Rod's Blog

STAMPS CLAIM GREY CUP

In the end, Smilin' Hank had the last laugh.

The Calgary Stampeders won their first CFL championship since 2001 on Sunday, knocking off the hometown Montreal Alouettes 22-14 in Olympic Stadium to capture the 96th Grey Cup.

The Als failed in their attempt to become the first team since the 1994 BC Lions to win the Grey Cup in their own stadium despite the presence of over 60,000 mostly-pro Alouette fans.

There were plenty of storylines coming out of Grey Cup week, but perhaps the biggest was the tantrum Calgary quarterback Henry Burris and Sandro Deangelis threw when they were shutout of the CFL year-end awards. Burris was out-voted by Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo while Deangelis was snubbed in favour of Toronto's Dominique Dorsey for the Most Outstanding Special Teams player trophy.

In the end, the pair of Stamps collected the prizes that mattered most; the Grey Cup trophy itself, as well as the game MVP award (Burris) and Top Canadian trophy (Deangelis).

"I don't even think I'm thinking right now," gushed Burris after the Grey Cup game.
"I'm just trying to wake myself up from this great dream I'm living right now. It such a surreal feeling. I really don't know how to think right now. But I'll tell you this; whatever it is, it feels great."

Burris was a disputed winner, as Calgary defensive lineman Mike Labinjo had four pass knockdowns and has much hand in the win as his quarterback.   There's no disputing Deangelis' performance however, as he booted five field goals.

"It's one of the best days of my life," observed Deangelis. "All the hard work ever since I was a little kid to get to this point. I'll tell you, I'm so happy to be a Calgary Stampeders right now. This is truly the most amazing day of my life."

It was a tough pill for the Alouettes to swallow, as Calvillo dropped to 1-5 all-time as a Grey Cup starting quarterback. Playing at home in the championship game was an opportunity squandered.

"It isn't going to happen again, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we just let it slip through our hands," noted Calvillo. "This is what you thrive for, to compete, to get a chance to play in this game and of course to win it and the record is not good on our side, and it's never fun."

With a Grey Cup victory in his rookie season, Stamps coach John Hufnagel will be a shoo-in for CFL Coach of the Year to be handed out in February.

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There was a green flavour at Grey Cup week.   The Riders' Weston Dressler capped a remarkable season by winning the CFL's Most Outstandin Rookie award while teammate Gene Makowsky was runner-up for Top Lineman.   Rider centre Jeremy O'Day won the Tom Pate Award for exceptional service to his team and community.

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There was a moratorium on any team personnel announcements during Grey Cup week however this week Riders defensive coordinator Richie Hall will interview for the vacant Toronto Argonauts head coaching job.

It's also expected Edmonton Eskimos receivers coach Mike Kelly will be named Winnipeg Blue Bomber head coach and GM within the next few days.

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You can re-live the Riders' 2007 championship with my book "Green Magic - Canada's Team Wins The 2007 Grey Cup" which is available now.

Proceeds from the book go to Football Saskatchewan, the province's amateur football governing body.   Green Magic is available at the Rider Store at Mosaic Stadium, www.riderville.com and in Saskatoon at the Blades Store.

It makes a great and inexpensive Christmas gift for the Rider fan in your life!

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All in all, it was a remarkable season for the CFL and the Saskatchewan Roughriders.   With back-to-back 12-6 seasons, the Riders haven't won 24 regular season games in two years since the 1970's. Add to that a Grey Cup championship in 2007 and revenues in 2008 above their record-breaking year of '07, and you see that Rider Pride is alive more than ever.

(Rod Pedersen is the Voice of the Riders at 620 CKRM. For daily Rider news, check out his award-winning blog at www.rodpedersen.com).

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DRESSLER CAPS REMARKABLE SEASON

Saskatchewan Roughrider fans and staff had to be popping buttons of their chest with pride at Thursday's CFL Gibson's Fines Awards Gala during Grey Cup week in Montreal.

Canada's Team had double winners at the event, with star slotback Weston Dressler taking home the CFL Most Outstanding Rookie trophy and team captain Jeremy O'Day earning the Tom Pate Award for outstanding service to his community and team. Gene Makowsky was also a finalist for the CFL Most Outstanding Lineman trophy.

Roughrider head scout Joe Womack told me at training camp last June that Dressler would have a career in the CFL "as long as he wants it". Womack is close friends with Dressler's college football coach at UND and that's how the Bismarck, ND product found his way to Regina.

It's rare that so early on in a training camp you can tell a rookie has what it takes to make the big club, but it was after Day 2 of camp that Rider coach Ken Miller was already pencilling in Dressler as the Riders' top return man and a key part of the offense.

The Riders didn't know exactly where they would use Dressler, but it was a certainty that they would find room for him somewhere. Dressler would only go on to be the Riders' only 1,000-yard receiver, combined yards leader, and be voted Molson Most Popular Player by the fans.

"It seems like yesterday that I walked in here for the first time for training camp," smiled Dressler. "The whole season was a blur but I was thankful for the opportunity. All the injuries we had gave me a chance to show what I can do and I enjoyed every part of the season."

