WEDNESDAY COMMENTARY – “YOU’D BETTER HURRY”

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

You heard it here first!

Well, actually, second.

Let me explain:

Tuesday’s RP Show was a wonderful trip down CFL memory lane with former CFL receiver Joey Jauch (1992-1996: Hamilton, Saskatchewan, Montreal).

We were broadcasting live from the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl in Boca Raton, Florida in a game featuring college football’s Liberty Flames and Toledo Rockets. (Despite a 12-point fourth quarter, Liberty lost the game 21-19).

I knew that opportunity in itself might not have been the biggest draw for our audience, but I also knew that Liberty broadcaster – and former coach – Joey Jauch would be a big hit.

And boy, was he! Joey would be the first to admit he had a modest career in the CFL but Rider fans would remember his two seasons with the club in 1994 and ’95.

We also remember that Joey’s father Ray was the Riders’ head coach at the time.

And Joey was far more interested in talking on Tuesday about the career of the infamous Ray Jauch.

“Get Ray into the Hall!” Joey directed.

He’s referring to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame of course, and Ray’s omission is a glaring void.

Ray Jauch is a two-time Grey Cup winner, as a player with Winnipeg in 1961 and as a coach with Edmonton in 1975. That’s a rare enough feat.

Ray was also named CFL Coach of the Year twice. In all, he spent five seasons with the Roughriders (1991-95) but also had coaching stints with Edmonton, Winnipeg and Toronto.

The elder Jauch also coached the Washington Federals for two seasons in the USFL and helped found the Arena Football League, running the whole league in 1989!

I’m not sure the process anymore to get someone inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame but today we’re putting it out to whomever needs to hear it.

These days Ray Jauch is living in his hometown of Mendota, Illinois at the age of 84.

Joey said if we’re going to get Ray Jauch into the Hall of Fame,

“You’d better hurry.”

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily on Game+ TV, YouTube Live and WQEE Radio)