FRIDAY COMMENTARY – BUSINESS AS USUAL

(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98 & Rock 98.5 FM)

WHO WASN’T CAUGHT OFF-GUARD WHEN THE CFL ANNOUNCED ITS 2022 SCHEDULE ON THURSDAY? BUT THE SURPRISE QUICKLY TURNED TO ELATION, ESPECIALLY IN THE RIDER NATION AS FANS GOT A HEAD START ON PLANNING THEIR SUMMER.

THE RIDERS ARE HOME TO WINNIPEG IN THE PRESEASON ON MAY 23, KICKOFF THE SEASON AT HOME TO HAMILTON ON JUNE 11, AND THEN IT’S THE USUAL TENT POLE GAMES LIKE THE LABOUR DAY CLASSIC, BANJO BOWL, ETC.

I NEVER REALLY GOT TOO EXCITED OVER THE SCHEDULE RELEASE – ALTHOUGH THE CFL SHOULD DEFINITELY BE APPLAUDED FOR THIS PRE-CHRISTMAS ANNOUNCEMENT – SIMPLY BECAUSE WE ALWAYS KNEW WITH THE RIDERS IT’D BE 18 GAMES, 9 AT HOME, 9 AWAY, 2 AGAINST THE EASTERN TEAMS AND 3 AGAINST SELECTED WESTERN TEAMS.

OTHER THAN THAT, LET’S PLAY BALL …

BUT IF YOU DIG A LITTLE DEEPER, IT’S INTERESTING TO NOTE WHAT THE CFL’S THINKING.

MAYBE I’M COMPLETELY OUT OF THE LOOP, WHICH IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE, BUT IT SEEMS WITH THE GREY CUP SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 20 AT MOSAIC STADIUM, THERE WASN’T MUCH THOUGHT GIVEN TO MOVING THE SEASON UP.

WAS THERE EVER?

WE SPOKE EARLIER THIS WEEK ABOUT WHAT THE CFL OFF-SEASON WILL LOOK LIKE BUT WITH THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE ANNOUNCEMENT, THINGS SIMPLY SEEM “BUSINESS AS USUAL”.

THAT’S DEFINITELY WHAT THE CFL WANTS YOU TO THINK; WITH STABILITY AND CONTINUITY BEING KEY. HONESTLY, I THINK IT’S AWESOME.

LET’S HOPE IT LASTS.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm ET on Game+ TV across Canada and the USA. Call you cable provider for details. You can also watch on YouTube Live or listen 24/7 at RodPedersen.com/ListenLive)