, and I'm hoping my employer likes it that way.  However, it does bubble over sometimes.  While my fandom isn't tattooed on my arm it is in my heart at all times.  In my classroom there is a Grey Cup champions sign from 2013 and a couple other tell tale signs if you look hard enough.  I do tend to wear a lot of green and to answer my question from It's Not June Yet, there is never enough Rider green.

Back in March of 2016 the temperament was mixed and divided.  Some love the Chris Jones regime, others hate him and others just hate his personality but love the coach. There are still (in March – 2 months later) fans who bring up the whole Chick/Dressler releases. Ridernation doesn't forget much.  In the first season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders they went 5-13.  It was a total and complete rebuild situation.  2017 was an improvement at 10-8 and less than 3 minutes from participating in the Grey Cup which our victors, the Toronto Argonauts would go on to win and let's not forget that Corey Chamblin our ex head coach was their defensive coordinator that year too.  Flash forward to last year 2018 and the Riders once again improved on their over all record at 12-6 and hosted a home play off game for the first time in several years.  While those same fans are still out there upset over how Chris Jones handled things (not this fan - I was on board from Day 1) it's easy to see how he was not only nominated for Coach of the Year but took home the award in November.  Each year that Chris Jones has been with the Roughriders organization has been an improvement over the last.  Yes, there's been some problems and some ugly losses (The Big Goose Egg) but if one was to take the temperament of the fans at right this moment I'd say we are leaps and bounds ahead of where we started.  We are just missing that one quarterback ingredient, but I'll get to that later.

Here we are in 2019 and Corey Chamblin has become the Head Coach for the Toronto Argonauts after Marc Trestman was dismissed.  It's always shocking when someone gloriously leads their team to victory one year and then is fired the next.  It seems to be the way so often in professional sports.  We know that in Chamblin's final year with the Riders he changed.  We don't know if it was winning that did it or something else but we saw issues where coaches and players didn't want to work for him or with him.  He has said publicly that he learned from his experience here in the fishbowl.  It'll be interesting to see what kind of culture he's able to create in a place like Toronto that seems oblivious to the very existence of the CFL.  

Rider Nation waited anxiously after an NFL reporter mentioned in an article that Chris Jones should be on the radar of several NFL teams.  We wondered if it was news being created in the absence of football news in the CFL and we have seen an exodus of players to the NFL so why wouldn't coaches be going elsewhere too?  Thankfully on Tuesday all the rumours were put to rest when news finally broke for the first time since December 20th, Chris Jones had signed a contract extension through 2020.  He said there's unfinished business with the Roughriders and as I've always suspected, he wants to win a Grey Cup with our Riders.  Hey, I'm all for that attitude!

I would be remiss if I didn't also mention that we don't say #isitjuneyet anymore.  There has been an effort and movement to move the season up to avoid disasters like the 2018 Grey Cup and it's snowy onslaught.  What a complete embarrassment that was!  It was bad for the teams playing and it was disappointing to watch players slip and slide on TSN.  In 2019 the season will begin in June and preseason begins in May.  Wahoo!  That also means training camps will open a week earlier and that completely works out for my schedule.  So...#isitmayyet?  I am assuming that the Riders return to Saskatoon for training camp in 2019 but we will have to await that news.

Back to my 2016 blog post...I went on to talk extensively about meeting new players and then how accessible fans are to CFL players.  Aren't we lucky?!  The three players I posted about were only Riders for a short time.  I did mention my curse with meeting players and their dismissal.  That tweet

Will Scott Moe like this post?

even got the attention of Premier Brad Wall.  Coincidence?  I have been so blessed to meet most of our Riders at events over the years.  I always thought it was a CFL thing but perhaps it's mostly a Roughriders thing.  At any rate, I am thankful that it's possible at all.  I guess when you are in a position to meet a lot of players you also might find a lot of those same players get released.  I will let you know that I will not be the first fan marching off to get a customized jersey...

Four years ago I was not a season ticket holder. 2019 will be the 3rd season that I hold tickets.  I love that the Roughriders and Mosaic Stadium organizations have options for all fans.  In 2016 I bought what was called Flex Tickets.  Now, with my season tickets they have a great resale option available for games I am not able to go to.  Sometimes, even if you are the biggest fan, it's just not possible to drive the 3 hours due to other adult responsibilities.  I've loved being in section 126 and I enjoy being close to the field.  What I don't enjoy is having to watch most of the game on the big screen because I can't see what's going on.  In February I'm going to look at upgrading to another section.  It'll be a great opportunity to meet new people and participate in the terrific Mosaic Stadium game atmosphere.

