TGDC

T. G. D. C.

Thank Goodness for Duron Carter.

Besides my own vacation to the Big Apple over Easter little has happened in the CFL. Every team has had their mini camps and we are awaiting the CFL draft on Thursday but really most of us fans are just sitting here waiting for any shred of news that will raise our excitement for the upcoming season.  So when Duron Carter tweeted out that the Riders should change the entrance song of the team for game day because Bring Em Out is corny, well of course we jumped all over it.  The debate has broken up the doldrums and thank goodness for that!  We know that nothing is sought after more than tidbits from Duron Carter.  Some CFL writers thrive on his every word.  Life.

April was such a sad month.  I returned from New York City the week following the horrible and tragic Humboldt Bronco's bus crash.  I started two separate blogs to convey my emotions but just couldn't get the wording correct. How do you write about something that devastated so many families?  It's pretty tough but nothing compared to what the survivors of the crash are enduring.  I didn't know anyone involved but as so many have done throughout Canada and the world - we came together and we grieved. 

The snow melted, the winter boots got put away and now we wait. Roughriders Training Camp opens in Saskatoon May 20th. Can we survive until then?  For myself, it's the one thing that gets me through winter.  I've always thought the Saskatchewan Roughriders holding camp in Saskatoon did several things.  It makes the team more accessible to those outside Regina.  Fans get to gather and see the prospects for the upcoming season.  We share our bicycles with players, get their autographs and learn just who they are. It's special for those of us outside Regina. While it does that for the community it also helps to bring the team together.  They stay in dorms and are forced to become a unit.  No one has to worry about finding temporary housing and connections are better through the Saskatoon Airport than Regina so players can arrive and leave with less hassle. We are so fortunate to have a facility in the city of Saskatoon to host the Roughriders and their coaching staff.  I can hardly wait!

The parking at the U of S last year was a challenge as security was out in full force to make sure fans paid for parking instead of leaving their vehicles at the Field House. That was pretty disappointing. What is even more disappointing is the decision for Normanview Crossing Mall in Regina to complain about being a Rider Fan Express pick up location and back out of it this year.  What I gather is tenants complain that due to all the vehicles left for the Rider games there's no parking for actual shoppers.  While that does make a bit of sense I also find it hard to believe it makes that much impact with majority of games happening later in the day and on weekends.  I've heard some patrons are going to boycott that shopping mall.  Which impact will be more detrimental?  If it were me I'd market the heck out of being a bus pick up location. I'd have game day deals in my eateries and make everyone feel welcome. It's always much better to warm the hearts than harden them.  Since I drive in from Saskatoon our bus stop is Northgate...along with 1000's of other people coming from the same direction. Pick up doesn't seem to be an issue but when the game is over the exit sure is a headache.  The city has given more funding for this service and I hope it works much more smoothly for 2018.

Rider Great Donald Narcisse announced that he's moving back home. We have been so blessed to have Don in our midst.  After being inducted into the Plaza of Honour a few years ago he moved his family to Regina.  He held youth football camps and has been a terrific ambassador for the Roughriders. I wish Don all the happiness in the world in his new journey but we will surely miss him.

Last weekend I was shopping at Giant Tiger.  In the men's section they had Roughrider tee shirts in two style for $15.  I purchased an XXL and it fits very nicely!  I know that when we don't buy from a Rider Store the proceeds are distributed throughout the CFL but since I haven't seen anything in the way of sizing reform I will spend my dollars where I can find comfortable merchandise.  Just today I noticed on the Torrid website that they are also carrying MLB teams.  Some leagues seem to be getting the message.

Before my trip to New York I was making sure to get in 30 minutes of exercise a day.  Many people are posting on social media and joining in to #TheCFLGrind.  It is so encouraging to have so many people getting active and motivating and supporting each other.  It's not necessarily about losing weight but about being healthy, having a good attitude and being in tune with you body.  Brodie Lawson started the initiative last fall with the Fit Up For Grey Cup and now this spring has fans all over working out.  What a fantastic roll model!  

