Roughriders took right off after an August writeoff

Grate moments in ( burp) journalism: The column that is now declared “off the record.”

Following the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ 26-19 CFL loss to the host Edmonton Eskimos on Aug. 2, the following dismissiveness appeared in this cherished space: “Having suffered back-toback losses to the Calgary Stampeders (6-0) and Edmonton (5-2), the Roughriders are now on a bye week. At this rate, they can also say ‘bye’ to a home playoff game.” That column aged well, didn’t it? The Roughriders, who had a 3-4 record after the Edmonton game and are since 8-2, are now one victory shy of securing their first home playoff game since Darian Durant owned Taylor Field in the 2013 West Division semifinal.

Calgary (12-4) has lost both of its subsequent matchups with Saskatchewan, which has won the season series against a perennial powerhouse.

Edmonton, which is a glittering 3-7 since the aforementioned early August game, is now on a bye week and has said “bye” to a home playoff game (how clever).

As of this writing, the Eskimos needed Calgary to defeat the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday night in order to remain in contention for a playoff berth, period. This during a year in which the Grey Cup is being held in Edmonton.

So what lessons are to be learned from all this?

When hazarding predictions that may come back to haunt or embarrass you, flagrantly abuse authority by affixing Murray McCormick’s photo byline to the column. That way there is someone to blame.

Always ensure that there is a scapegoat. Journalism 101. (Sorry, Mur, but it’s a cruel biz.)

Expunge from the computer system another August column in which the Roughriders were all but declared dead after releasing receiver/cornerback Duron Carter during the bye week. Carter had caught a 41-yard touchdown pass from Zach Collaros in the Aug. 2 game, prompting this scribbler to opine that the collaboration provided a modicum of hope for the offence.

Never write off a Chris Jonescoached team after a shaky start. The 2016 Roughriders were 1-10 before winning four games in a row. The 2017 edition was 0-2, 1-3 and 2-4, only to go 10-8 and, after crossing over to the East Division for the playoffs, finishing just one defensive stop shy of advancing to the Grey Cup game. This season, the Roughriders were 1-2 and, we repeat, 3-4.

I was hacked.

Anyway, here we are in late October, poised to cover a football game that feels more like an event. On Saturday at 5 p.m., the Roughriders will collide with the B.C. Lions (9-7) in a key West Division game. A victory at Mosaic Stadium 2.0 would enable Saskatchewan to play once more at its new facility this season.

Considering the magnitude of Saturday’s showdown, it is a virtual home playoff game — one that can serve as another form of validation for the Jones regime.

Roughriders president-CEO Craig Reynolds has repeatedly cited his desire to see the team achieve “sustained success.”

Back-to-back seasons with a double-digit victory total demonstrate that the Green and White, under Jones, is well on its way.

A home playoff game would be another progressive step for the CFL’s flagship franchise — a most reasonable expectation in Year 3 under Jones.

Of course, we saw it coming all along.