10 WEEKEND THINGS

Taking shots …

1 – DAGGER: The football gods stuck a knife in the Roughriders and Rider Nation, then gave it a twist. The final moments of Saturday’s 33-31 Calgary win at Saskatchewan were as dramatic as I’ve ever seen for the Green & White in that short of a span. Watching on CBS Sports Network here in Florida (and why am I recapping this because you were all watching?), back-up QB Mason Fine replaced starter Trevor Harris – who left with a gruesome leg injury – and led a miraculous touchdown drive which gave the Riders a 31-30 lead with a minute to go. The fans were jumping up and down and delirious in Canada’s football shrine. Then the Stamps swung it the other way and won the game on a 50-yard field goal from Rene Parades with no time left.

I could just hear my old colour man Carm Carteri, chin in palm, saying “Holy sheesh” had we been calling it.

If it weren’t for bad luck, they wouldn’t have any.

2 – DOWN WEEK: So we all wait with bated breath for an update on Trevor Harris. The Riders were 4-1 last season when adversity hit (the broken leg of centre Dan Clark from which they never recovered) and now they’re 3-2 without their quarterback whom, if you remember, is the highest-paid Roughrider ever. Rider Nation didn’t need this!

3 – TAD’S TWEET: Interesting Tweet from Rider great Tad Kornegay Saturday night during the game. It read, “Can someone explain to me why Mosaic isn’t sold out!?! What happened to the culture we built!?? Rider Nation I need answers?!?”

Reading the responses is highly entertaining, and interesting. We all have our theories but in the end, they’re just theories.

4 – HAPPY ENDINGS: Pushing that all aside, Saturday’s outcomes were classic CFL finishes. Before the Calgary-Sask game, Ottawa shocked the world by upsetting Winnipeg 31-28 in overtime at TD Place. The Blue Bombers were 9.5-point favourites but were upset by the CFL’s second-worst team. This places even more pressure on the Riders, since the RedBlacks beat one of the best teams in the league with their rookie 4th string quarterback Dustin Crum. Losing Trevor Harris is no excuse to fold the tent on the season.

As for Crum, he will be the flavour of the week in the media.

5 – SASKATOON BERRIES: One more Sask note — initially I rolled my eyes at the newly-announced nickname of the expansion Saskatoon franchise of the Western Canadian Baseball League. But for once, social media reaction actually influenced me positively because some sports fans say the “Berries” have taken over from the Portland Pickles or Savannah Bananas as the most original team name in sport! It’s certainly not ferocious, and isn’t something I’d pick, but they did it democratically with a Name The Team contest so there isn’t much to complain about there. Minor league ball clubs are supposed to have off-the-wall names anyway! So in the end, I say bravo! Plus Saskatoons are by farrrrrr my favourite berry, and obviously my favourite pie.

6 – ANALYSIS: CFL alum and Florida State High School Champion coach Matt Dubuc will be on Monday’s RP Show to discuss the endings of Saturday’s CFL games and how they could’ve/should’ve been coached differently. It was a treat to watch Dubuc’s Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs in Saturday’s Coach Mac 7-on-7 National Tournament in Coral Springs, FL on a ridiculously hot day. I also get a kick out of the players running by me on the sidelines saying, “Recruit me Coach! Recruit me!” It’s gotten to the point where I don’t even correct them anymore. I just yell back, “MAKE A PLAY!”

7 – TIME TO HUNT: The Florida Panthers ran a 5-day developmental camp this week with their draft picks and prospects, also in Coral Springs. Unfortunately, other than Monday, all the sessions ran in the mornings, at the exact same time when I was on air with the RP Show. Loads of parents and fans told me they were left wanting when it came to specific coverage but hopefully that’ll change when main training camp arrives, and perhaps we can broadcast the show from the arena. From what I’m told there were more media and fans in attendance at the IceDen than ever before, but they still don’t really understand the intricacies of the game. But they’re getting there! 90% of the battle is showing up.

8 – HERAUF: Brad Herauf is the 43rd Head Coach of the Regina Pats, so named on Thursday. I gave my thoughts on the hire in Friday’s commentary but here they are again: It’s a great move. Brad’s a Regina kid, former captain I believe of the Estevan Bruins, had a great pro career, coached the Pat Canadians to the Telus Cup and has bided his time on the Pats bench under the guidance of Dave Struch and John Paddock. There was no other person to hire than 40-year old Brad Herauf. Plus being a local boy will give him some extra patience from the fans, since this Pats team isn’t going to be very good in the post-Bedard era. (Don’t Hassle the Hauf!) I actually think they had Herauf in mind even before they named Alan Millar as General Manager.

9 – SOBER CARPENTER: Here’s a plug for our newest sponsor of the RP Show – Sober Carpenter non-alcoholic craft beer – which presents our CFLPA Spotlight on Wednesdays at 10:40 am MT! It’s available at Lakeview Fine Foods in Regina, at Total Wine & More in South Florida, and at Alberta Beer Exchange, BK Liquor Store and Calgary Co-op in Calgary. Sell ’em out and support a company who supports the CFLPA!

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: None this week. Get outside and enjoy the summer!

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen