STAMPEDERS READY FOR ROUGHRIDERS
CALGARY – John Hufnagel insists he didn’t prefer one opponent over the other for the CFL’s West Division final.
But the coach of the Calgary Stampeders acknowledges the atmosphere at McMahon Stadium will be more electric next Sunday because it’s the Saskatchewan Roughriders (3:30 pm, TSN, CKRM Rider Radio Network).
“It will be an exciting stadium on Sunday,” Hufnagel said Sunday. “It will be capacity or close to capacity because we’re playing Saskatchewan.”
A 25-29 win over the B.C. Lions in Sunday’s division semifinal sends the Roughriders to Calgary, where so many Saskatchewan expats reside.
The Stampeders represent the final hurdle the Roughriders must clear to play in their own Grey Cup in Regina on Nov. 24.
Calgary had the best record in the league at 14-4 this season. The Roughriders finished second in the West Division at 11-7.
The Toronto Argonauts, who topped the East Division at 11-7, will host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats who went 10-8, in that division final next Sunday.
“The four best teams, statistically with win-loss records, they’re playing each other for the right to play in the big one,” Hufnagel said. “It’s very fitting.”
Hufnagel says he’ll start veteran quarterback Kevin Glenn against Saskatchewan. The Stampeders went 10-3 in games the 33-year-old Glenn started this season.
Glenn was replaced by Drew Tate halfway through an Oct. 26 win against the Roughriders. The following week, Glenn, Tate and Bo Levi Mitchell all struggled to generate offence in a 26-7 loss to the Lions in the regular-season finale.
“Take away the last game, because the Calgary Stampeders really didn’t show up to play it, Kevin had two quarters where he had a difficult time,” Hufnagel said. “The bulk of the work he’s done throughout the season, it’s not going to disrupt my thoughts about who should be playing and starting this playoff game.”
The Weather Network’s long-range forecast for Calgary predicts flurries, a high of minus-3 and a north wind at 20 kilometres per hour on game day.
“I’m not concerned about the weather the day of the game,” Hufnagel said. “The concern is wind, not temperature. Wind can really affect a game.
“It looks like for the week’s practice, we will have decent weather to practise, which is fantastic. Truthfully I’m concerned about practice days and being able to keep our players’ attention, practice fast and have good practices leading up to the game.”
Calgary went 2-1 versus Saskatchewan this season and won both games at McMahon Stadium. Prior to their Oct. 26 meeting, defensive end Charleston Hughes and Roughrider running back Kory Sheets taunted each other on social media.
Hufnagel believes the high stakes for this game may tone down the trash talking.
“I think that game three weeks ago was a different animal altogether than this game,” the head coach said. “Now we’re playing for win-or-go home type of situation.
“I will have a little talk with my team. Hopefully it will be an unnecessary talk. Whatever happens, that’s all fringe. We’re very excited about playing this Western final, playing against Saskatchewan, a very good football team and 60 minutes later, let’s see who is the best team.”
Canadian Press
Riders will need to prepare for three different QB's; all which may be strategically inserted at any time throughout the game.
Calgary just has to prepare for one QB.
That might be but Calgary is going to have to prepare for one quarterback who has found his mojo and has served notice that if you are going to defend against all five receivers or defend against your all-star running back then he won't hesitate to burn you with his legs. It's going to open up a whole can of worms for defences cause not only does Durant have the plays to run, he is healthy and more than capable of doing so.
I've got a good feeling about this game. Darian will come through. Having said that, we need to be up at least 2 scoring plays with the 3 minute warning because we've all seen how Dickensen can shred our defence in crunch time. Go Riders Go
Wonder if Buris left his special playoff panties for Cornish. Team is a joke.
Why you wonder about that ? Hmmm !
Team is a joke. Answer- what are Roughriders.
Come on now. Are we really going to start to say Calgary is a joke? Lets be realistic here. That is a team that has lost 8 or 9 key cogs throughout the year and still won almost every game. Well coached, great leadership. You sound like a Bomber fan when you throw those insults around. Calgary is really good.
And cue the idiots. In 3…2…1…
Calgary Stampeders had 15 players on the injury list the last game they spanked the Roughriders. Says a lot about their organization and strong continuity of all involved with their team and how they conduct football business while others continue to struggle to get it right on the field of play year after year.
No doubt about it, Calgary was the most consistent team and won more games than any other team, but so far in the playoffs Saskatchewan has one win Calgary has zero. Saskatchewan is on a huge high from a win going into a stadium with tons of Rider fans, Calgary's last game they lost and lost players to injury. Do I think the Riders have the edge? No, but I think they are now a worry to Calgary and that us a good thing.
Shut up. They're a bunch of wannabes. Place will be packed with Rider fans and Double D will have more rushing yards that cornhole.
Home team in the GC baby!
Spanked the riders? Lucky 4 point win. Riders gave the stumps the game. What game did you watch?
Yes, spanked, and spanked badly by fill in roster players. No luck involved, just a good old spanking laid on the Roughriders. Spanked, spanked, spanked, got it ?
Nice try cupcake.
Y'er welcome
Fill in players? Check your stats bud. Your way off! Get your s#&t in order!
Haha love the trash talking starting already. You can bet, though, that the players won't be doing any of it this week. Both teams want to win this one so bad and you don't want to give away an edge mentally to the other side when its such an even matchup. Sunday can't get here fast enough!
Dubya
Glad to see all the stamps fans on a saskatchewan blog. It shows how much we are under your skin and in your heads. This will be a great game played by two great teams. As for injuries, thats part of football. Every team has had their fair share. It will be sweet to see all the green in the stands this Sunday. Let's invade cowtown and punch our ticket to the Grey cup! Let's go Riders!!!
-Barry
The great thing about how cocky the Stamps are is how stupid they're gonna feel when they blow it . Yes – you were the better team all season . Yes – Cornish was the best rb in the league. Oh but none of that is gonna matter after Sunday . And you'll have all Winter to think about it …
Lets just stay positive. Lets get a little positivity in here. It would be a nice change. Riders will be in the GC and I will win the lotto. Pilsners on me!
I hate everything about the Calgary Stampeders.
Kind of surprised you couldn't post anything about or to acknowledge Remembrance day anywhere on your blog or twitter Pedersen.
Just some advice,remember that you have many, many, many die hard followers that in some cases only receive there news from you (sad in a way, but not your fault)….someone of your stature reminding people of Nov. 11th and perhaps where or when to honour our fallen could get one or two more people out to our services.
Food for thought.
BigKev
Stature ????
We discussed it on the radio, but thanks for the tip Big Kev.
Who's the shortest guy on the Stampeders? That's who we have to cover! In the semi against BC the two shortest guys scored all of the touchdowns. LOL
Old Cuss