We said goodbye to Taylor Field and we welcomed Mosaic Stadium with open arms.  We worked out the bugs in hosting a home play off game and now we are ready for more.  It's go time.  The next few months are going to be full of news and we will see some beloved players move on and we will also welcome new players into the fold.  I'm not making any bold predictions but with every improving year - this is the year to do it all and it starts with Chris Jones going out and getting us the quarterback to lead us there.  Who will it be?  Take part in the poll posted below and let me know your thoughts!  Stay tuned for the results!

Who is the next Riders Quarterback?

Zach Collaros

Johnathon Jennings

Mike Reilly

Bo Levi Mitchell

Other

Created with QuizMaker

Labour of Love

Here we are again.

One and Nine.

We've become dear old friends over the last two seasons. It's a love hate relationship really. We love our Saskatchewan Roughriders and desperately hate the losing record. Then to lose Sunday to our most hated rival after eleven years of winning the Labour Day Classic...well, it's rough.

In 2014, Darian Durant suffered an injury in the Labour Day game on a play which should have been a penalty but wasn't. The Riders won the game. In 2015, Darian Durant wasn't playing the game due to the Achilles injury and the Roughriders had just fired Taman and Chamblin. They named Bob Dyce Head Coach and the Riders went on to win the game. This year, under the Jones regime, Doubles single handedly brought the team back from a dismal first half, scored a touchdown himself then scored the 2 point conversion using the same play. It wasn't enough to win the game but it was more than enough to reaffirm just why Darian Durant is our starting quarterback. I turned to my husband and said “THAT'S why he's our starting quarterback.” I've never seen a player with so much heart. He wants nothing more than to win for the fans. When I heard him in the post game interview...my heart broke for him. Darian's contract was only for 2016. I am afraid to think of what might happen in 2017. I don't want to know a Riders team without this man.

Obviously, it'll happen at some point in the future. I'm not crazy. I just want it to be down the road and after the rebuild and on Darian Durant's terms.

As far as “why didn't the Riders win that game”, I don't believe it comes down to the referree's mistakes. I surely would like to blame Andre “turd an tree” Proulx for blown calls, phantom calls and anything else I could but I'm too rational for that. Our Saskatchewan Roughriders didn't play very well in the first half of the game but rebounded in the second half. There are many young players and rookies on our team due to rebuilding and injuries. When penalties and stupid mistakes happen we simply aren't good enough (yet) to over come them. Losing a game shouldn't come down to a missed kick or a controversial penalty decision and for good and great teams it doesn't. Just because I think this doesn't mean I'm blind to what's happening in the CFL with everything from the officials right on up to the commissioner. It's just not logical to say the Riders got screwed when it's happening in every CFL game every week. However, when players of the likes of Nik Lewis are tweeting saying the Riders got screwed...well, you know there's big issues. Is it embarrassing? Naw, not for me. It's freaking maddening. Just as I say the Riders aren't good enough neither are the officials. I don't believe they just want to get it right – I believe they don't know what is right.

Enough dwelling.

Hubby and I were in Section 43 Row 1 which is located on the West Gate (which I still sometimes think says Wes Cates). This is the last time we will be on this side of the stadium during this Farewell Season. We had great fans sitting around us and that includes Blue Bomber fans. Every one was well behaved and we all had a great time.

How about the play of Naaman 'the President' Roosevelt and Caleb Holley? These guys have been impressive and I am very encouraged as they continue to develop.

Dressler who? We let him have a couple plays but we didn't let him score a touchdown in spite of Paul LaPolice's insistence of continually trying to get him the ball. I love that we were almost able to shut him down.

Kendial Lawrence. After weeks of harsh criticism, he finally broke loose and scored a touchdown. We nearly went berserk. I was jumping up and down and shaking my cowbell and screaming then seconds later high five-ing everyone around us. It was amazing and down deep in my heart I felt a sensation of relief. Seeing the back flips in the end zone was pretty cool and made me think back to the Hugh Charles days. The only thing more amazing than witnessing this in person was hearing the play call by The Voice of the Riders Rod Pederson. It was right up there with “that just happened” and “they just don't stop”. That thing that it makes me feel while I sit here writing this is essentially Rider Pride at its very nucleus in my little green heart. Man, that feels good.

