GA Russell Posted October 31, 2008 Author Report Posted October 31, 2008 Saskatchewan Roughriders 45....Toronto Argonauts 38 http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform...aspx?id=4188238 Terrific game! The Argos dominated the first three quarters, but the Riders came back and won it with 12 seconds to go. So the Argos finish the season 0-8 under Don Matthews. Sask's victory means that they will finish second in the West if Calgary beats BC. If BC wins, they will finish second. Quote
GA Russell Posted October 31, 2008 Author Report Posted October 31, 2008 (edited) Don Matthews today announced his retirement from coaching. http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...lobeSports/home ***** Here's a good recap of the Argos' season: http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Football/article/527988 ***** Here's a photo of a typical Argos fan! (For future reference, this is the photo of the day for Oct. 31, 2008.) http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Gallery/home.html Edited October 31, 2008 by GA Russell Quote
GA Russell Posted October 31, 2008 Author Report Posted October 31, 2008 Here's a good article by Jaime Stein picking the best players of the league. I notice that he picks Henry Burris as the best in the West. I would have picked Wes Cates. I expect that more than a few voters will go for Cam Wake. http://cfl.ca/article/stein-if-i-had-a-vote Quote
GA Russell Posted November 1, 2008 Author Report Posted November 1, 2008 Edmonton Eskimos 37....Montreal Alouettes 14 http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home The Als' second consecutive meaningless game, and their second straight loss. The Als sat six starters, yet it was an entertaining game with exciting plays. For the Esks, Ricky Ray played the first half and completed his first 16 passes. Jason Maas played the second half and also looked sharp. The Als sat Anthony Calvillo, and started Marcus Brady, who saw his first action of the season. The Esks finish at 10-8, so that means that all four Western teams finish with a winning record. This could have been a preview of the Eastern Final, although with so many Als starters out it wasn't the same. The players got pretty testy in the fourth quarter. Quote
GA Russell Posted November 2, 2008 Author Report Posted November 2, 2008 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 44....Hamilton Tiger-Cats 30 http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform...aspx?id=4188528 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...ory/GlobeSports Eastern Final Standings: Montreal Winnipeg Toronto Hamilton ***** Calgary Stampeders 41....British Columbia Lions 30 http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform...aspx?id=4188596 http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home This one had me scratching my head. The Stamps had nothing to play for. If the Lions won, they would host the Western Semi-Final. The Stamps played all of their subs in the second half, yet they dominated the Lions with their subs (including their second and third string QBs). Western Final Standings: Calgary Saskatchewan British Columbia Edmonton ***** Both the Semi-Finals and the Finals will be played on Saturdays at the request of TSN, the television network. This Saturday, Winnipeg will host Edmonton, and Saskatchewan will host BC. Quote
GA Russell Posted November 2, 2008 Author Report Posted November 2, 2008 Here's a good article in which Ian Busby examines the momentum of each of the six playoff teams. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/200...281531-sun.html Quote
GA Russell Posted November 3, 2008 Author Report Posted November 3, 2008 The division all-star teams were announced today. http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform...aspx?id=4188953 http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=s...aspx?id=4188955 Quote
GA Russell Posted November 4, 2008 Author Report Posted November 4, 2008 The finalists for the CFL Awards were announced today. It will be Burris against Calvillo for Outstanding Player. http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home By the way, Calvillo (Las Vegas Posse) and Sask's Eddie Davis (Birmingham Barracudas) are the last two players in the league left from the CFL's American teams of 1993-95. Quote
GA Russell Posted November 6, 2008 Author Report Posted November 6, 2008 These don't cut & paste well, so here are the links: Final Standings http://stats.globesports.com/cfl/totalstandings.asp Final Stats http://stats.globesports.com/cfl/leaders.asp Quote
GA Russell Posted November 7, 2008 Author Report Posted November 7, 2008 Here's another link I forgot to post the other day: Final Team Stats http://stats.globesports.com/cfl/tmleaders.asp ***** Fred Williams Semi-Finals previews http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform...aspx?id=4189572 Quote