At 5'7"(ish), Dressler could barely see over the podium as he addressed the CFL media at the post-awards interview session. No, he doesn't cast much of a shadow but his stature is becoming legendary. Snubbed in the NFL Draft, Dressler wasn't sure what his football future would hold before he got the call from Womack.

Dressler's parents never missed a game this season, making the six-hour trek from Bismarck every two weeks. One game day I marvelled at the number of young fans wearing #7 "Dressler" jerseys in the Southland Mall before the game. Privately, I hoped his parents might've stopped by the mall and witnessed what an impact their son has on the Rider Nation.

One funny story during the season I failed to recount on the blog was when we were taking off for Calgary from the Regina Aiport Thanksgiving weekend. One of the runway personnel with the earmuffs and orange batons was wearing a #7 Rider jersey and I alerted Dressler that he had a fan on the Westjet staff.

"How do we know he's not a Marvin Graves fan?" questioned wily veteran Chris Szarka, keeping the rookie's ego in check.

We all know the truth however, and Dressler's been a joy to have around.

As for Makowsky and O'Day, well, they are becoming every part of being Saskatchewan living legends. Having been around the Riders as long as I have, I know the Rider Nation has clung to names such as Roger Aldag and Bob Poley as provincial heroes. They still are of course, but Makowsky and O'Day have entered that realm.

Gene spends his off-season as a popular substitute teacher in Regina high schools watching over classes ranging from Shop to English to Phys Ed. He even commissioned a report for Football Saskatchewan on the state of grassroots football in the province this year.

Jeremy O'Day spends his winters travelling around the province promoting healthy lifestyles to Saskatchewan youngsters as part of the Riders' Community Youlth Challenge. In the winter of 2006, he totalled his SUV in a snowstorm driving through southeastern Saskatchewan. A week later, he was back on the trail.

As Grey Cup champions, All-Stars and fine citizens, they are becoming part of the fabric of this great province.

And you can never have too many of those.

(Rod Pedersen is Voice of the Riders on 620 CKRM Radio.)

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DRESSLER, MAKOWSKY, RIDER REPS AT GREY CUP

It wasn't the way they planned to be at Grey Cup 2008 in Montreal, but they'll take it.

Saskatchewan Roughriders lineman Gene Makowsky and slotback Weston Dressler are at Grey Cup week in Montreal as the CFL West Division's nominees for Most Outstanding Lineman and Rookie of the Year, respectively.

"Not being there (playing in the Grey Cup), I guess this is the best thing," Makowsky said this week. "Representing your teammates and your organization at the Grey Cup is definitely an honour and I'm glad to have been picked to go there."

Makowsky's becoming as much of a fixture at Grey Cup as the Spirit of Edmonton and the Calgary Stampeder pancake breakfast. He won the CFL Most Outstanding Lineman Award in 2004 and 2005 and is up for the trophy again Thursday night at the Gibson's Finest 2008 awards. In 2007, Makowsky was at Grey Cup in Toronto as a member of the eventual champion Saskatchewan Roughriders.

This time around, Makowsky opposes Montreal Alouettes guard Scott Flory of Regina for the league award. Ironically, the two were teammates with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

"It's pretty neat," Makowsky smiled. "I think last year it was Scott and BC's Kelly Bates who were up for the honour, who are both ex-Huskies. It's good. I played one year with Scott at the U of S. He was just a young little freshman when I was a senior and you could tell he was going to be a good player."

At 35 years of age, Makowsky was humbled to have been nominated for a third time as the Most Outstanding Lineman in 2008. However it wasn't a hard choice for voters, since Makowsky started at tackle, guard and centre throughout the season due to injuries on the offensive line.

"I've never played centre for a string of games together before," Makowsky explained. "I might've started a preseason game many years ago there, but this year when Jeremy O'Day got hurt, they went with me. It wasn't the ideal situation to be moved around each week, but injuries occur and it's something you have to adjust to."

As for Dressler, a trip to Montreal for Grey Cup will be just another highlight in a star-studded rookie campaign. The sure-handed slotback from Bismarck, ND was the Riders' lone 1,000-yard receiver in 2008 and was voted the Riders' Most Popular Player by the fans in his freshman campaign.

"I'm just proud and honoured to be a part of this," Dressler said quietly. "I wouldn't be here without my teammates and the coaching staff around me. Their trust in me allowed me to play and show what I can do, and that's why I'm in the running for an award like this."

Like Makowsky, a trip to Grey Cup is bittersweet for Dressler as their Rider teammates failed in their quest to repeat as Grey Cup champions.

"I wanted to go with the rest of the team, obviously," explained Dressler. "But I'm still excited to go to Montreal and experience Grey Cup for the first time."

And that's what makes Grey Cup so much fun.

(Rod Pedersen is Voice of the Riders on 620 CKRM Radio)

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POST - SEASON THOUGHTS

It almost seems like the last Rider fan had barely left Mosaic Stadium from Saturday's playoff game against B.C. before the Riders tied a can to the scapegoat for the loss.

