CFL Subscription Club

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

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

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

What if there was one for the football fan.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Roughriders Free Agency 2020

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

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

I jest.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5 of the Most Viewed Posts of 2019

Here we are at the end of the first month of 2020.  I've decided to look back at 2019 and see what the most viewed blog posts were.  Enjoy!

5.  The 5th most viewed blog post of ABC Football is a bit disappointing and shows that drama draws people in.  I want to say that the experience in the blog Gong Show was reviewed and corrected.  There was a follow up blog explaining what happened but it didn't seem to get viewed in the same light.  Please read A Feel Good Story so you know the entire outcome.

4.  5 Things Said in Free Agency was a fun blog.  It was about things the media thought was going to happen and then didn't or other surprising things and how Free Agency 2019 transpired.  It would be fun to track Free Agency 2020 in the same fashion and then compare the outcomes.

3.  5 Reasons the CFL Beat the AAF.  Well we all know what happened to the AAF.  In 2020 we have the XFL starting up and many are saying since there's more money injected into it that it's going to be successful.  I find it hard to think that because it's very hard to compete with NFL dollars.  We just have to wait and see!

2.  If you've noticed the trend here - it seems lists are a popular blogging style of the last year.  I haven't gone back to the Friday Five trend and I've also noticed other writers haven't either.  Maybe that's over.  At any rate, the 2nd most viewed ABC Football blog was actually the 5 Most Popular Blog Posts of 2018.

NUMBER ONE

5 Reasons CFL Trumps NFL  In this blog post I give reasons why the CFL is a more fun league to follow.  Obviously football fans can follow both or all football leagues and don't need to chose one over the other.  We are diverse like that.

Most Viewed ABC Football Posts of 2019

Let Me Introduce Myself 2020

You might be a long time reader of this blog or you might have just happened upon this site from a link from social media and I thank you regardless of how you found your way to ABC Football.  We are only a few days/hours/minutes away from the opening of the 2020 CFL season and I thought this was a good time for me to reacquaint myself after an interesting off season.

If you'd like the condensed version, I don't blame you at all, after all our attention is pulled in several different directions these days... then please click on my About Me tab.  You'll find all the necessary information there.  If you prefer the long winded version, then by all means stick with me. * smile *
This is not a blog post about how I became a Rider fan because I think I've already been there, done that, and bought all the Rider tee shirts. If you are interested, this is my Origin Story.

I grew up in Prince Albert and in 2001 moved to Saskatoon.  I took music lessons all of my teenage years and when I was 17 I began teaching piano lessons.  Music has always been a huge part of my life and livelihood.  Except for a 5 year hiatus when we moved, I've always been a teacher.  My interest in practice ebbs and flows but I strive to keep learning and being the best instructor and mentor I can be to all the students who cross my path.  I probably should have become a school teacher but...well, I didn't.

I thought I was going to be a writer.  I did a few years of Arts & Sciences...basically enough to know that I was neither good at learning in that forum and that the learning how had nothing to do with the act of actually doing it.  Now I know that I could have made different choices but things always have a way of working out and because of them I met my Husband who you may have seen me refer to as "Hubby". We celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary in December and the one thing we enjoy doing together is going to football games.
I've always been able to succeed at pretty much anything I've ever tried.  That's not me being egotistical.  It's the truth.  No one ever told me I couldn't do something.  I always felt that I was free to pursue my passions.  I play music, I bake, I travel, I draw, I snap photos.....

On a social media forum which has long become extinct I began blogging about every day life, my love of donuts and my teaching stories.  My readers ( a handful of friends ) became wildly aware around 2008-ish that a lot of my blogs were about football.  Some of those very early blogs can be found in the archives on this very page.  It became apparent that I could just write about sports and eventually my page got moved here to Blogger and eventually through a few name changes we arrive at what ABC Football is today.

This page will always be from the fans perspective and over time I think I've become more level headed and logical and less radical.  Yes, I know, crazy words from a Rider fan!   I try to not take football or myself too seriously and I think that's evident through my CFL Power Rankings.  I think we can look everywhere, especially in Saskatchewan, and be bombarded with Roughriders news from sports media people.  I try to not let what's going on around me influence my perspective.  Why try to fit in?  The 2019 Power Ranking can be found by looking for "power grouping" in the Search This Blog box.  If it's just the Art you are looking for then click on the Garfunkel's tab at the top of the page.