And that's about the best way to describe it.

Saturday is the big rematch. The Banjo Bowl. I have no idea who will win but of course I hope my Roughriders do. I'm happy for the Blue Bombers to be having a more successful season but not happy enough to hand them another win. No matter the outcome, it'll be entertaining. We can always count on our Riders to put on a great show.  Go Riders! //=S=//

 

Rider Bye's & Fruit Flies

I took the Roughriders bye week off from blogging. Instead, I waged a war on fruit flies. They moved in to my kitchen when I brought home a box of pears from Costco. Let me say this – Fruit flies are not my friend.

During the bye week, we said goodbye to Kevin Glenn in a trade to the Montreal Alouettes. The Riders got a 5^th round draft pick in return. Then we turned around and used that draft pick as leverage and sent Jerome Messam to the Calgary Stampeders for a kicker (Tyler Crapigna) and a player on their negotiation list. It took some time to find out who the neg list player was and he had no sooner arrived in Regina when he got some NFL opportunities and quickly retreated. In the end of it we signed a RB Chad Spann.

GASP! Messam to the Stamps?!

May as well just kill off Glenn on the Walking Dead.

Oh wait.

So after the initial shock wore off it did feel encouraging for Jeremy O'Day to be making some moves. It felt like he was making a statement and doing what any 2 – 14 team does when looking to the future and that is trade for some younger players. As much as I've enjoyed McCallum being our kicker, the truth is that he's a 45 year old man. I've loved his attitude in spite of what I've heard others say...I do believe he has been a leader in the locker room when we were lacking that so badly this season. Messam to Calgary was a great move for the Stamps with the future of Cornish up in the air. It seems he's still suffering from effects from concussion injuries. I talked to a Stamps fan and even he admitted that in his opinion it was a stupid move from the Roughriders, but Messam was a free agent at the end of the season anyway. We were bound to lose him one way or another. So...as it may appear, I'm on the fence about Jeremy O'Day. I also highly suspect his hands are tied by previous contracts and the salary cap and so many other things that our little fandom brains can't even comprehend it. What I do know is that he was a player on a Roughrider team who did suffer as horribly as the 2015 team has. Maybe...just maybe he is exactly the right man for the job.

~ shrugs ~

Here we are nearing the end of October and what have we found out about the 2015 Saskatchewan Roughriders? They are awful in every possible way. Tackling has been an issue right out of training camp. That can almost sum everything up. We are slow. We are undersized. We are unmotivated. I don't think Bob Dyce is the next Head Coach. There, I said it. The Roughriders need a coach & coaches who can keep the team in check, preparing them for every game situation possible and firing them up when they falter. At times during the game Saturday, Dyce seemed bored. He's also saying some similar things as to what Chamblin was quoted as saying in media scrums. Sure mistakes happen but it is your job to be better...make the team better...

...Fans deserve better and we know, BETTER is always possible.

This team has consistently tried to hang onto the glory of past seasons and done very little to plan for next year. We can't even say we are in “next year country”. There are very few players on this current team who should be here next week never mind next year. The bottom line for the Roughriders is they need to put a system in place to scout and develop players not only for now but for always. They should always be looking for the next Chick, the next Dressler, the next franchise quarterback. There needs to be an end to finding the cast offs and trying to rehabilitate them. It doesn't work and we end up running in circles.

This is where someone like Wally Buono has excelled. He's been able to see the end of a career and nip it in the bud before they've over stayed their welcome. It's shocking. But when you are the GM or HC your job is to make the tough calls not the popular ones. You have to do what is best for the greater good. You have to sometimes release players you've loved to move the team forward. It's not personal – it's business.

Did firing Corey Chamblin and Brendan Taman change anything? There was such an outcry at the time but really, in my opinion, all it really did was expose how broken down the team really was. No longer can we hinge the Riders demise to the injuries of Darian Durant or Shea Emry. When the rule changes occurred the Roughriders were the last team to try to adapt. We didn't employ a defence that was prepared or could over come the changes while our small receivers constantly got beat by taller Db's. Next season I'm looking to see taller bigger defensive backs and receivers and I know that means saying goodbye to Riders we love dearly.

