Sandra's WK21 CFL Power Grouping

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

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

Flashback to Week 1

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

Moving on.  Here is how the season finished.

How the season wrapped up

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

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

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

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

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

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

Friday Football 5 ~ Grey Cup Edition ~

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Merry Christmas 2015

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

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

My favourite kind of CHRISmas cookie.

Friday Football Five

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It's a Wrap

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BEL13VE

Friday Football Five

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Football Grief

When Christion Jones ran back the punt to score a touchdown towards the end of the fourth quarter in Sundays East Final to tie the game I leaped to my feet and jumped up and down in front of our 55 inch LG TV.  We aren't going home!  We aren't going home!  We planned for 21 days and we aren't going home!  It was the height of emotion but with a sinking feeling I knew we weren't going to hold back Ricky Ray and the Argonauts and with my green heart pounding wildly in my chest I prayed and hoped and BEL13VED.  I was in denial.  I had thought at half time we had lost the game.  My Saskatchewan Roughriders who were the underdogs and who wanted desperately to rewrite history and prove all the doubters wrong just weren't playing with any motivation or urgency.  We were going to lose.

When the Argos scored the touchdown to win the game to advance to the Grey Cup in Ottawa I got angry.  It's really hard not to try to place blame.  The refereeing was bad but it's been bad all season and whether or not roughing the passer happened or there was a bad block or unsportsmanlike penalties at the end of the day the Riders just weren't prepared enough.  People spouted off about quarterbacks and conspiracies...then I thought about Corey Chamblin and how much he and Tyron Brackenridge might like to really stick to the Riders for being fired and released.  I thought about how cool as a cucumber Marc Trestman is and how to me he'll always be "that" Head Coach from the 2009 - 10 Grey Cup games and how much 09 hurt especially. I really wanted to write all those feelings down but I was so upset I couldn't put anything down on paper and went to the grocery store instead where I shared a knowing glance with a fellow Rider fan.  The trouble has always been that I care so much and often too much and end up being hurt.


OK...sucking it all up....life goes on....

There is no one to blame.  The Roughriders just didn't play well enough to win this playoff game.  They came close but the defence just couldn't hold them.  Let's face it...Rider Nation got two extra games this season!  We haven't had a play off game in 2 season and now here in only the second year of a massive rebuild under the Chris Jones regime we got within 1 game...30 seconds really...of going to the 2017 Grey Cup.  I had said back in June or maybe it was Training Camp that if this team went 9-9 I'd be happy. The Riders ended the season 10-8, won the East Semi-Final and was competitive enough in the East Final to make Ricky Ray really work for it. I was a first time season ticket holder and getting to experience my favourite team during the Inaugural Season at new Mosaic Stadium was amazing!  We couldn't be happier with our seats and the friends we made around us and getting to be on the field during pregame was mind blowing.  How blessed are we to have a General Manager/Head Coach (plus VP & DC) of Chris Jones and his whole staff.  Because of him we have the team we do with the character and family feeling that we do.

Hope.  No matter how we feel or that it took me two entire days to reach this point I know that 2018 looks very promising for Rider fans. I've scrolled through Twitter looking at all the terrific posts from Rider players who are saying their goodbyes and thanking Rider fans.  When I thanked them in return they often "liked" my post. I wonder if fans of other teams in the CFL have that happen too or if we are indeed special in this province. I watched on the news as players cleaned out their lockers and offered things up to fans.  They're looking forward to going home wherever that might be and celebrating the holidays while this loss gets put to the backs of their minds.  Coach Jones is already working on next year and starting to firm up contracts.  We've spent a lot of time in Riderville thinking of "next year" but I truly bel13ve the 2018 Roughriders team will be a force to be reckoned with.

As we turn to the Grey Cup this weekend I have to admit I've lost interest.  My only hope is that Calgary is redeemed for their loss last year.  That's how the football Gods seem to work in the CFL... if you came close one year - you'll make it the next.  Without the downs we'd never have the happiness of the ups.

If you are American and reading this have a Happy Thanksgiving! If you are Canadian enjoy the Grey Cup festivities and I hope that this little blog which so many of you have helped support over 2017 has brought a little sunshine into your day.

As always - GO RIDERS.

Go East Young Man!

The Hamilton TigerCats, BC Lions and Montreal Alouettes will all be cleaning out their lockers this week as their seasons are over. This time last year my Saskatchewan Roughriders were doing the same...the last couple of years for that matter. Not this year! With the deciding factor being the loss to the Edmonton Eskimos in Week 20 Chris Jones and crew are heading to Ottawa to invade the Eastern Division.


