10 WEEKEND THINGS FOR TITAN AUTO

1 – RIDERS-x: The Saskatchewan Roughriders celebrated lustily following Saturday’s 41-16 victory over the hapless Argonauts in Toronto, and well they should. Not many of us “experts” expected them to be in the hunt for first place this late in the season (I had them picked to finish 4th, and qualify for the playoffs via the crossover). However the celebrating likely ended once the wheels of their jet touched down in YQR around midnight. Making the playoffs in the CFL is an expectation every team should have and the O’Day/Dickenson tandem knows this.

2 – PAY THE MAN: Cody Fajardo takes a licking and keeps on ticking. The “Next One” in Riderville absorbed some big hits in Saturday’s game, yet he rebounded to post a 278-yard passing night and upped the club’s record to 9-4. His durability – just as much as his strong, accurate arm and ability to see the field – is what impresses me the most. As Leader Post columnist Brendan Taman wrote this week, Fajardo currently holds ALL the leverage in contract extension talks with the Green & White. Perhaps that’s why we haven’t heard any news on it yet.

3 – “PARADE CANCELLED”: That was the simple two-word text I received from a friend in Winnipeg, and Blue Bomber season ticket holder. Just like that. With the news QB Matt Nichols is lost for the season, Winnipeg’s Grey Cup dreams have gone up in smoke. Now, they’ve already clinched a playoff spot but that seems of little consolation to the Bomber faithful who’s had enough. This should however, serve as sufficient motivation for Mike O’Shea’s charges to prove everyone wrong (even their own fans). But it wasn’t enough motivation to beat Hamilton Friday night in Canada’s Game of the Week (a 33-13 Ticats win).

4 – AN “ABERRATION”: Definition: ‘A departure from what is normal, usual or expected, typically one that is unwelcome’. In a letter to season ticket holders, Ottawa Redblacks owners labelled this distasteful season an aberration (3-11, 7 losses in a row). However with 3 Grey Cup appearances in the past 5 seasons – winning one – Ottawa football fans should cool their jets. Not even the Riders in their heyday achieved that success. One thing stands out to me: the departure of Jeff Hunt as President. A coincidence? I think not.

5 – J-WILL: Roughriders Head Coach Craig Dickenson seems to have the Midas Touch, doesn’t he? Fans were grumbling that reigning West Conference Rookie of the Year Jordan Williams-Lambert was left in Regina on this road trip in favour of Manny Arceneaux and/or Naaman Roosevelt. The pair of vets both had big games while J-Will watched on TV. Fellow veteran WR Kenny Stafford was a healthy scratch, again. These guys will likely be needed down the stretch and into the playoffs. As has been noted previously, GM Jeremy O’Day has assembled the following situation: Too many quality players and not enough spots on the field. i.e. Doing his job well.

6 – TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE?: The BC Lions have rattled off 3 straight wins, including a 25-23 last-second win over Montreal Saturday night. And despite Edmonton’s razor-thin win at Ottawa in the first game of Saturday’s triple header, the Eskimos still haven’t clinched the crossover berth. Lions coach Devone Claybrooks’ charges are in a position now where they need to win ’em all and hope the others lose ’em all. At the very least, they have something to play for on a weekly basis and have built plenty to look forward to for 2020.

7 – BUMS IN SEATS: Attendance at Saturday’s CFL games – Vancouver (17,353), Toronto (12,406), Ottawa (23,451). Even the beloved Saskatchewan Roughriders only have one sellout all season. This is the time of year where the stadiums should be bursting. That should be priority #1 for CFL team marketers and ticket sellers now, and into the off-season. As one coach pointed out in The Athletic’s weekly CFL column, “We have more ticket and marketing people than we do coaches, but our salaries get capped in football operations – not theirs. Maybe the league will get it one day. We (coaches) matter.” The inference? The on-field product is great but it’s not marketed well enough.

8 – SHIPS AHOY: The stadium proposal put forth by the Schooners ownership group to Halifax City Council is absolute genius. They’re asking for a paltry $94-million in public money for a permanent 12,000-seat stadium with collapsable seating up to 24,000. If the franchise doesn’t work, Halifax is left with a 12,000-seat multi-purpose facility for all its citizens to enjoy for generations to come. How can you say no to that? Now, they need to sell the public on it because ultimately it’s going to come down to a vote (like Moose Jaw’s arena plebiscite, or the Regina civic election).

9 – TURN ON THE JETS: Winnipeg hockey fans are breathing a sigh of relief after a great weekend for the franchise. Key forwards Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor are now under contract and all that remains is for Dustin Byfuglien to make up his mind (no small task). But at the very least, the gang will generally be all together when the season opens on Thursday at the NY Rangers.

10 RANDOM THOUGHTS: Who will be the rooting interest at the NHL Outdoor Game at Regina’s Mosaic Stadium on October 26? The Calgary Flames or Winnipeg Jets? It seems this is still an Oilers town, and province, but the Jets are becoming a close #2. Or, I could be all wet. Perhaps we’ll put it to a vote. … Keith Urban is a great choice as the 2019 Grey Cup halftime act. I used to be fanatical that the GC performer needed to be Canadian, but I don’t care as much anymore. Plus, Urban would classify as a CFL “Global” player. … After a successful 2019 SJHL Showcase event in Warman, SK, hockey fans there are salivating for an SJHL franchise. However it seems to me Warman is currently serving as a landing spot for a financially-distressed club. Perhaps the Weyburn Red Wings? But Warman shouldn’t be kept waiting long. They have a beautiful facility and have been gracious hosts to the SJHL the past few years. … It’s a shame Hall of Famer Reggie Hunt’s single-game tackles record (16) fell to a thuggish, repeat offender like Hamilton LB Simoni Lawrence. Convince me I’m wrong. … The scouting report on the Regina Pats: If you don’t outwork them, they’ll beat you. That’s the hallmark of a Dave Struch team. It’s also all that Regina hockey fans ask of their team. Work hard. … Congrats to Mitch Peacock for being named Voice of the WHL’s Winnipeg Ice on CJOB radio and CJOB.com. … Now, to watch NFL.

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen