Inside the CFL: Tip your cap to coaches, CFL gearing up for legendary weekend

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on September 19, 2024.

sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

When the Roughriders are playing interesting football, the entire Western Conference gets a lift.

Truly Canada’s team, fans are everywhere.

The biggest diaspora of Saskatchewan fans lives in Calgary, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge with many more scattered throughout the rest of the province. When the Green and White are playing poorly, they still draw well in opposing cities.

Hosting teams can count on higher attendance and enhanced revenues from concessions and souvenir sales when the Roughies come to town.

Friday night, the Stampeders are expecting their biggest gate of the season. A Calgary/Saskatchewan game is special. The parking lots will be packed with tail-gaters wearing their team colours in close to equal numbers.

A large contingent is expected from the Hat to enliven the proceedings.

There is a lot at stake. Both teams desperately need a win to stay ahead of the on-rushing Elks in the hunt for a playoff spot. The home team has lost five in a row, the visitors haven’t won since July 19. Rare in this day and age, both clubs have a tie to their “credit.”

Both coaches believe they deserve a better fate. They don’t. Their teams are losing because of mistakes at crucial moments. Champions don’t do that.

They say a tie is like kissing your sister. “We need to win, we need to win,” lamented Dave Dickenson, after his 4-8-1 Stampeders snatched a 19-19 tie from the jaws of victory against the deefending Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes last Saturday at McMahon. “It’s very difficult to feel great about a tie.”

They jumped into a first quarter 10-point lead but a fumble on the enemy two yardline, dropped passes and stupid penalties did them in. Even Rene Paredes missed two field goals, albeit both from over 50 yards. Added the head wrangler, “We have to learn how to win.”

Corey Mace whose Roughriders are also on a horrendous losing streak echoed his rival’s sentiments: “We’ve got to find a way to get over the hump.” One coaches’ wish will come true tomorrow night, unless they play to a tie.

I’ve never found the Labour Day Classic that compelling. In terms of sheer excitement and fan involvement it can’t compare to Stampeder/Roughrider tilts, especially in Calgary. The fact that at least half the spectators are cheering for Saskatchewan really irks the Stampeders. Friday night should be the CFL at its most fun. Saturday, Edmonton hosts Winnipeg in the first of a home-and-home series. I am intrigued to see how much the Elks have progressed. They go into the contest with a record of 5-8, one point behind Saskatchewan in the race for the final playoff spot.

Their five wins came against Saskatchewan, B.C. and Hamilton plus two over Calgary. With the exception of the maddeningly inconsistent Lions, not an impressive group.

Like Saskatchewan/Calgary, the Elks are facing the Bombers for the first time.Winnipeg is a horse of a different colour.

After losing six of their first eight games, they have won five in a row. Their big concern is keeping quarterback Zach Collaros healthy because backup Chris Streveler is out for the rest of the season with torn knee ligaments. Former Rider/B.C. backup Jake Dolegala and Argo pivot Bryan Scott have been signed to go with third stringer Terry Wilson.

The Elks have scored the most points in the CFL, the Bombers have allowed the fewest. If Edmonton can win both games or split, the rest of the league better watch out.

This is National Coaches week where mentors at the amateur level are honoured. Over the years it has been my privilege to know high school coaches like Quinn Skelton from MHHS, the late Bert Mahura and Chuck Love, both deceased and Brian Macauley from McCoy, as well as Al Ruckaber (also a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame) and Al Bloomfield of CHHS, Lloyd Bray at Crescent Heights and minor football.

Skelton and Lethbridge’s Jimmy Whitlaw are probably the most successful coaches in the history of southern Alberta high school football.

They, along with so many others in Medicine Hat and Brooks, have contributed so much to the development of football in our area and, more importantly, have been such positive influences in the lives of so many young men.

Also, congratulations to many assistant coaches.

Graham Kelly has covered the CFL for the Medicine Hat News for 52 years. Feedback for this column can be emailed to sports@medicinehatnews.com.