A lot of sports media enjoy the topic of the Roughriders quarterback tandem of Kevin Glenn and Brandon Bridge or maybe they just can't wrap their minds around the concept. Who should Jones start? Jones names Glenn starter. How short of a leash should Jones give Glenn? Kevin still starts the game. I don't understand why this discussion keeps going on in spite of what's happened this last half of the season. Against the Alouettes, Jones played Glenn, Bridge and Adams Jr. What I think it comes down to is that Kevin Glenn has never lead a team and won a Grey Cup. He's been close (Blue Bombers in 2007) but because of never winning he doesn't get the respect and praise that others do. I also think this is why Jones is adamant about naming him starter every week. For one thing, it shuts up the talkers and debaters but for another, when the Riders make it (and I bel13ve they will) Kevin Glenn will be the starting quarterback who gets his name on the Grey Cup. Finally. I love the mentor that Kevin Glenn is; I love his comradery with fellow team mates and perhaps Kevin Glenn is the glue that keeps the Roughriders together.


The topic I don't hear discussed much is Chris Jones himself. People and fans have an obvious dislike for the man. They hollered for his head through most of last year and the start of the 2017 season as well...until the Riders started winning. I remember one of the Piffles Podcast members putting out a scathing blog just before they started winning. Where is the love now that the Roughriders are 10 - 8? *crickets* I'll tell you what the pundits do enjoy chatting about though. Why does Jones wear all black? Why won't Jones wear Rider colours? Why won't Jones wear a jacket? Why won't Jones wear a poppy? What would they do if they found out he lives at a hotel? GASP! This is all they've got to complain about now in November. I honestly could not care less about how Jones dresses on the sidelines as long as he is dressed. I care about how he coaches the team I am passionate about. I care that the players love him. I care that we win.


Canada's Team is off to the nations capital to play the Redblacks for the first time in post season since 1976. Let's all give a collective aRg as we think of Tony Gabriel together. *wince* Okay, so I was only 4 years old and don't recall anything about the match up at all except for The Catch. That might seem like ancient history so let's move on to present day. The Roughriders have played IN the home of the Ottawa Redblacks 4 times since they re-entered the CFL.  The Roughriders are 3-1 against them.  The last game in Regina the Redblacks  were victorious by 1 point while on the Riders Eastern road trip the Riders were victors by 1 point.  But let's talk about that Eastern swing...  The Roughriders played in Ottawa and got the W then stayed out east to play the Toronto aRgonauts where they also got the win.  Since this play off run could be a redo of that road trip the Saskatchewan Roughriders could possibly stay East for 21 days.


So my theory in my previous blog was incorrect. I have a new idea! If the Riders were to win the East (which I agree is likely a tall order) and the Blue Bombers (also a tall order with Matt Nichols injured) were to win the West we could see a scenario such as a Labour Day Classic Grey Cup. How crazy would that be?  If Kevin Glenn lead the Roughriders to a victory over the Blue Bombers in the Grey Cup TEN years after they lost because Glenn was injured (they played Ryan Dinwiddie) Blue Bomber fans would go berserk.


I like it. :)


There's nothing Rider fans love more than tying the present to the past with stats and trivia. I love to pull out things that happened on previous teams and seasons to try to predict how this season will end. The Roughriders used quarterback tandems in 1983 with Barnes & Hufnagel and more successfully in 1989 with another set of 5 & 16 numbers aka Austin and Burgess.  It would only seem fitting that the 2017 combo of #5 Kevin Glenn and #16 Brandon Bridge would provide us with some sort of karma. In that same way one should note that the Riders lost the final games of the season in the years 1989, 2007 and 2013 and went on to win the Grey Cup. Does it mean anything now? We just have to wait and see.


Hasn't this season gone by quickly? The funny thing is I still have a line on my right leg from the wicked sun burn I received at Training Camp the first time I attended back in June. In June all the hype was about Vince Young. I remember Chad Owens running back a punt and the crowd reacting at the scrimmage game. I recall Duron Carter's wide happy smile making me smile too. Aren't we blessed to have one more game to look forward to? The Eastern Semi-Final starts at noon Sunday. Go Riders!

Conspiracy Theory

On a very dull and dreary November day in 2009 I woke up to remember...well, you know what I remembered. Today, October 21st 2017 I woke up to a very similar dreary day and as my thoughts cleared I realized that October 20th wasn't a dream and my Saskatchewan Roughriders had not only beat the Calgary Stampeders (the number one team in the league) on their own turf but had blown them out 30 - 7. Oh how sweet it is!

A few weeks ago Cameron Judge went on a twitter tirade of sorts which left many of us scratching our heads and others speculating. Then he said it was all an experiment and it had worked.  Curious, right?  Some had him on pain meds or mentally ill but I think it's possible he was testing the waters for how his story would be picked up. Let's face it, fans and media bite on any little tidbit of Roughrider news and when the news is bad they bite especially hard.