Rip off the band aid.

Just pull Glenn off the dumpster.

There are two games left in the Roughriders season. Many fans have already jumped ship. They've gotten behind the Jays, although that didn't end very well. It was very inspiring to see so many people, myself included, come together for a Canadian team. Others have turned to hockey or the NFL. I myself am enjoying the end of the Nascar season and have tuned into some of the Boise State games which are always fun to watch on the Smurf Turf.

Sigh.

Oh...so how did I finally get rid of the fruit flies? It turns out a slice of fruit with vinegar in a jar and a makeshift funnel made out of paper is all it takes to trap them.

If only the Roughriders problems could be resolved so easily.

It's Not Easy Being a Fan of the Green

OMG

Oh my GAWD

Oh-Em-Gee

You have no idea how many times I said those words during Saturday's pathetic display of football against the BC Lions.

~ face palm ~

I still can't even put it in to words. I'm still angry. That wasn't even the sentiment at the end of the game. It was the feeling during the second quarter. Hubby stormed out of the living room muttering how much he couldn't stand it. He returned but the muttering didn't change much.

It sure is tough being green these days.

What did we think was going to happen? After beating the Allouettes in a completely dominant fashion, did we think that was our team now? Did we think all the bad was undone and we remembered what Rider football was? I'm mostly upset because that game gave Rider Nation hope...HOPE...and there they were in BC breaking our hearts yet again this season.

Where do we go from here?

One view is the Roughriders need to make some trades for draft picks. I have a really hard time with that belief. Who do you trade? I had thoughts back in training camp days but now and with injuries in consideration I'm not ready to part ways with these guys who I've grown to love so much. I also know, and it's the pessimist in me, Riders often trade people and then they go on to have stellar careers elsewhere and usually have the games of their lives against us.

I posted some painfully brutal comments following Saturday's game. This team, playing the way they did, don't deserve to win a game nor do they deserve a play off spot. Our team is under sized, slow, unmotivated, and poorly coached.
Corey Chamblin stacked his coaching staff with people who could not or would not challenge him. I don't know if that's ego or just the belief that he could control everything. I feel for Bob Dyce because he's inherited this mess. He has an offensive coordinator in Jaques Chapdelaine who really doesn't believe in what I consider “rider football” because he refuses to use the run game. The defensive coordinator Greg Quick shows sparks of potential but when it comes to the secondary..... * grimace *. 

The Roughriders need a complete revamp.

BUT we won the 2013 Grey Cup.

Sure. We did. Look at us now.

Ugh.

For interest sake:

Riders Grey Cup 1966. Record in 1968 12-3. Lost west final.

Riders Grey Cup 1989. Record in 1991 6-12. Finished 4^th in west.

Riders Grey Cup 2007. Record in 2009 10-7. I won't remind you.

Riders Grey Cup 2013. Record in 2015..... NOW.

We are not making the playoffs.

Period.

It's just not our time. As actor Kim Coates remarked several weeks ago (to paraphrase) “we had our time in the sun and now it's time to let someone else shine.”

I just wish it wasn't so painful.

I love this team. I'm still watching the remaining games. I'll still wear my Rider jersey. I know that whatever happens from this point on is what happens but for once in a long time I'm looking forward to the off season.

Can't possibly lose in the off season.

Is it June yet?

A Roll of the Dyce

Many a blog has been composed at my dining room table coffee cup in hand. At 3pm Thursday afternoon my two year old Keurig moaned and groaned but did not product any coffee.

I'm not sure life can go on as we know it.

* * * * *

How great was the Labour Day Classic? I was again in section 14 but got moved up to row 13 and I have to say, WOW, what an interesting (crazy) and fun (drunk) group of people. Someone actually brought a massive jar of pickled eggs and was serving them to seat mates with a spaghetti ladle. Sunflower seeds were shared as were touchdown high fives. It was great. I have to say any Bomber fans near us were good sports in spite of my Hubby's incessant yelling of BOMBERS SUCK!!! One turned around and motioned as if to say 'yeah, well, you're right.' Still these fans make the pilgrimage every year and help make the day into the event that it is.