GA Russell Posted November 9, 2008 Author Report Posted November 9, 2008 Edmonton Eskimos 29....Winnipeg Blue Bombers 21 http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform...aspx?id=4189795 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...ory/GlobeSports Exciting game, particularly because the Winnipeg crowd was so electric from start to finish. Jason Armstead set a Bomber team playoff record with a 93 yard punt return for a TD. This was the fifth time a Western team crossed over for the Eastern playoffs, and the first time they won. This was probably Milt Stegall's last game. ***** British Columbia Lions 33....Saskatchewan Roughriders 12 http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=s...aspx?id=4189841 http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home The score flatters the Riders. The Lions dominated from start to finish. The Riders had four turnovers in the first quarter alone. ***** So both road teams won today. I don't know of another league in which the home field advantage is worth so little in the playoffs as it is in the CFL. Just think of all the Western Finals Wally Buono has lost at home in Calgary and BC. ***** Versus, the cable network which carries the NHL, will carry the Grey Cup game Nov. 23. Versus serves 73 million US viewers. http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=s...aspx?id=4189726 Quote
GA Russell Posted November 11, 2008 Author Report Posted November 11, 2008 Breaking news: The Roughriders have released Michael Bishop! You may recall that I commented at the time that when the Riders released Marcus Crandell, it was the only time I was aware of that a team in first place released its starting quarterback. As I recall, they had only lost one or two games, and had suffered many injuries. As it turned out, they never did settle on a quarterback for the remainder of the season. http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home ***** Fourteen (!) Bombers played out their options this year and are set to become free agents. http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home Quote
GA Russell Posted November 13, 2008 Author Report Posted November 13, 2008 (edited) This comes as a surprise to me. The Bombers fired Doug Berry today. http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...lobeSports/home ***** The league's defensive all-star team was named today. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/New...7389221-cp.html The offensive team will be announced tomorrow. Edited November 13, 2008 by GA Russell Quote
GA Russell Posted November 13, 2008 Author Report Posted November 13, 2008 The Quebec Liberal government is offering to contribute $50 million (if they win the election) to a proposed $660 million Quebec City complex which will include a football stadium for a CFL team and a hockey arena for an NHL team. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...ory/GlobeSports Quote
GA Russell Posted November 13, 2008 Author Report Posted November 13, 2008 The offensive all star team was announced today. http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...lobeSports/home Quote
GA Russell Posted November 14, 2008 Author Report Posted November 14, 2008 Fred Williams Finals preview http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform...aspx?id=4190906 ***** As I recall, the league discourages teams from making any news (such as firings or trades or signings) during Grey Cup Week, so that the media attention will be focused on the game and the Awards. So I expect that there won't be any headlines between tomorrow's games and Thursday's Awards banquet. Quote
GA Russell Posted November 16, 2008 Author Report Posted November 16, 2008 Montreal Alouettes 36....Edmonton Eskimos 26 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...ory/GlobeSports http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform...aspx?id=4191210 A tale of two games. For the first quarter and a half, the Eskimos dominated and led 13-3. Then the Als woke up and dominated the rest of the game. Edmonton's offense disappeared till the fourth quarter. Montreal was greatly aided by two punt returns for TDs by Larry Taylor of 64 and 97 yards. ***** Calgary Stampeders 22....British Columbia Lions 18 http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/New...7424961-cp.html Exciting defensive game. Calgary held BC to six Paul McCallum field goals. Quote
GA Russell Posted November 16, 2008 Author Report Posted November 16, 2008 Here's the link to this year's Grey Cup contest. Win a Mosaic gift certificate! http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=47959 Quote
GA Russell Posted November 21, 2008 Author Report Posted November 21, 2008 Jake Ireland will be the ref for Sunday's game. http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=s...aspx?id=4192105 http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/New...7469141-cp.html ***** Jeff Garcia plans to watch the game on tv after the Bucs game against the Lions. He'll be rooting for the Stamps, natch. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Gre...474316-sun.html Quote
