CFL 2012 regular season thread

[Notorious Honey Badger]

Starts up tonight. Excited I am. Ray vs Eskies and Fantuz/Burris vs riders are a great couple of matchups. Grey cup rematch should be fun too.


times are eastern

[shermanator]

I hope the Riders finish last in the West again. Let's see how the greatest fanbase in the CFL deals with some losing...

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by shermanator

I hope the Riders finish last in the West again. Let's see how the greatest fanbase in the CFL deals with some losing...

Unless you're only 8 years old this post is absolutely hilarious.

You realize the Riders were one of the worst teams in professional sports for the better part of a half century right? I'm pretty sure their fanbase is used to losing. I think that in my first 20 years as a fan they had something like 1 winning season.

If anything I could see how the argument could be made that Riders fans need to learn how to handle winning.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Question marks all over the place. BC is the team to beat. Saskatchewan will be better. Is Tate good enough? Is Jyles the guy on Edmonton?

So many questions that will get answered.

Here's to a great season!

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Unless you're only 8 years old this post is absolutely hilarious.

You realize the Riders were one of the worst teams in professional sports for the better part of a half century right? I'm pretty sure their fanbase is used to losing. I think that in my first 20 years as a fan they had something like 1 winning season.

If anything I could see how the argument could be made that Riders fans need to learn how to handle winning.

I do realize this, yes, and historically, their attendance figures have shown that they have not supported their team during their losing years as well. See the following link:

http://cfl-scrapbook.no-ip.org/CFL-Attendance.php

In the 18 years between their Grey Cups of 1989 and 2007, the Riders attendance averaged above 27000 on only 3 occasions. In 1995 and 2003 (both years when they hosted the Grey Cup), in 1997 (when they went to the Grey Cup and lost). Compare this to Edmonton, who have drawn 30000+ fans in 22 of the last 25 years, and 40000+ fans in 11 of those years as well.

Yes, losing teams will not draw as well as winning teams, but Riders fans shoving the opinion that they are the best fans in the CFL when they are winning is getting tiring. TSN doesn't help this fact at all.

All I'm saying is, if you claim to be the best fans in the CFL, you will show up when you lose.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

Question marks all over the place. BC is the team to beat. Saskatchewan will be better. Is Tate good enough? Is Jyles the guy on Edmonton?

So many questions that will get answered.

Here's to a great season!

And I remember thinking it was wide open last year. With the exception of BC (barring injuries) I could see any of Edmonton, Calgary or Sask finishing 2-4 in the West.

At this point I don't see either Edmonton or Calgary as being particularly dangerous because of the question marks at QB but who's to say. Tate could be the next Flutie or he could be the next insert failed young QB here. Then of course there are the question marks surrounding Durant.

I heard an interesting stat on the Riders. Something like they only have one player on the whole roster born in the 1970s. Fascinating if true to only have a single guy over the age of 32.

The East is just as wide open this year. Can TO and Hamilton become respectable? Is Mtl finally going to do us all a favor and have a bad season? Can the Bombers maintain their success or is Pierce going to be in the ICU before the end of the first game? Is Burris washed up? Can Ray bounce back with a change of scenery?

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by shermanator

I do realize this, yes, and historically, their attendance figures have shown that they have not supported their team during their losing years as well. See the following link:

http://cfl-scrapbook.no-ip.org/CFL-Attendance.php

In the 18 years between their Grey Cups of 1989 and 2007, the Riders attendance averaged above 27000 on only 3 occasions. In 1995 and 2003 (both years when they hosted the Grey Cup), in 1997 (when they went to the Grey Cup and lost). Compare this to Edmonton, who have drawn 30000+ fans in 22 of the last 25 years, and 40000+ fans in 11 of those years as well.

Yes, losing teams will not draw as well as winning teams, but Riders fans shoving the opinion that they are the best fans in the CFL when they are winning is getting tiring. TSN doesn't help this fact at all.

All I'm saying is, if you claim to be the best fans in the CFL, you will show up when you lose.

You realize that Edmonton is about 10x bigger than Regina right? Furthermore, what does Edmonton have anything to do with the Riders attendance? If your argument revolves around high attendence during down years Edmonton is the worst possible choice considering they are likely one of the most successful franchises in sports in the last half century, making them pretty much the exact opposite of the Riders.

Hamilton would be the only franchise that is even remotely comparable, both in terms of population (being the 2nd smallest CFL city) and in terms of a lack of success. Even then I'm not sure they've been as terribe as the Riders.


I remember a time when the CFL was about, you know, teams competing against one another. I must have missed the memo that the standings and GC will be based on who has the best perceived fanbase.

[Notorious Honey Badger]

I agree with some of cecil and some of sherm. I agree that the Riders fan base has, in general, not been good at attending games when the team sucked. But in their defense, and cecil is right to bring it up, the team hasn't enjoyed much success in the 80's and 90's. this has lead to the teams fans acting a little over the top when they showed up in 3 of 4 grey cups.

the real enemy isnt rider fans its tsn drooling all over them. the province literally has nothing else to cheer for at a professional level. most people in ssk dont live in a major centre, they're spread out all over the province and 2 of the larger cities. its a natural rallying point. nothing special. but if you listened to TSN rider fans were showing up selling out the barn when the team was dismal. not the case.

