THROWIN’ ELBOWS WITH BRENDAN MCGUIRE

1. DICKENSON SHOULD BE COACH OF THE YEAR: The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ first 13-win season in 49 years is something most of us never saw coming. Football is the ultimate “coaches sport” where the guy or gal calling the shots really does have an impact. Hamilton’s Orlondo Steinauer won more games and Montreal’s Khari Jones created a bigger turnaround, but Craig Dickenson’s bunch is the best team in the league’s best division with a quarterback who, until training camp, most Rider fans had never even heard of. Coach Dickenson inherited a great staff and solid roster but it’s his laid-back demeanor, willingness to delegate, and complete opposite of Chris Jones that gets this juggernaut to where it is. The guy has zero ego, or at least looks like he has no ego.

2. WINNING UGLY IS OKAY TOO: Forgive me for not remembering much of Saturday’s match as I was knee-deep in Pil Country for a bachelor party but I do know it wasn’t much of a game at all. And that’s okay. Neither team had their best, and in some ways it felt like a preseason game. But a win is a win is a win and first place is first place. This only seems to happen about 2 or 3 times every 50 years or so and somehow, I think we’ll take it.   

3. FAJARDO WILL PLAY: I’m no insider and I’m no doctor but I promise you Cody Fajardo won’t miss the first western final in the new stadium. This guy lives for the stage in all his glory as face of the franchise. The last guy, Zach Collaros, always looked like he had just seen a ghost throughout his time here and never really looked the part. Cody Fajardo looks every bit the part. He ain’t missing no home playoff game. He’ll be ready. Count on it.

4. REDBLACKS COACHING CHANGE: Kudos to Ottawa Head Coach Rick Campbell for deciding that mediocrity isn’t good enough. He’s clearly had enough of GM Marcel Desjardins for screwing up their quarterback situation by letting Trevor Harris walk away for less money so Campbell could try to win games with Dominique Davis and Jonathon Jennings. 6 years in, that franchise is clearly due for its first shakeup. Give Campbell credit for walking out on his own terms.

5. CAMPBELL WOULD BE NICE FIT IN EDMONTON: If the Esks lose out of the playoffs in Montreal next weekend, Edmonton head coach Jason Maas would be a prime candidate to be fired. Rick Campbell would then be a prime candidate to be hired. As the son of legendary Edmonton football maven Hugh Campbell, Rick knows the city and has a prior working relationship with both General Manager Brock Sunderland and quarterback Trevor Harris. It would be a perfect fit but a sad day, too. In the same way Richie Hall and Ron Lancaster made it hard to cheer against Edmonton when they coached the Eskimos, Jason Maas has had the opposite effect and makes it fun to hate on the Evil Empire.

6. AWARD VOTERS EXCLUDE HARRIS: The Winnipeg media, well most of them anyway, deserve kudos for choosing integrity and credibility over cheerleading for the home team. Winnipeg Sun reporter Ted Wyman, Winnipeg Free Press reporter Jeff Hamilton and TSN radio in Winnipeg reporter Darrin Bauming all voted against Blue Bomber running back Andrew Harris in Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Canadian award nominations. The trio cited concerns about setting a dangerous precedent by nominating someone for an award in a season in which they tested positive for a Performance Enhancing Drug. Winnipeg Blue Bomber broadcaster Bob Irving, on the other hand, “proudly voted for him”, arguing the embarrassment and shame Harris suffered with 2 lost game cheques was punishment enough. Sorry Bob, I know you see the universe through blue and gold colored sunglasses but 2 games will hardly make a dent in anyone’s season. We should either have rules and make everybody follow them or just not bother at all. 

7. PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS: Montreal will win at home over Edmonton and Calgary will squeeze past Winnipeg. I’m cheering for the Alouettes and expect them to win because Vernon Adams is now better than Trevor Harris and Khari Jones has always been better than Jason Maas. I’m cheering for the Blue Bombers because Richie Hall, Paul LaPolice and their fans deserve a Grey Cup but I just don’t see them penetrating the Stamps, especially on the road.  

8. CANDIDATES REDBLACKS SHOULD INTERVIEW: Richie Hall and Paul LaPolice. Definitely NOT Joe Paopao.

9. NEXT BIG EVENT REGINA SHOULD HOST: The Vanier Cup. Why not? We’ve got the stadium and most people around here have never been to one. I went to Hamilton in 2005 and Saskatoon in 2006. It’s the best kept secret and for the right price we could fill that new stadium for it, too.

10.WEEKLY WISDOM: Grudges are for those who insist that they are owed something. Forgiveness, however, is for those who are substantial enough to move on.

(Follow Brendan on Twitter at @brendanhowardmc)