Last Monday there was a small skirmish at Roughrider practice. It was so small reporters and media in attendance didn't notice anything happened.  It wasn't until Duron Carter made the tweet "It's been fun...see y'all" that all heck seemed to break loose.  Arash Madani and Justin Dunk were spewing out articles condemning the Roughriders left and right.  There was a post saying three Riders had been released...one of which couldn't have been in the altercation because he wasn't at practice! Another story said a coach had spurred the fight on. I believe all of that was smoke and mirrors.  Let's say the Riders came up with an idea to lead the media away from what they were doing last week.  No one was talking about who the starting quarterback was going to be, that Cameron Marshall was back and Trent Richardson who?  All anyone wanted to know was what happened.  What *if* all of that was an elaborate rouse?  That would account for a coach saying it's go time, that would account for the tweet that fed into the media's hands and that would account for why no one saw how prepared the team was to take on Calgary at McCarter...um, McMahon Stadium.  Let's not forget that the Riders controlled the entire narrative by having a closed practice Tuesday but no matter what the smoke didn't clear until everyone was jaw droppingly shocked as Duron Carter picked off Bo Levi Mitchell and returned it for a touchdown in a game winning play.

I admit that's a pretty elaborate thing to pull off and my watermelon may be a little too tight on the ol' noggin' but no matter what it did unite the team whether it was to pull it off or to come together to refute the allegations...it worked.  Bo Levi Mitchell did not score a touchdown against the Roughriders in TWO games with the only TD pass being thrown to...Duron Carter who was playing as a starting CB for the first time ever in a CFL game.  He'd just come off a 200+ game the week prior which put him over 1000 yards on the season.  He'd gotten in a "fight".  He went bowling with team mates and scored 202.  He started as a DB and he got his first career interception.  Hey, Bo, next time you decide to take to twitter to taunt a player...you better make sure you can back it up.

Winning in a decisive 30 - 7 game against the number one team in the league moved the Saskatchewan Roughriders into a play off spot.  The only question is, will the team stay in the west by staying ahead then beating the Edmonton Eskimo's on November 4th OR will they be relegated to going the eastern route.  No doubt this will be debated at length by all the pundits for the next two weeks. 

But first, on October 27th the Roughriders host the lowly Montreal Alouettes who are fighting more demons than just football games.  None of that really matters because since Week One in the CFL back when the Als beat the Riders this game was circled on the schedule as Darian Durant's return to Regina and new Mosaic Stadium.  Nothing stirs up more feelings than the topic of ex-Riders QB.  I'm not going to talk about what he did for us in the past because I've beaten that horse to death.  Let's take off the green goggles and see him exactly for what he is now.  He is a man, who endured 9 seasons as a Roughrider starting Quarterback with the last 3 injury prone.  He is a man who in the end wasn't loyal to the organization or fan base and left for money.  He was a man who burnt his Bridge by shouting at the Roughriders bench and making rude gestures when he won by 1 point.  He is a man who hasn't played much football in the last month and has found himself pulled in the last game against the Hamilton TigerCats.  He is a man who is getting paid reportedly $400,000 on a team that is now 3 - 13 where his future is in question.

I wonder how Darian will feel when he see's what's left of Taylor Field.  I know it's hard on me to see it all dismantled.  I wonder how he'll feel when he visits Mosaic Stadium for the first time.  I know how I felt and it was amazing but I also suspect it could be overwhelming for him considering what's been said of how he isn't over the trade. Then again...some think he's not even going to make the trip.

If you'd like to read my past thoughts on Durant check out these posts:

D U R A N T

The Elephant in the Room

What do you think of Chris Jones now?  It's no secret that I was on board since the Riders made him GM, HC, VP & DC shortly after the 2015 Grey Cup.  Lot's of fans don't like him for how he released fan favourites and I even have seen a few fans switch alliances due to it.  I think it's very admirable that some have now come out and said they were wrong about Jones.  It takes a lot of guts to admit your impressions were wrong and I applaud those who've done it.  No matter your stance, I firmly believe 2016 had to happen in order to start the foundation for the success we are now seeing in 2017.  I've often said it takes two to three years to rebuild a CFL team and here we are nearing the end of the second year and heading to the play offs for the first time since 2014.  Imagine winning so much that we take it for granted! That's part of what's happening in Calgary with the Stampeders and their attendance.  The team isn't making news anymore because all they do is win!  I'd sure like to try that feeling out for size and maybe, just maybe, Jones is the coach to make that happen for Rider Nation.

Who made this years CFL schedule? Don't they know Rider Nation travels from near and far for all games?  Friday evening games in October on the prairies is nutso!  I've had to sell my tickets because of my teaching schedule and while I could have gotten a substitute I decided maybe someone else could enjoy my seats for me. I hope they have fun and make lots of noise! Ring that cowbell and come home hoarse.

9 - 7 sure is fun...I'll see you on the flip side.  Here's to 10 - 7!

Go Riders!