GA Russell Posted November 21, 2008 Author Report Posted November 21, 2008 Anthony Calvillo won the Outstanding Player Award tonight. "The other award winners Thursday included Edmonton Eskimos slotback Kamau Peterson (top Canadian), Montreal guard Scott Flory (lineman), B.C. Lions defensive end Cameron Wake (defensive player), Toronto Argonauts returner Dominique Dorsey (special-teams) and Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback Weston Dressler (rookie)." I think it's really amazing that this late in his career Peterson was named the best Canadian. It wasn't that long ago that he was known as Kamau Incompleterson! http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform...aspx?id=4192429 Quote
GA Russell Posted November 22, 2008 Author Report Posted November 22, 2008 Here's an excellent outline of the many topics covered by the Commissioner in his State of the League address this morning. http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home ***** The newspaper business is so bad in Canada that many papers are not sending their reporters to the game this year. They figure that if they could spend the money on that, they wouldn't have to be laying off the people they are. http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...lobeSports/home ***** Here's an article about Baltimore Stallion fans who make it up to the Grey Cup every year. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Gre...7492156-cp.html Quote
GA Russell Posted November 23, 2008 Author Report Posted November 23, 2008 Fred Williams Grey Cup preview http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform...aspx?id=4193074 ***** Here's a Sun Media synopsis of what it will take for each team to win. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Cal...506616-sun.html Quote
GA Russell Posted November 24, 2008 Author Report Posted November 24, 2008 96th Grey Cup game Calgary Stampeders 22....Montreal Alouettes 14 http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...lobeSports/home http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform...aspx?id=4193309 It was interesting because it was close, and there was always pressure on whoever had the ball. But it wasn't exciting because neither offense ever got on track. There was only one TD pass. Sandro DeAngelis kicked five field goals. I'll plan to post some of tomorrow's articles about the game. Quote
GA Russell Posted November 25, 2008 Author Report Posted November 25, 2008 I should have mentioned last night that midway through the second quarter Montreal led 13-3. They scored one pint for the rest of the game. It's hard to get too excited when one team scores only one point over the course of the final 37 minutes. ***** For the first time ever, the Grey Cup game was broadcast on a cable tv channel (TSN) instead of the over-the-air CBC. TSN's reach is about 75% that of the CBC's. Yet believe it or not, the overnight ratings for the game are up 5% over last year. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...ory/GlobeSports ***** 66,000 attended the game, making it the second-largest crowd in Grey Cup history. The record of 68,000 was set in 1977, also at Olympic Stadium. And in those days the tickets cost $25.00. I have no idea what they are charging for Grey Cup tickets nowadays. When I went to the '96 Grey Cup game in Hamilton, the cheapest tickets were $100.00. ***** The league has given the provisional grantees of the proposed Ottawa franchisse until March to get the Ottawa city government to firm up a plan to provide a suitable stadium. The group has negotiated with Horn Chen (Remember him?) for the Rough Riders name and logo. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Ott...515306-sun.html ***** Here's Dan Ralphs' ratings of the two teams' performances in the Grey Cup game. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Gre...7511576-cp.html Quote
GA Russell Posted November 27, 2008 Author Report Posted November 27, 2008 It was a year ago today that this thread was started. In that time it has received 9,952 views. Who would have thought that a thread on the Canadian league would get nearly 10,000 views in a year? Last week twelve of us participated in the Grey Cup contest. Since we know that 12 members could not have been responsible for 9,952 views, I have to think that there are non-members who have bookmarked the thread to check in. Hopefully they also look at other threads here and read about the band. So rather than start a new thread and lose those who have bookmarked this one, I am going to change its title to 2009 CFL Hot Stove League, and continue on. ***** Eskimos offensive coordinator Mike Kelly has cleaned out his office in Edmonton. He is expected to be named the Bombers' new head coach early next week. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...ory/GlobeSports ***** Calgary's kicker Sandro DeAngelis is planning on signing on with an NFL team for next year. DeAngelis was named the Outstanding Canadian of the Game for Sunday's Grey Cup game with five field goals. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...ory/GlobeSports ***** The Alouettes have 17 (!) guys eligible for free agency. http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/s...3c-a7dd5cfe1c4d Quote
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