RAMS DESERVE FANS’ SUPPORT
In keeping with the tradition of my much-thought-of column themes, today’s offering is sponsored by Sesame Street.
The word of the day is TUP.
No, not “What’s Up?” Not “7Up.” TUP.
“T” stands for trade deadline day in the CFL.
The lateness in the CFL season clearly diminishes the value and interest in this not-so-active day for management types.
Some clubs may attempt to trade for a player, but depending on their schedule, may only have him available for two regularseason games.
Is it worth it?
The good news is that the salary-cap impact is minimal. One would think that this date needs to be moved back at least a couple of weeks to create more interest and, more importantly, give clubs a chance to add a player or two who could impact their team to a greater extent than is currently possible.
“U” stands for U Sports Football.
News came out last week that the University of Regina Rams had been stripped of three wins for an administrative error in regards to a player who turned out to be ineligible.
I’m the first one to admit that I do not know the inner workings of this process. However, I fail to concern myself with who’s to blame, instead asking: “How does this happen?”
For example, I would think the club and university submit the roster to the U Sports head office prior to Game 1. Wouldn’t it be possible to identify an issue right then and there?
The harshness of the penalty would have been appropriate if the club had used a former CFL all-star who was playing under an alias.
Mistakes are made. Trust me, I know. Intent is another issue.
Noah Picton is a fine young man who we had been brought into the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ training camp as a developmental quarterback. For him and his teammates to be penalized as extremely as this for an “administrative error” seems a bit much to me.
Rarely does Rob Vanstone have a good idea or thought, but the one he did have for the year was asking the local fans to go watch a U Sports football game.
The local fans in Saskatoon — and especially in Regina, considering the circumstances — should go attend a game.
Canada West football is very entertaining, the athletes give great effort, and the Rams and University of Saskatchewan Huskies are the part of the CFL’S lifeblood, in all reality.
On Friday night, go out and watch the Rams play the University of Alberta Golden Bears in person.
It has been a tough week for the U of R and everyone involved, I’m sure.
Those players deserve support, and a well-attended game would do wonders for that program.
Which brings us to the letter “P” ...
“P” stands for “Playoffs.”
People can speculate about so many races being up in the air as far as playoff positioning. Wrong.
After this past weekend’s results, barring a very strange event or illegal scoresheets being submitted resulting in losses, the matchups are set.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers travel to Saskatchewan for the West Division semifinal. The winner proceeds to Calgary for the division final against the Stampeders.
The winner of the Oct. 19 game between the Edmonton Eskimos and the host B.C. Lions will cross over into the East Division and face the Hamilton Tiger-cats or Ottawa Redblacks in a semifinal.
The winner will travel to Hamilton or Ottawa. The loser will be loudly declaring that the playoff format needs to change.
Take those matchups to the bank. I’m rarely wrong. Just ask Rob.
Oh, and one more thing ...
The meaning of TUP, you ask? A tup is a ram. Now, go support the Rams.
And now for some expert predictions, along with some forecasts by Rob Vanstone:
HAMILTON AT TORONTO (FRIDAY, 5:30 P.M.)
Taman: At some point, the Argos have to win a game. Will it be this week? Are the Ticats caught looking ahead to the Ottawa games? Hmmm. Argonauts by three.
Vanstone: Hamilton has scored the most points in the East (407). Toronto has allowed the secondmost points in the league (440). Tiger-cats by 12.
SASKATCHEWAN AT WINNIPEG (SATURDAY, NOON)
Taman: Things happen in threes, do they not? Saskatchewan is playing like it won’t lose another game, and will sweep the season series with Winnipeg. Roughriders by three.
Vanstone: The Roughriders have won seven of their past eight games, but dragging two victories out of Winnipeg in the same season is a tall order. Blue Bombers by three.
OTTAWA AT EDMONTON (SATURDAY, 3 P.M.)
Taman: Ottawa is impossible to figure out. Edmonton’s offence is on life support. Zero touchdowns in nine-plus quarters? Hosting a Grey Cup and in last place? Yikes. Eskimos by one.
Vanstone: The Eskimos have to show signs of life at some point, don’t they? This pick is not made with abundant confidence. Eskimos by two.
B.C. AT CALGARY (SATURDAY, 6 P.M.)
Taman: No Montreal cloud over Calgary this week. Bad timing for B.C. Stampeders by 10.
Vanstone: Calgary home game. Enough said. Stampeders by four. Records after Week 17: Taman 45-20 (3-1 last week); Vanstone 43-22 (4-0).
FANTASY PLAYERS TO WATCH
Taman: Since Rob is on a roll, let’s put an end to his one-week brilliance. Armanti Edwards produces a multi-touchdown game in a Toronto Argonauts upset win.
Vanstone: Actually, Brendan, Luke Tasker will light up the Argonauts’ defence.
Review of Week 17 fantasy picks:
I chose B.C.’S Devier Posey, who had two catches for 34 yards in a 26-23 victory over Toronto. Vanstone picked Winnipeg ’s Weston Dressler, who had five catches for 61 yards and two touchdowns in a 40-32 overtime victory over Ottawa. So, yeah, we’ll give Vanstone this one. It won’t happen again.
(Taman’s Take appears weekly.)