2011 CFL thread

[Machiavelli]

Bombers are still not firing on all offensive cylinders, but 6-1 is excellent nonetheless.

[shermanator]

Perfect timing for the Bombers to have a 6-1 start, with their move to a new stadium next year. Speaking of which, here;s some photos on the construction of that stadium.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

The one rule that really bugs me is pass interference, be it offensive or defensive. Really it should be called the same either way. Once the ball is in the air any player has a shot at it. No player should be able to impede another player in going after the ball. I wish the CFL would really crackdown on this and start calling offensive pass interference calls with way more frequency. Either that or stop calling the weak defensive pass interference calls. I know many may not agree with me ad the league is an offensive league and people want to see high scores but this is something that has really got on my nerves lately. Maybe it's the old defensive back in me coming out. But when the ball is up for grabs, I really feel that the same set of rules should govern both receiver and DB as opposed to this bias towards the offense that exists now.

/rant

PI should be 15 yards and a first down, period. Teams are getting rewarded for throwing up hail marys, and then diving on contact. TDs should be earned.

15 yards and a first down should be enough of a deterrent.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Boy that was a pretty embarrassing game tonight for the Lions. Poor execution and really disorganized. Hopefully Wally retires at the end of this season as good as he's been over the years he's not the coach he used to be.

So Wallly has forgotten how to coach or something?

Or maybe it has to do with the personnel he has to work with.

I think one seems quite more likely than the other.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by transplant99

So Wallly has forgotten how to coach or something?

Or maybe it has to do with the personnel he has to work with.

I think one seems quite more likely than the other.

It's a bit of both and his loyalty to subpar assistant coaches. Since he's in charge of personnel either way you look at it it's his mess. Time passes every great coach by.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by troutman

PI should be 15 yards and a first down, period. Teams are getting rewarded for throwing up hail marys, and then diving on contact. TDs should be earned.

15 yards and a first down should be enough of a deterrent.

Tough because the rule was implemented in regards to a defender contacting a receiver that was in position to catch the ball. In that regard you like to see the ball spotted at the infraction if it's a perfectly executed deep ball. Problem that we are seeing is that teams are getting rewarded for poorly executed deep plays where the ball is overthrown or uncatchable and a little bit of contact ensues causing a pass interference flag. Terrence Edwards against the Stamps earlier in the season purposely contacted Smith when he knew the ball was uncatchable getting a flag and the ball on the 1 yard line. Garbage play and garbage call but CFL officials are the worst in all professional sports so this strategy unfortunately is rewarding for teams.

As per the rules if the ball is overthrown or uncatchable there should be no pass interference even if there is blatant contact as the outcome of the play would be incomplete regardless. Problem is that the officials simply don't follow the rulebook or have problems deciding what's uncatchable.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's a bit of both and his loyalty to subpar assistant coaches. Since he's in charge of personnel either way you look at it it's his mess. Time passes every great coach by.

Really?

Wally buono has forgotten how to coach to some degree?

Alrighty then.

Thsi guy has never ever had more than 2 losing seasons in a row....in 21 years.

Maybe he is not having a great run right now, but there i abolutely nothing to suggest he is going to stay in a funk like he has the lat couple seasons. The CFL game is pretty much exactly the same as it has been for decades....and i suspect he will figure a way to get this thing turned around sooner rather than later.

12 Western division championships and 4 Grey cups screams patience for anyone employing him.

But like with so many people nowadays in regards to sports....the grass is always greener elsewhere.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Really?

Wally buono has forgotten how to coach to some degree?

Alrighty then.

Thsi guy has never ever had more than 2 losing seasons in a row....in 21 years.

Maybe he is not having a great run right now, but there i abolutely nothing to suggest he is going to stay in a funk like he has the lat couple seasons. The CFL game is pretty much exactly the same as it has been for decades....and i suspect he will figure a way to get this thing turned around sooner rather than later.