Sometimes you have to excuse me.  I am the music teacher after all and that often takes precedent.  It also means you might be swamped with vague musical quotations from my current obsessions.  It might mean I don't get to write regularly because of my schedule.  I'm okay with it and I hope you are too.  I will always share my newest posts on my Twitter account, Instagram and the ABC Football Facebook page.  I firmly believe that while I am a Roughriders fan first and foremost, that is not all that I am.  I am diverse and sometimes complicated.  I can enjoy several things at the same time and remain smilingsandra or smilingriderfan or whoever I am :)

I am the administrator of ABC Rider Fans on Facebook.  The group doesn't have the big numbers that some Facebook groups do but the people who are on the page have fun.  It's not uncommon to go off topic or to joke around with each other.  We are friends.  If you've joined, you can expect Game Threads hosted by moderator John Strutt and we love it when everybody posts and shares.  You can expect CFL news while being Rider fans.  The rules are simple and easy to follow.  Search the group up and join in.

A question I get asked often is "why ABC?".  At the time, I wanted something that would come up on a Google or Facebook in an alphabetical type of search.  I also thought ABC could refer to the abc's of football and almost in a football 101 type of way.  Yes, it is also an acronym for Anyone But Calgary and that's a cool thing too but it does not mean the group/page is completely anti-Stampeders.  Not really anyway.

I am a Roughriders season ticket holder and this year will be in section 118.  I'm pretty excited to sit in a different part of the stadium.  I'm also pumped for the home opener on Canada Day.  Who doesn't love cheering on Canada's Team on the same day we get to celebrate our nation?!  If you see me, stop me and say hi!
I'd love to interact with you.  If there are blog topics you'd love to see me discuss then by all means let me know.  Thanks for reading and as always...

...Go Riders!

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.

Sandra's WK20 CFL Power Grouping

What do you do on a very snowy and cold Sunday afternoon when you find yourself with a couple extra hours?  You get out your fancy double ended markers and set to doodling.  That's right folks...you've got yourself a Garfunkel for Week 20 in the CFL.

The way I saw things in Week 20 was as you can see in the above Halloween graphic was the league divided into not an A, B and C but more of an Us versus Them.

Pumpkin (Group A) - Hamilton TigerCats/Saskatchewan Roughriders/Calgary Stampeders/Winnipeg Blue Bombers/Montreal Alouettes

Headstone (Group B) - Edmonton Eskimos/Toronto Argonauts/BC Lions/Ottawa Redblacks

The Hamilton TigerCats might be grinning ear to ear like Mr Jack O'Lantern sitting atop the whole CFL with 14 wins under their belt however, I've heard discussion about how easy it is for them in the east with how dismal their division opponents are.  It's been a while since they've had to play a strong western team.  They finish their season against Toronto so now doubt this record setting season will end at 15 wins for Hamilton.

My Saskatchewan Roughriders were on the road to Edmonton and as some people put it "nothing good happens in Edmonton".  Well many were ready to stop believing at half time and I even remarked that if I believed social media I'd be in the back yard burning my jersey.  Thank God things turned around in the second half as the Riders took gradual control of the game and ended with a walk off Field Goal on the leg of Brett Lauther for the second time this season.  They find a way to win.  Isn't that what I said was always so admirable about the Stampeders?  Well one thing if one can admire them...  because I find it so hard to like Bo Levi Mitchell.  He is very quick to call out his team mates.  Contrast that to Cody Fajardo who says he can't do with without the support of everyone else.  There is just so much to admire about Cody and it's not just the sprinkles.

Not football related but while the Riders versus Eskimo game was playing out in Edmonton, Regina was hosting it's first NHL game with the Heritage Classic at Mosaic Stadium.  The stadium looked absolutely glorious on tv and the aerial shots were awe inspiring reminding me of what Taylor Field had looked like at the 2013 Grey Cup.  Imagine how sparkly Mosaic will be when hosting in 2020.  Before all that happened though there was a fellow on Twitter who posted something about how people shouldn't wear Rider gear to other sporting events and of course people rebelled but then the best thing happened - Don Cherry himself appeared on TV wearing a beautifully tailored Roughrider blazer.  Anyone going to tell Grapes he can't don Rider gear for a hockey game?  Look the bottom line is - wear whatever the hell you want and stop looking around judging other people.  We spend $200+ on jerseys and it's a shame to hide them in a closet.  Wear your fandom with pride no matter what team you support.

