Team deserves stands full of fans
Robservations ...
OK, let’s try this again. The University of Regina Rams are at home Friday at 7 p.m., as they were a fortnight (or is it spelled “Fortnite” now?) ago for the Canada West season opener. Leading up to the first game, this treasured space was used to implore people to watch the Rams in person. The campaign was such a non-success that a mere 1,500 people turned out for the Rams’ 49-35 loss to the formidable University of Calgary Dinos. It was a wildly entertaining game, with seven offensive plays of 47-plus yards. An array of talent will also be on display during the Rams’ looming date with the UBC Thunderbirds.
Why not check it out?
Another question: Is Regina a football town, or simply a Saskatchewan Roughriderscrazed burg ? At the very least, the Rams should attract a Regina Pats-calibre crowd — something in the vicinity of 5,000. It is truly baffling, and somewhat sad.
The Rams’ Noah Picton is a virtual lock to finish this season as U Sports’ all-time passing-yardage leader. Anyone who has seen him play will be forever grateful for the privilege. If someone of his description played college football in the U.S., they would rename the town in his honour. In Regina, a local sporting legend plays before an unacceptably sparse crowd in an immaculate new facility.
OK, Mosaic Stadium elevators are unsatisfactory on Roughriders game days, but aside from that ...
With Tre Mason anchoring the ground game, the Roughriders need to find a way to accentuate the talents of speedy tailback Marcus Thigpen. He is, beyond any doubt, the Green and White’s most explosive player, but he is often on the sideline. Why not use him as a pass-catcher? Why not build more offensive packages around his skills? Remember how Ron Lancaster used to deploy running backs Ed Buchanan, Bobby Thompson, Silas Mckinnie, Peter Watson and Molly Mcgee as downfield threats? Remember how effective Mike Saunders was as a part of the passing game?
The Roughriders have gone 14 consecutive games (playoffs included) without throwing more than one touchdown pass.
Reminder: In 1991, Saskatchewan’s Kent Austin threw 32 touchdown passes in 13 games.
Pet peeve: People who refer to the “CFL Hall of Fame.” Wrong! It’s the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
Kudos to TSN for televising the Humboldt Broncos’ regular season opener, commercial-free, with such sensitivity and skill.
Now that the Broncos have begun their season, hopefully the media will allow them — and the city of Humboldt — to breathe for a while. Give them some space, and a respite from the scrutiny. Nobody will forget the events of April 6, but the 201819 Broncos deserve a chance to establish their own identity and to tell their own story.
Nice people who deserve a plug: Derek Patter, Brayden Camrud, Zach Collaros, Derek Meyers, Darren Dupont, Bob Nash, Mike Yaffe, Harv Martinez, Paul Mccallum, Kate Pettersen, Steve Daniel, Terry Warren, Glen Nelson, Gary Harle, Ryan Schienbein, Sandor Jerkovits, J.J. Voss, Fran Maddia and everyone who participated in and organized Thursday’s “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes” event.