CFL news will now be ramping up and we won't need anyone creating news stories for us anymore.  In the meantime, it sure is fun to talk sports and discuss our thoughts of the rituals of game day.  Imagine if you'd never been to a Rider game before.  Imagine if you are planning your first trip in 2018.  What will you look forward to the most?  For me it's the adrenaline - seeing the ball in the air and leaping to my feet as it's caught by any one of our amazing receivers...it's hearing Green Is the Colour as Gainer gets driven around the field...and yes, it's even the crescendo of Bring Em Out as I see the Riders in the tunnel from my seats in 126.  It's been an interesting off season but, man, am I ready for some football!  Is it May Yet?  Heck yeah it is!

Is it June Yet?

Writing is hard.  Staying current and keeping up a blog is even harder.  Doing these things during off season and CFL free agency and Superbowl is three times as hard.  Oh and I also lead a busy non-football life believe it or not!  

The last time I wrote the Calgary Stampeders won the Grey Cup. *spits in Corner Gas Woolerton fashion* After college football was all over the only thing left to look forward to was the Superbowl.  How exciting was that?  Or how depressing was that?  I was behind the Seattle Seahawks all the way.  They were going to win.  They were poised to win.  Just like us Rider fans dream of launching an epic comeback and winning in the final seconds of a game and much like those dismal comebacks we haven't launched...the hawks lost in a huge failure of a play call.  What the heck was that play call about?  UGH!  Unbelievable!  YOU HAVE THE BEST RB IN THE LEAGUE AND YOU DON'T GIVE HIM THE BALL?! 

Oh man, then Ricky Foley was traded back to Toronto for Shea Emry.  Wow.  Ridernation was in shock.  Ricky Foley was in shock.  Not discounting Shea Emry, who I'm sure is a great guy and lovely Shemar Moore lookalike, but if there was ever a guy who totally loved the fans it was Foley and Ridernation completely loved him back.  I was so sad to see him go.  Once a Rider.  Always a Rider.  (except for you know who ;)

So with all that drama finally over the CFL free agency opened.

*crickets*

And nothing really happened.  We all waited with wild anticipation.  The Roughriders had so many big names in free agency.  I'm not going to go into detail because we all watched it happen but I think one deal that got passed many and was a big score for Brendan Tamon was the signing of Alex Hall.  He flew under the radar.  He had been trying out for the NFL and nothing was working out for him.  Hall had been with the Riders for part of a season a few years ago.  

Another interesting signing was that of Kevin Glenn.  I am totally on the fence about this one.  I believe the Riders needed the insurance policy because we certainly didn't have one last year.  It upsets me slightly about what it says for Tino Sunseri who signed an extention only a week earlier.  Yet, I also think it will make training camp exciting as there will be a fight for that backup spot.  Some say Glenn is the most underated QB, but it is a little weird for him to return to being a back up for the team where he was the back up for Henry Burris and left to persue that starter spot.  I also wonder what the Lions are thinking in letting him go.  He was their insurance policy for Lulay.  It seems to leave them in an awkard spot.

One thing I loved to watch not only during free agency but always is that it almost never fails that the guys at "The New Rouge" record their podcast and then enevitably the next day or sometimes within minutes something big in the CFL happens and they've missed it.  The first time it happened was when Weston Dressler returned from the NFL and it forced them to re-record the whole podcast.  Being "Dressler-ed" makes me chuckle.  Oh and in case you didn't know the New Rouge was previously called the Swag and Stagger Show.  Obviously, I know the rouge is that extra point scored in the endzone but let's face it.  I'm a girl.  And to any girl of a certain age rouge is the french name for blush.  The name messes me up now every time I see it.  The new rouge...is it pink or red or more of a coral?  But I jest.  I've had many a great conversation (arguement) with the 3 swagger rouge guys and I wish them the best in their new podcast adventures.