Photo c/o Twitter post

Zach Collaros started for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and many have said "he's back".  While it might appear so there is next to zero film on Collaros in 2019 and it seemed the Stampeders hadn't really game planned for him at all.  With the protection of the Bomber O Line and running back Andrew Harris they were able to come out victorious.  Many Rider fans were cheering for the Bombers to help out in the west division standings or were they cheering AGAINST the Stampeders?  ABC!

I did tune in for the Hamilton Montreal game but honestly as entertaining as it was the game was meaningless as the stage is set for the eastern playoffs.  Vernon Adams was pulled after orchestrating two touchdowns.  A lot of starters also sat out the game but even so a team of back ups nearly beat the division champs.  Let's think about what's going to happen in the east final if Montreal turns out to be their opponent.

Even though I did lump the Edmonton Eskimos into the "other" group I did think that they should have come out victorious against my Roughriders Saturday.  At times the Edmonton sidelines looked confused at what was transpiring on the field.  The Esks have a great offensive and defensive line and with the return of Trevor Harris are a much improved team.  They come into Regina for the rematch in Week 21 and then head off to the east as the cross over team where I think they stand a good chance of beating the Als.

The seasons are pretty much done for the Argos, Lions and Redblacks.  Fans at ABC Rider Fans area already discussing which coaches will be fired or who will be the first to go.  Another discussion is who the MOP's and Coaches of the Year should be.  It's fun when your team is involved in those but not so much when you're team is already in next year mode.  I'll let you know that times do get better and sometimes things are a blessing in disguise.  When Chris Jones left the Riders in February or even when Collaros went down after 3 plays no one would have thought the Riders would be battling for first in the west.  Things can change quickly in the CFL.  Just don't stop believing.

Sandra's WK19 CFL Power Grouping

The news broke on Monday Oct 21st that the Saskatchewan Roughriders had signed Cody Fajardo through 2021 and essentially making him the franchise quarterback.  Thank goodness for football and having something positive to relate to on Canadian election Monday. 

One way to get Saskatchewan to turn blue is to have the province vote Conservative.

Anyway, thank you Cody "Sprinkles" Fajardo.  I watched the Riders Live press conference and continue to be wowed by the words and philosophies that come from this man.  One phrase that stuck with me was one he borrowed from coach Craig Dickenson "Be Where Your Feet Are".  

Another hot topic had all the football mathematicians dig out their high school calculus adding machines - what are the CFL play off scenarios.  Now if this doesn't make your head ache I don't know what will.  We know that the Roughriders will likely host a play off game but we don't know which one; the west semi or west final.  There's a super slim chance that they don't host a play off game but I'm not going to entertain that idea at all.  I BEL13VE.  

If you haven't already guessed, yes, I do have the Riders in A Group.  My break down is as follows.

Group A - Hamilton TigerCats/Saskatchewan Roughriders/Calgary Stampeders

Group B - Montreal Alouettes/Winnipeg Blue Bombers/Edmonton Eskimos

Group C - BC Lions/Toronto Argonauts/Ottawa Redblacks

Who would have pegged Hamilton to be the best team in the CFL when Masoli went down?  Certainly not me since we've seen first hand and around the league that you require a starting quarterback and a competent back up.  Good for you Cats for finding that talent.  Your team just keeps winning and congrats on obtaining 13 wins this season which is a franchise record.  As we know, the regular season is one thing and the play offs a completely other beast.  Is this team built for regular season wins or a play off run?  We will see come November.

The Calgary Stampeders need to win out to stay atop the CFL west.  They play the Bombers and Lions to end their season so it seems completely plausible especially with Streveler getting so beaten up in their match last week.  Tuesday morning they announced the signing of Dextor McCoil.  As usual the Stamps have their share of injuries but also as usual they keep finding talent.

I did not see the Alouettes and Argonauts game because I was busy teaching future rock stars.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers.  I honestly had them pegged to be champs this year and if you look back at previous posts you'd see that.  There are some things I don't understand.  As soon as Nichol's was injured why didn't you go out and get yourself a quarterback?  When Streveler was obviously injured in week 19 why on earth did you let him continue to play?  Watching him hobble around the field was awful.  There's a difference between gutting it out and stupidity.  Word on the street is Zach Collaros is taking first team reps this week so it's likely he'll see time against the Stamps.  We all know that one good bop on the head will finish him off.  Why sign someone so fragile?  Crazier things have happened but I just don't see this going well.

Another player back this week is Trevor Harris.  Nice timing since it's a home and home with my Riders.  Without Harris I'd say the Riders could take the series but now... If it ends in a split I will be happy.

There's not much to say about C group.  There's things I could say but none of it will make a difference and out of respect for their fans they don't deserve someone else dishing on them.  Enjoy the remaining games and look forward to the changes the off season will bring.  

For the rest of us - on to week 20.  Can you believe how fast this season has gone?

Sandra's WK15 CFL Power Grouping

So a weird thing happened this week.  

a) I had a birthday so there are once again no doodles to share & 

b) Teams didn't sort themselves out into 3 groups.

How dare they?  Who am I to force them into a category they don't fit into?  No one wants that.  So today for the first time ever, except for my preseason joking around, we have the teams at the top of the league and teams at the bottom of the league.

Top - Stampeders, Blue Bombers, Roughriders, TigerCats, Alouettes

Bottom - Eskimos, Argonauts, Lions, Redblacks

The theme this week seems to be "pedal to the metal".  Some of the top teams know how to surge back from an early game slumber.  Some teams know how to keep the pressure on and not let up until the final whistle.  Some teams just have a certain something special that propels them to the win when they need it most.  They find a way to win.  The Calgary Stampeders have always had this ingredient.  I've always said you can't count them out.  I don't know what it is but they just always find a way and they have always been the one team good enough to have penalties and meltdowns and find ways to overcome them to win.  Just as the Stamps have this, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers do not.  Lot's of people seem to think the Bombers were too busy thinking they won the game and let the Montreal Alouettes come back but I choose to look at it differently.  I think the Als sat back and waited until the Bombers let up on the gas and then they took full advantage of it.  My Roughriders were on bye week in Week 15 of the CFL however I believe they belong in this group as well because they've had 2 games come down to last minute winning field goals.  Some might say those games shouldn't be so close and maybe they shouldn't be but having a kicker who can come through in one game to clinch the win is cool but doing it twice is awesome.  I only saw bits of the Hamilton game so I don't feel that I can totally comment BUT I did see and hear the outrage over another Simoni Lawrence incident which I am sure *sarcasm alert* he's SO sorry for.  This player needs to be taught a lesson and it's apparent that what happened in game 1 of the season wasn't enough to do it.

It seems some Winnipeg fans and players are also upset that Vernon Adams seemingly ripped off the helmet of Adam Bighill and hit him with it.  Some even called it a weapon.  Well, you know, sometimes a player is just ticked off.  We know RTP calls are iffy at the best of times.  I know some Quarterbacks seem to get them far easier than others.  If a QB fights back then good on him.  Now, I'm not condoning what happened but I can totally see a different side of it.  Will VA get a fine for it?  Who knows.  

As I stated previously I didn't see the Hamilton/Edmonton game closely.  Some are saying Edmonton will be the cross over team and I think it all depends on who is at the helm.  Harris is still out with a hand injury and Logan Kilgore has the reigns.  At times he has flashes of Tino Sunseri and other times he's got flashes of Ricky Ray.  I did see the halftime where number 15 Ricky Ray was honoured and I thought it was really well done and maybe choked up a little when Ray did.  Whether we like him or not we can't deny the CFL legend he is.  I don't know how the Argonauts played because I was at work for that game.  They've named James Franklin Quarterback for the Saturday match up against my Riders.  The BC Lions thumped the Ottawa Redblacks in the Saturday double header.  I heard one Twitter person say their team got beat by the worst in the league.  Dude, I hate to break it to you but, the Redblacks are indeed the worst in the league.  I watched a bit of the post game show with Coach Campbell and I've never seen a coach in such a low state of mind.  They are making a QB change of their own for week 16 and going with Arndt.  Let's hope they can eek out a few more wins to make the season somewhat respectable.  

5 Ways to Affordably Attend a Riders Game

Over the last couple of weeks talk around the water coolers aka social media has been about dwindling attendance across the Canadian Football League.  Even my Saskatchewan Roughriders who usually boast sell out crowds during the toughest of schedules have seen a slump.  Lot's of people say that it's just gotten too expensive to attend a game. I'm here to tell you that there are ways that anyone can go to a Roughrider game in Regina Saskatchewan and not break the bank in doing so.  You may not like what I'm going to tell you but it is all the truth.  We have to make choices and sometimes we can't have all the things we want.  If our committment is to the game and the GAME is the experience then we have to make certain concessions (no pun intended) in our life to make it possible. 

In this blog post I will tell you how you can do it and do it easily with a little planning.

