DAYTONA HOMES FRIDAY RODSERVATIONS

RAPID-FIRE OBSERVATIONS

* IT’S MILLER TIME: Former Rider head coach Ken Miller has been named offensive line coach at Southern Utah University.  The 72-year old Miller joins the staff of head coach Ed Lamb.  Also SUU’s new offensive coordinator is Gary Crowton who spent the past couple of seasons as offensive coordinator of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.  Miller was the Riders’ head coach from 2008-2010 (and part of 2011) appearing in two Grey Cups and was a three-time CFL Coach of the Year finalist.  His wonderful wife Maureen once told me, “He’ll die on the sidelines”.  That may be the case, but hopefully not for a good long while.  Congrats Kenny!

* WESTON DRESSLER UPDATE: Really, there isn’t one.  While the pending free agent receiver’s name is on everyone’s lips in the Rider Nation, the clock keeps ticking towards the February 15 deadline.  Regarding Dressler’s pursuit of more NFL tryouts or a contract, his Minnesota-based agent Justin Seurer said via text message on Thursday, “Sorry.  Nothing new this week“.  The silence is deafening, if not telling.

* HENRY BURRIS UPDATE:  The same goes for the pending free agent quarterback.  Ticats coach and GM Kent Austin said this week that they will not negotiate in the media with Burris and that there’s still plenty of time before the free agent deadline.  22 days.

* THE COACH OF THE YEAR DEBATE:  While many of us feel it’s a simply a slamdunk for the Riders’ Corey Chamblin to be named CFL Coach of the Year for 2013, there are are campaigns supporting fellow finalists Kent Austin and John Hufnagel.  In Hamilton they’re saying Austin took over a last-place, 6-12 team and transformed them into East Division champions without playing a single “home” game in his first year at the helm.  That’s pretty good.  Another reason cited is that #1 overall pick Lynden Gaydosh never materialized in Hamilton in Year 1.  We say you can’t miss what you never had.  AND it says a lot that Chamblin delivered for a team that was expected to win the championship versus Austin’s Ticats who had no expectations ( other than their own ).  That’s not to take anything away from what Kent accomplished, but there’s a world of difference between the pressures the two coaches faced going into 2013.

* HAMILTON STADIUM UPDATE:  Bad weather and the loss of a major contractor have put construction of Tim Hortons Field two weeks behind schedule.  Published reports suggest the stadium is “halfway” done and crews of 130 workers are double-shifting during six-day work weeks in order to make up the time.  Ticats CEO Scott Mitchell said the team’s concern level is “zero”.

* GREY CUP TOUR UPDATE:  Lord Earl Grey’s trophy will head to southeastern Saskatchewan this weekend with a stop at Weyburn’s City Centre Mall from 1-3 pm on Saturday followed by an appearance at the Red Wings’ game that night versus Nipawin.  Rider players will be signing autties in the lobby at the arena from 6-7:15 pm.  The Grey Cup will then be in Estevan for the Rider Hockey Challenge on Sunday from 11:30-1:30.

* IT’S A DUMB IDEA: Both CFL and NFL rules makers are kicking around the idea of eliminating the single point conversion and replacing it with seven points for a touchdown, rather than the traditional six.  If teams elect to go for a two-point conversion and are successful, they’d get eight points however if it fails, they’d get six points for the score.  It’s too confusing.  Why do we have to go changing things all the time?  If it’s not broken, please don’t fix it.  Now if they were to move NFL kickoffs back to the 10-yard line, I’d be in favour of that.  Nothing is more hype-killing than the current touchback.

* LET’S TALK:  Be honest; all those depression TV ads during last weekend’s NFL conference championship games had us guys self-diagnosing ourselves, didn’t they?  I’ve read some depression sufferers say they don’t want to leave the house nor talk to anyone.  If that’s the case, call me depressed.  I just thought those who take that approach had it all figured out long before the rest of us did.  And that’s not making light of the illness.

* IT’S A TIE: For Quote of the Week.  The first comes from the Wolf 104.9 radio’s Michael Ball who defended Calgary Flames coach Bob Hartley for being fined $25,000 for starting his fourth-liners Saturday night in Vancouver.  “His whole team is fourth-liners!” Ballsy choked.  “What choice did he have??”

The other winning quote comes from SportsCage co-host Dustin Halvorson regarding Fox’s Erin Andrews who thought Seahawks corner Richard Sherman’s post-game rant was directed at her.  “She wouldn’t be the first female to think everything’s about her!” Dusty quipped.

* TWEET OF THE WEEK: It comes from the now infamous Twitter parody account @fakeGAINER: “Very odd that not one person of the CFL’s Las Vegas Posse organization has commented on Calvillo’s retirement.”

* DELAET UPDATE: Weyburn’s Graham DeLaet is tied for 29th after the opening round of the Farmers Insurance Classic in San Diego.  He’s -2.  Stewart Cink leads them all at -8.  Tiger Woods?  He’s tied for 63rd at even par.

* OPINIONS ARE LIKE…..: SportsCage analyst and lifelong hockey coach Curtis Hunt surmised Vancouver coach John Tortorella’s 6-game suspension was too short and Hartley shouldn’t have been penalized at all.  An NHL scout came up to me in Gold’s Gym the morning after that show and yelled, “Huntsy’s wrong!  Tortorella had no choice!  NO CHOICE!” as he pointed his finger in my chest.  This guy said Hartley was notorious for these tactics in the AHL.  For the record, I agree with Curtis.

* A GREAT DEBATE: Whose future would you rather have right now: the Calgary Flames or the Edmonton Oilers?  Both seem to be spinning their wheels but at least the Flames are establishing an identity.  What’s going on for the Oilers?  If I’m a Flames fan, I’m excited to have Brian Burke in charge and they’ll be turned around before Edmonton is.  What year of the rebuild is this anyways??

* I’M A BELIEBER: What a polarizing figure Justin Belieber is.  Seth Rogen’s Tweet about Bieber was rather distasteful this week however UFC chief Dana White came to Justin’s defense after his Miami arrest.  Hey, I’ve seen the kid in concert and he played four instruments.  That’s talent.  I’ve also seen women — like the Argo cheerleaders — almost pass out while standing next to him.  Anybody who doesn’t like the kid is just a jealous hater.  While I don’t understand why tennis star Eugenie Bouchard would date Bieber over anyone else in the world, that’s her business.

* THERE’S STILL TIME: Get your tickets for tonight’s inaugural Hot Stove Huddle at Rock Creek Tap & Grill East.  The event features 4-time Stanley Cup champion Bob Bourne of the New York Islanders and Rider great Bob Poley.  I may or may not be involved.  At this point I’m not sure, but I’ll be on hand regardless.  Tickets are $35 and include two pints and boneless ribs.  Pick yours up in advance.  The event runs 7-9 pm.

* KEEPING IT POSITIVE: There are two pluses from the current frigid temperatures we are experiencing in the Wheat Province: 1) There are no mosquitoes and 2) You can leave your groceries in your car all day!

* WHAT A SOCIETY WE LIVE IN:  The lineup of cars for the Tim Hortons Drive-Thru on Albert Street South snakes its way onto the street creating a major traffic hazard.  This blogger decided to attempt the old school method ( you know, park and go inside ) and experienced no lineup.  The people in their cars are the same ones complaining about lack of parking at our new stadium.

THAT’S ALL! ENJOY THE WEEKEND
RP
@sportscage