12 Western division championships and 4 Grey cups screams patience for anyone employing him.

But like with so many people nowadays in regards to sports....the grass is always greener elsewhere.

You have your opinion and I have mine. For example Huff has completely owned Wally since taking over the Stamps and as of today is a far superior coach as is Trestman. That doesn't take anything away from what Wally's accomplished in the past just the fact that he's not as effective as he was in the past and younger coaches are coming in with fresh ideas and strategies. Surely you have noticed some of Wally's head scratching moves over the past couple of years. He's surely no Danny Maciocia but he's also not the cream of the crop anymore and the Lions need a change. IMO he should retire as a head coach and move upstairs after the season.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Perfect timing for the Bombers to have a 6-1 start, with their move to a new stadium next year. Speaking of which, here;s some photos on the construction of that stadium.

I can't believe the Stampeders are going to have the worst stadium in the league considering the population and solid fan support over the years. I love the location of McMahon but the washrooms, concessions, and lack of space in the concourse makes going to some games feel like a chore.

[PeteLFan]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I can't believe the Stampeders are going to have the worst stadium in the league considering the population and solid fan support over the years. I love the location of McMahon but the washrooms, concessions, and lack of space in the concourse makes going to some games feel like a chore.

There is still Mosaic stadium

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by PeteLFan

There is still Mosaic stadium

Not for long. AFAIK Calgary has no plans for renos or a new stadium. By 2013 or 2014 they will have the worst stadium in the CFL.

[PeteLFan]

McMahon is bad when its not busy, but I will never forget the heritage classic. That place was in shambles, that venue cannot hold a event like that ever again. My friend went to pee after the 1st intermission, and returned when the 2nd intermission was ending.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Not for long. AFAIK Calgary has no plans for renos or a new stadium. By 2013 or 2014 they will have the worst stadium in the CFL.

There are plans for major renovations to McMahon -- in fact, they've already done some of them, with the new Stamps admin office and the renovations to the Stamps dressing room -- but the problem is that the University owns the stadium, so, they need to find ways to finance the improvements.

This spring, they asked for ideas about potentially developing the land around McMahon for other commercial uses, to generate the revenue needed: http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/utoday/march15-2011/mcmahon

I haven't heard anything since about any of the proposals that were received or how they're progressing.


Also, where do things stand with the new stadium in Regina? I thought it had slowed down when the federal government declared there would no federal funding for the construction of sports facilities.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by getbak

There are plans for major renovations to McMahon -- in fact, they've already done some of them, with the new Stamps admin office and the renovations to the Stamps dressing room -- but the problem is that the University owns the stadium, so, they need to find ways to finance the improvements.

This spring, they asked for ideas about potentially developing the land around McMahon for other commercial uses, to generate the revenue needed: http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/utoday/march15-2011/mcmahon

I haven't heard anything since about any of the proposals that were received or how they're progressing.


Also, where do things stand with the new stadium in Regina? I thought it had slowed down when the federal government declared there would no federal funding for the construction of sports facilities.

From what I know the plans for Regina's stadium are still a little bit up in the air but more with regards to what will be done, not whether or not something will be done.

Right now the old CP rail yard off Dewdney, right along that strip with the bars and stuff, is the most likely candidate for a new outdoor stadium.

There is the possibility that they will just renovate Taylor field but that isn't very popular with anyone. A completely new stadium isn't popular with some of the province either but I don't think anybody wants to renovate. That stadium is too far gone. Although I would have said the same about Ivor Wynn.

All I know for certain is that the $400m indoor facility with hotels and stuff is pretty much dead.

[JustAnotherGuy]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Really?

Wally buono has forgotten how to coach to some degree?

Alrighty then.

Thsi guy has never ever had more than 2 losing seasons in a row....in 21 years.

Maybe he is not having a great run right now, but there i abolutely nothing to suggest he is going to stay in a funk like he has the lat couple seasons. The CFL game is pretty much exactly the same as it has been for decades....and i suspect he will figure a way to get this thing turned around sooner rather than later.