Is it June yet?  Well, no, the -40*C windchill today tells me it is indeed not.  Every off season I have great plans to watch all the great football movies and read books and follow other sports and I fail horribly just like many do on their second day of new years resolutions.  You know what I've done instead?  I've been rewatching the entire series of Sex and the City.  Perhaps I aspire to be the Carrie Bradshaw of the CFL.

Well.  Ridernation, anyways.

 

10 Thought Tuesday ~ 52 Days ~

It's only 52 days until the 2013 football season kicks off!  Hurray!

I've neglected my football blog something terrible.  I always have good intentions.  I was going to post high light video's and football movie reviews, but none of that happened while we all endured the longest winter ever.  So, I've decided to do a football 10 thoughts, which is something I do on my regular blog every week.

1.  Yesterday was the CFL draft.  I don't actually know how the Riders made out.  I know we picked up some O-lineman and D-lineman and the names look slightly familiar from the Huskies and Rams but that's about all I know. 

2.  Last week, Brandon West was released.  I always liked him.  I never got to meet him although I tried at last years Green & White day.  I don't think there was a place left for him when Kory Sheets had such an amazing year and let's face it....he wow'd us.

3.  It was announced that Saskatoon will be Riderville North.  This is pretty exciting and I can't wait to hear what it all involves.  I hope players...current and past come visit the Rider Store.  No one has been here in ages.

4.  June 3rd will mark the start of training camp in Saskatoon.  I'm hoping to attend a few days.  I'll be the one slathered in sunscreen and doped up on allergy meds.  Let me tell you, sun allergies suck.

5.  A month ago I washed my jersey in eager anticipation of the season to come.  I continue to wish that the Rider Store could find a vender who provided more realistic sizing for the voluptously sized. 

6.  If you are one of those Pinterest People you can find me there.  I have a whole board about the Saskatchewan Roughriders.  LINK

7.  This month on my Kidsport calendar Weston Dressler is featured.  The last two months were sad as they were Odell Willis and Shomari Williams who were both traded in this off season.

8.  We installed new windows over Easter and had to remove the 100 Year Rider flag from the window.  It won't be going back up because we got proper blinds.  I'm not sure what to do with it now.  It's a little faded from being in the window and turned a funky shade.

9.  Speaking of not knowing what to do with stuff....I have a bag containing empty boxes of Fantuz Flakes.  I also have a box of Dario's and a box of Getzlaf triple berry.  What do I do with these things?  I can't just have them sitting out in my home....it's not set up for that.  I wish I could have them displayed in a cool way but I don't know what it is yet.  Idea's are welcome.

10.  In the off season I have resorted to watching Nascar with my husband.  I'm not into hockey or baseball even though I own a Yankee's hat.  Nascar races last as long as a football game and I'm fearing that I'm actually getting into the sport.  Please send help.  *turns left*

Friday Rider Withdrawl Support Blog

I am having a hard time believing that the Rider football season is over.  Oh sure, there are still some CFL games to be played and the 100th Grey Cup and all.....but, meh, they don't really mean the same without the Riders there.  The players have cleaned out their lockers and headed home.  The coach and GM have said their season ending thoughts and all we're left with is the hopes the free agents are resigned before someone else decided to pick them up.

I'm sure I had a life before training camp started.  Right?  I mean, what did I do before then?  I think I might have read books and watched tv.  Still, I've suddenly found myself with a free weekend and a closet full of colours I haven't worn in ages.

I used to wear other colours besides green.

Didn't I?

Before I dive head long into Christmas and tackle all the decking of halls and fa-la-la-ing I've put together a little montage video for us to recall with delight the first three games of the 2012 season.  Three glorious games where we blew away Hamilton, Edmonton and BC and were wowed by Trismo Jackson for returning McCallum's missed field goal.

Enjoy :)