SO FAR, SEASON IS A CFL CLASSIC
But that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot of controversy
As long as you don’t live in Hamilton, you are likely viewing this CFL season as one of the most entertaining in years.
Of the 41 games played so far this season, 24 were decided in the final three minutes. There have been big comebacks, last-second victories and many highlight-reel plays in what TSN has dubbed the year of the catch.
There has also been turmoil in Tiger Town, change at the top of the league, a growing attendance problem in Toronto and a fair bit of controversy. Now that’s the CFL we know and love.
At the midway point of the season, with Labour Day Classics on tap, here are things we’ve learned so far:
BEST OF THE WORST
There is so much disparity between the East and West divisions that the league is headed for a potentially embarrassing playoff situation.
All five teams in the West have better records than all four teams in the East. Still, one team in the West will miss the playoffs, while another will have to cross over and go on the road in the East, even if it holds a better record than the top two in that division.
It has prompted calls for changes to the league’s playoff structure, and new CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie has said he’s willing to listen.
West Division teams have a record of 19-3-1 against the East.
TICATS KEEP GETTING HAMMERED
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats head into the Labour Day weekend with an abysmal 0-8 record. They’ve already fired their defensive co-ordinator, traded one defensive star (John Chick) and released another (Will Hill), changed head coaches and hired a controversial assistant head coach in Art Briles, a terrible decision that was quickly reversed by the CFL Monday.
Did we mention they lost one of their games 60-1?
A MATTER OF PRIDE
The B.C. Lions have a quarterback controversy. They began the season with a 4-1 record, despite losing their young star quarterback Jonathan Jennings to injury in Week 4. Veteran Travis Lulay came in and played very well, throwing for more than 1,500 yards in three-plus starts.
Things went south when Jennings returned to the lineup Aug. 13 and threw four interceptions in a 41-8 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He struggled again the next week and finally got the hook after a poor first half in last Saturday’s loss at Ottawa.
Lulay went back in, led the Lions to 24 second-half points and head coach Wally Buono proclaimed the 33-year-old as the starter when the Lions come back from their Labour Day bye.
After Jennings threw for 5,226 yards, 27 touchdowns and 15 interceptions last season, this was truly an unexpected development.
BACK IN BLACK
The defending champs are waking up. The Ottawa Redblacks didn’t have a great regular season in 2016 (8-9-1), but came to life in the playoffs and wound up beating the 15-2-1 Stampeders in an overtime Grey Cup thriller.
They are following the same script this season, getting off to a 1-6-1 start but winning their last two games to move into second place in the weak East Division.
Led by receiver Greg Ellingson, who is on pace for a career-high 1,699 yards, the Redblacks are looking like contenders and even if they don’t get to .500 by season’s end, they could find themselves in a good position to get into their own Grey Cup game Nov. 26 in Ottawa.
ANYBODY OUT THERE?
The Toronto Argonauts have a woeful average attendance of 13,709 this season, almost 11,000 fans below the league average. It seems the CFL has not been able to re-establish a foothold in Canada’s biggest market since the Argos moved from the cavernous Rogers Centre to cosy BMO Field last season.
Commissioner Randy Ambrosie has never sounded concerned about the Toronto situation, but how long can this go on?
PARTY ON THE PRAIRIE
Regina is the place to be for CFL fans this season, with brand new Mosaic Stadium filled to capacity for every game. The Riders are second in attendance this season at an at-capacity average of 33,275 per game.
The Riders have embraced the loud and proud crowds and are off to a 3-1 start at home. They are 4-4 overall, which puts them just a win shy of last season’s victory total already.