1.  You need to secure your tickets to the game.  If you are already a season ticket holder like I am you've already gotten them and paid for them too.  If not then you either need to phone the Roughrider Ticket office (1-888-474-3377) or book them online Game Day Tickets.  Before you do this you should look at a map of the stadium and decide how important it is to you to sit in certain sections.  If you have a family I'd suggest the end zone.  There is easy access to entry/exit with the Rider Transit right out side.  The washrooms are close by as well.   A ticket will likely cost around $50 per adult with youth pricing also available.  Be aware that some games cost more to attend than others.  The Labour Day Classic is one of those popular games and a ticket will cost more.

There isn't a lot a person can do for $50.  Concert tickets are far more than that depending on the act you're seeing.  The last concert I attended was Alabama and my front row tickets were $300 each but again it was a once in a life time opportunity and I jumped at it.  $50 for an evening of Roughrider football is a pretty good time in my opinion.  $50 x 4 for a family = $200 approx.  My own season tickets are priced around the $85 mark per ticket in section 118.

Gone are the days where you can decide spur of the moment to attend a CFL game.

2.  How will I get to the game?  Regina has Rider Transit to and from every game.  Do not pay for parking.  Park for free at any of the drop points in the city and all you have to do is show your ticket and you ride to the game for free.  No need to battle parking lot rage or the blocked streets or park in someone's yard only to find out you can't get out for 2 other vehicles that pulled in behind you.  Find all the details at City of Regina.  I park at the Northgate Mall because I drive from Saskatoon.  It's the easiest place for me to get in and out of the city quickly...and after a loss we want out - right - now.

3.  Fine, but what about fuel to get to the game?  If you live close to Regina bravo!  If you are like me and drive 2 or more hours to every Roughrider home game start looking for discounts on fuel.  At Save On Foods you can link your More card to Petro-Canada and get points/rebates.  That's all fine and dandy but I can do better.  During the months of July and August when you purchase groceries at a Saskatoon Co-Op store or items at the Agro Store you are presented with a receipt which you can take directly to the gas station to redeem for up to 15 cents a litre off gas depending on how much is spent in store.  Plus when shopping at the Co-Op you get equity which translates directly to savings in your pocket when they send out their membership reports.  I just received mine this month.  Cha-ching!  In my Honda Civic I get to Regina and back on a tank of gas with a few spins around the city to spare.

I have an alternative if you don't want to drive to Regina.  How about riding with a bus load of other rowdy and rabid Roughrider fans? Engleheim has chartered buses that leave Saskatoon at the Circle Centre Mall by the Co-Op store.  For $50 you can ride the Game Day Express.  It leaves 3.5 hours before kick off arriving 1 hour prior to the game.  

4.  But I have to eat at the game.  Do you?  I am not a drinker so I've never partaken in purchasing beer at a game.  That's on you.  If you decide to have a beer you simply have to pay the price.  So that's why I ask if you really need it.  You also don't need to eat at Mosaic Stadium either.  A&W is a Game Day sponsor.  EVERY Roughrider home game day they have special pricing.  Mama burgers are $2.99.  Breakfast sandwiches are on sale and guess what?  A family of 4 can get the family combo for $24.99.  Four burgers, four French fries and four drinks.  That's a good deal.  Last Saturday July 20th it was free root beer day.  I took advantage of that and stopped on the Albert Street location.  We each had a burger and root beer and it cost us $6.  If you plan ahead in your travels then why not plan to eat before the football game?  You avoid the prices and line ups at the stadium.

5.  My kids need snacks and water.  Sure!  So do I!  Remember back in number 3 I said when you shop at the Co-Op they pass that saving on to you in fuel?  Head to the Co-Op and stock up on fun treats for the game.  We typically take Cheezies, granola bars, fruit gummies & cookies.  We also buy flats of sealed water specifically for football games.  Mosaic Stadium security allows you to take in sealed water and your own snacks.  I put mine in clear baggies just as I would if I were going through airport security.  I've never ever had an issue going into Mosaic Stadium.  I pack these things in the clear bag which came with my season tickets.  Security has told me they love these bags because searching them is a breeze.  You can also buy these bags in every Rider Store for $8.  The bag is a sturdy clear plastic with the Roughrider logo on it.  It's lightweight and super easy to tote to the game.

Well I've given you a list of great ways to be able to take in a game and support our Riders.  Now that I've given away all my secrets I hope to see more of you taking in these fantastic offers!  I'd also be curious to see what promotions there are in other cities and if similar things are offered in other CFL destinations in Canada.  If you know of any let me know and I'll share the information with the CFL Family.  Don't forget to check out my previous posts including Power Grouping, thanks for reading and Go Riders!