Monday night, quarterback Michael Bishop was placed on waivers and told he'd be released by the Riders if not claimed by another CFL team. 48 hours later, there are still no takers.

Bishop bore the brunt of the blame for the loss, both from inside the locker room and out. He threw three interceptions and fumbled twice as the Riders succumbed 33-12 to B.C., ending what had become a remarkable 12-6 season.

"Michael Bishop is a quality young man," said Rider GM Eric Tillman. "He has come in here and helped us win some football games and I certainly appreciate what he's done and his work ethic. He was very much falsely maligned in Toronto. He was in a tough situation and sometimes the camera angles made him look like he was moaning and groaning, but he really is a good team guy. "

"But we've had far too many interceptions and we have not had enough production. Coach Miller's given him ample opportunity to establish himself."

Rider coach Ken Miller expressed frustration with Bishop when he met with the media Tuesday morning at Mosaic Stadium. Miller said it was difficult knowing Bishop had so much more to give than what he'd shown in the playoff game.

Rider linebacker Maurice Lloyd further put the screws to Bishop when talking to reporters inside the Rider locker room this week.

"He was a good man off the field,'' Lloyd said while the Riders were cleaning out their lockers. "On the field I didn't like the way he carried himself after turnovers. Everyone praised him for the Winnipeg game (on Sept. 7) and he did a wonderful job but we had guys who could move the ball down the field. When you have that many turnovers . . . it gets very frustrating.''

I recall thinking to myself during the broadcast on Saturday "this great season can't possibly be ending this way, can it?" Indeed it did. The Riders turned the ball over seven times including four in the first quarter. Remarkably they were only down 7-0 after the opening 15 minutes but the defense can only do so much.

Backup quarterback Darian Durant heads up the list of free agents which Tillman has yet to disclose. Durant said Tuesday the release of Bishop provides "clarity" and should help him make up his decision whether or not to re-sign with the Green & White this off-season.

Hard feelings remain over the bitter loss to the Riders' top rivals. It's the earliest conclusion to a season for the Riders since the 2005 Eastern semifinal when they succumbed to the Alouettes in Montreal. We've become accustomed to the Riders battling further into the playoffs making at least the Western Final in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007.

In the end, B.C. coach Wally Buono was right in saying before Saturday's game there is no homefield advantage in the playoffs, and that they would in fact meet up with Calgary again in the WDF.

And right now that's what hurts the most.

(Rod Pedersen is the Voice of the Riders on 620 CKRM Radio)

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CFL Western Semifinal Preview

BC Lions (11-7) at Saskatchewan Roughriders (12-6), 3pm Saturday, November 8/2008 Mosaic Stadium Regina, TSN, CKRM Roughrider Radio Network

RIDERS: Home - 7-2, vs West - 5-5

LIONS: Road - 5-4, vs West - 4-6

RIDER OFFENSE: (Rush - 3rd, Pass - 7th, Overall - 6th) Rider quarterback Michael Bishop passed for 2,552 yards in the regular season for 10 TDs and 13 INTs. Top rusher Wes Cates was 2nd in the CFL with

1229 yards and a combined

14 touchdowns. Leading receiver Weston Dressler had 1128 yards and six TDs in his rookie campaign.

LIONS OFFENSE: (Rush - 4th, Pass - 4th, Overall - 4th) QB Buck Pierce (2917 yds, 19 TDs, 9 INTs) and Jarius Jackson (2008, 17 TDs, 10 INTs) split time under centre this season although Pierce got the ball in the Lions' must-win game in Week 19 at Calgary. Receiver Geroy Simon (1418 yds, 10

TDs) was second in CFl receiving

while ball-carrier Stefan Logan was fourth in rushing (889 yds, 3 TDS).

RIDER DEFENSE: (Rush - 5th, Pass - 2nd, Overall - 1st) MLB Maurice Lloyd led the club with five sacks while while DB Lance Frazier led the CFL's top defense with 5 INTs.

LIONS DEFENSE: (Rush 4, Pass - 4th, Overall - 3rd) It begins and ends with MVP Cameron Wake who ate up the CFL with 23 sacks and five forced fumbles. Safety Barron Miles led the league with nine INTs.

RIDER SPECIAL TEAMS: K/P Jamie Boreham was 8th in punting average (41.6 yds) while K Luca Congi led the CFL with an 86.4% completion on field goals. KOR/PR Dressler was 3rd in combined yards (2224).

LIONS SPECIAL TEAMS: K/P Paul McCallum was 6th in punting average (44.3 yds) and 3rd in field goal percentage (83.3%). KOR/PR Ian Smart was #2 in CFL combined yards (2744).

SERIES: The Lions were 2-1 over the Roughriders in the '08 regular season. The Riders took a Week 2 game 26-16 in Vancouver, and the Lions swept a September home-and-home series

(33-28 at Vancouver Sept 13 and 27-21 at Regina Sept 20).

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