[Machiavelli]

This is going to be a horrible season for the Bombers.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Notorious Honey Badger

I agree with some of cecil and some of sherm. I agree that the Riders fan base has, in general, not been good at attending games when the team sucked. But in their defense, and cecil is right to bring it up, the team hasn't enjoyed much success in the 80's and 90's. this has lead to the teams fans acting a little over the top when they showed up in 3 of 4 grey cups.

the real enemy isnt rider fans its tsn drooling all over them. the province literally has nothing else to cheer for at a professional level. most people in ssk dont live in a major centre, they're spread out all over the province and 2 of the larger cities. its a natural rallying point. nothing special. but if you listened to TSN rider fans were showing up selling out the barn when the team was dismal. not the case.

The other thing, and I'll be the first to admit, is that the Riders had a bit of that Boston Red Sox attitude. Once their franchise started to win they went from lovable losers to that fanbase that everyone hates pretty quickly. When the Riders got 10k fans here in Calgary in the late 90s it was fine because no one else in the CFL cared or felt threatened by the Riders and their fans were pretty good at being modest (and really what did we ever have to boast about?).

All of a sudden the Riders become the place to be on a Friday or Sat night in Sask and an infusion of young fans coupled with a little bit of team success and Rider fans aren't very popular in these parts anymore.

Remind you of anyone? Perhaps a certain franchise here in Calgary that was terrible for a while, not nearly as long as the Riders though, and attendence was dropping. All of a sudden a deep run in 04 and all of those seats at the dome got filled pretty quickly with people might call "fairweather fans" or "bandwagon jumpers". And just like with the Riders a lot of those fans don't care much when the team starts to lose and often made the dome pretty rowdy because the Flames were a reason to party, not because they loved hockey. But for every fairweather fan that the Flames got they probably hooked another hardcore hockey fan who just didn't cheer for the team up until that point. I don't think the Riders are any different.

And yes TSN does pat Sask fans on the back an awful lot. Who could blame opposing fanbases if it bothers them, regardless of the amount of truth in TSN's pro-Rider stance? It is in their best interest to promote the CFL and if that means promoting the Riders then so be it. But again, I can see why other fans don't like it.

Also I think fans tend to judge the popularity of a team too heavily on attendence alone. The Riders have always had a very deep seeded fanbase in Saskatchewan and diehard loyalty from all their fans who moved to other cities in Canada. At the end of the day though, what fan base has ever had great attendence during a 40 or 50 year lull? We're not talking a few bad seasons. I wasn't lying earlier, I've been a fan of the Riders since I was born and I don't think I saw a winning season until about 2006 or 2007. Can many other franchises boast such a dismal record? It's surprising the Riders have any fans left after the way that franchise was run in the last 50 years.


I get that the teams are rivals and just like the Canucks and Oilers hate CP isn't going to be a good place for rational or intelligent discussion on their rivals. The bias and hate are too strong. And that is the real shame in all this. Fans are being driven away from the game because the level of distaste between franchises seems to be at an all time high but all that seems to result in is an ever escalating level of abuse between fans. I remember when CFL fans all felt a certain amount of kinship because it was almost considered a fringe sport and was constantly crapped on by NFL or other fans who called it bush league.

[OzSome]

I agree that BC Lions is the team to beat. In the West, there is going to be a fight for 2nd place and Stamps might take the 2nd or even 1st place depending on how Drew Tate plays during the season. If he falters in the first few games, I can see Hufnagel switching to Kevin Glenn (god help us). I think we are loaded with talents on offense and defense was revamped pretty much but in a good way. Saskatchewan might take the 3rd place because I think Durant is much better than Steven Jyles. I can also see a switch to Kerry Joseph in Edmonton early in the season.
In the East, i think Burris and company will be the team to beat. I know people just don't like Burris here but the guy can still play. Having Fantuz and Williams will help him big time. Montreal and Winnipeg will fight for 2nd place and it is going to be a toss up. I think Winnipeg will take it if Pierce stays healthy. Montreal offense can still do it but their defense is a suspect (wait-and see kind of deal). Toronto might improve a little bit but they will still not make the playoff.

[shermanator]

Cecil, I have to agree with your latest point. I guess my biggest issue is with TSN shoving the Rider Pride down our throats, and that shouldn't paint the fanbase as a whole. It is a much better situation to be in than say, Toronto, where all the analysts are wondering how they can stay alive.

In all honesty, with the expansion of new seats at Taylor Field, the club will probably outdraw it's numbers last year. More revenue for them can only be good news, and will build their pot for the new stadium

Anyways, back the discussion about the actual league, I can't see anyone but BC making it out of the west. Calgary and Edmonton have questions about their new QB's, and how will the Riders make up for Fantuz' departure?

The East is a total crapshoot though. I think Montreal makes it out of there but could easily see Hamilton make it to the Grey Cup.

[KelVarnsen]

Good god those Rider uniforms and helmets are ugly.

[Notorious Honey Badger]

Bad no challenge. Not a catch. What a bogus touchdown.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Originally Posted by KelVarnsen

Good god those Rider uniforms and helmets are ugly.

Nah, they're fantastic! Better than I thought they'd be.

Both teams have looked good

[Notorious Honey Badger]

Both teams looking good but hot damn is the Hamilton defense a mess in coverage. Walker for the Tabbies looks amazing.

[saskflames69]

How swell is Weston Dressler?

[Vena]

Chamblin gets a gatorade shower because the Riders will win their first game of the season?

It's one game!

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Vena

Chamblin gets a gatorade shower because the Riders will win their first game of the season?

It's one game!

Is this sarcasm?

It's his first win in the cfl as a head coach.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Originally Posted by Vena

Chamblin gets a gatorade shower because the Riders will win their first game of the season?

It's one game!

First win of a coaching career? It's somewhat common.


I am impressed by the Riders. Cautious about it though, but that was a commanding win. Need to carry it through to next week. No doubt that is the best game they've played in more than a year