This has been a season of rumours. Going back to the story by Gary Lawless, which we now pretty much know was leaked by Brendan Taman himself, we all said at the time it was hogwash only then a couple weeks later and after the outcry of fans what he said became truth. Knowing now that Lawless and Taman are friends is interesting and has made me think of two scenario’s.....one being that BT was just wondering out loud and Lawless took it and ran with it OR two, that it was a publicity stunt of sorts where Taman was trying to drum up Chamblin support and squash the firing rumours. That's all water under the bridge because then Jeremy O'Day and Bob Dyce were named as interim GM and Head Coach. Rider Nation was high after the Labour Day win. It seemed like the team was the one we remembered. It kind of seamed like everything was fixed. It's a new O'day! Then a new rumour emerged saying John Hufnagel was going to leave the Calgary Stampeders to become the Roughriders new GM and Head Coach.

Wait, wha?

I don't know where this story started but I know for sure it did not start in good old Saskie.

Before the firings, while everyone was speculating, call in show hosts talked about how the position of head coach would be a difficult one to replace and that it would pretty much be career suicide because when the season is over they'd be relieved of the position as well. Then, once the names O'Day and Dyce were put out there it seems like all of what I just stated went out the window. Suddenly everyone is on board with the hiring. What I can honestly say is that besides knowing that Jeremy O'Day was a previous player and was Taman's assistant, I know nothing else about him which would make him ready to not only right our Rider ship but make it the premier team that we all want it to be. I also ask this question.....if Bob Dyce wasn't good enough to be named Head Coach in 2012 after being Rider Offensive Coordinator and now Special Teams Coordinator, what makes him ready for the job going forward?

I'm not saying I don't like these men because that simply isn't true. The players certainly seem to like them and want to play for them. Just consider the inexperienced coaching staff we currently have.....who could possibly fix it? Not only fix it but completely turn it around into a winning team next year? And that's why whether there may be any truth to the Hufnagel rumour or not....it actually could be considered because you cannot deny how successful he's made the Stampeder franchise.

I know what you're saying.

ABC – Anyone But Calgary.

Since I'm on the topic of ex Roughrider quarterbacks.....how about that little skirmish Kent Austin got himself into? In case you missed it, he gave Dave Stala a bit of a shoulder shove on the Tiger Cats sidelines during the game the other night. This whole thing is so amusing to me. First of all we all know that Kent has sideline antics from eye rolling to arms flailing so much so a Twitter account was created called Angry Kent. Taking that into consideration, it doesn't surprise me that a hot headed Kent would shove a player in this fashion. But really...was it a thing? I mean, a big enough deal for Austin to issue an apology and then be fined $5000 by the league?

:)

By the way, word on the street is that Kent Austin's contract in Hamilton is up at the end of this season. Would we want him back?

Why is another teams cast off supposed to make the Riders pearl necklace?

Shrugs

Remember that time the Roughriders were favoured to thrash the Blue Bombers in the Banjo Bowl? I'm not going to rehash a game where we saw our 3^rd string quarterback run for his life as our mostly veteran offensive line failed repeatedly. In my opinion the game ended exactly the same as the Ottawa game where Brett Smith was pulled and we saw Sunseri get sacked again and again as our offensive line failed.

The questions this week are all about who starts at quarterback as Kevin Glenn comes off the injured list. Since our O line can't seem to protect anyone for three quarters never mind four.....does it really matter who the starter is? Playing armchair coach, I think you have to go with the veteran in this case. He has the experience in seeing the defences. Glenn put up great numbers prior to his injury. The choice is simple for me. The goal even though the play offs aren't even a consideration at this point is to win games. We still have to play games and try to win and by playing anyone else you are waving the white flag.

The stats say that typically teams who fire their head coach tend to win the following game, however, the season usually finishes the way it starts. If you read my last blog I went back in Roughriders history and looked at the coach firings two to three years before Grey Cup wins and the season records.

1964 9-7

1986 6-11

2005 9-9

2011 5-13

Even though in two of those seasons the Riders made it to play offs, they still weren't successful winning teams until two or three seasons later. Are you ready for that Rider Nation?

* * * * *

Some good news. I McGyvered my Keurig by using a steak knife and vinegar and gave it a second life.

Coffee cup in hand, I ask you, can the Saskatchewan Roughriders gain some W's in these last 7 games? My guess is as good as yours.

It's a roll of the Dyce.