12 Western division championships and 4 Grey cups screams patience for anyone employing him.

But like with so many people nowadays in regards to sports....the grass is always greener elsewhere.

Why was he fired/let go/resigned from the Stamps?

[getbak]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

Why was he fired/let go/resigned from the Stamps?

I'm pretty sure he resigned because he was sick of putting up with Michael Feterik's BS.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by getbak

I'm pretty sure he resigned because he was sick of putting up with Michael Feterik's BS.

That was a large part of it but his the Stampeders were on the decline at the time as well with Jacques Chapdelaine's anaemic offence just starting out. Not sure if Jacques has something on Wally or they are just great friends but having him as offensive coordinator over the years certainly hasn't done him any favours.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

From what I know the plans for Regina's stadium are still a little bit up in the air but more with regards to what will be done, not whether or not something will be done.

Right now the old CP rail yard off Dewdney, right along that strip with the bars and stuff, is the most likely candidate for a new outdoor stadium.

There is the possibility that they will just renovate Taylor field but that isn't very popular with anyone. A completely new stadium isn't popular with some of the province either but I don't think anybody wants to renovate. That stadium is too far gone. Although I would have said the same about Ivor Wynn.

All I know for certain is that the $400m indoor facility with hotels and stuff is pretty much dead.

Renovations to ancient stadiums are a waste of money to me as it's akin to lipstick on a pig. There is nothing they can do to the existing structure of McMahon that will improve the experience for fans. In this day and age you should be able to build a 35-40K seat dome with a retractable roof for about five times the cost of the finger trap bridge they are still sinking money into downtown. I really believe any new stadiums built in Canada should have a retractable roof and the reasons are twofold. First and most important to the bottom line is that the venue can be used year-round to maximize revenue generating potential. Secondly maybe because I'm getting older but honestly I'm just not down on sitting on bleacher seats in -10C or colder weather especially when I can watch at home in high definition. I'd love to support the team in person in the playoffs but I just don't like cold weather. Fall games really suck around here and the quality of football is altered because of it.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

That was a large part of it but his the Stampeders were on the decline at the time as well with Jacques Chapdelaine's anaemic offence just starting out. Not sure if Jacques has something on Wally or they are just great friends but having him as offensive coordinator over the years certainly hasn't done him any favours.

What?

They had been to the GC 3 of the previous 5 years.

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Renovations to ancient stadiums are a waste of money to me as it's akin to lipstick on a pig. There is nothing they can do to the existing structure of McMahon that will improve the experience for fans. In this day and age you should be able to build a 35-40K seat dome with a retractable roof for about five times the cost of the finger trap bridge they are still sinking money into downtown. I really believe any new stadiums built in Canada should have a retractable roof and the reasons are twofold. First and most important to the bottom line is that the venue can be used year-round to maximize revenue generating potential. Secondly maybe because I'm getting older but honestly I'm just not down on sitting on bleacher seats in -10C or colder weather especially when I can watch at home in high definition. I'd love to support the team in person in the playoffs but I just don't like cold weather. Fall games really suck around here and the quality of football is altered because of it.

Your estimates on a stadium are a wee bit short.

The stadium you are describing costs in the range of $300-400 million dollars at least, not $125 million (aka 5 times the cost of the bridge). The new Blue Bomber stadium is estimated at $190 million without a retractable roof. BC Place's retrofit cost over $560 million. The proposed retractable roof stadium in Regina was estimated at $430 million before it was scrapped. Hell, Ivor Wynne's renovation, which only rebuilds half the stadium is $150 million+

If you can find some people in Calgary who are willing to drop that kind of coin on a team that plays 9 games a year, then please do, because I'm sure this city would love to have a state of the art stadium. Until then, you will have to deal with a 50 year old stadium with crappy concourses. It sucks but it is the reality that the team faces right now.