Perfect record on line against West rivals
The Calgary Stampeders find themselves amid a Canadian Football League scheduling quirk, one that sees them play back-to-back road games in Regina against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
This following a bye week — which came only a month after their first bye week.
The Stamps last roadie was two weeks prior to the break — in Regina — and their next comes Sunday — in Regina at Mosaic Field (5 p.m., TSN/770 CHQR)
In a nine-team league, you learn to roll with things, and the Red & White continue through a stretch of games that sees them face West Division opponents through Labour Day: (in order) the Roughriders, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Edmonton Eskimos and ... uh ... the Eskimos.
“You definitely want to focus on the now, but you have to prepare for the future,” said Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson of his undefeated 7-0 club. “That’s up to us coaches to let them know they have a tough stretch and to just take care of the one in front of you. Hopefully, you win and then, after that, you have enough in the tank to continue beating our divisional opponents. I think all of the games cause their own problems. We’re on the road three of our next five. Those are tougher. But hopefully, we win our share of games and are in good position.”
Still sitting atop the West Division after last Saturday’s 2718 win over the B.C. Lions, the Stampeders remain the team to beat even after their bye week.
“I don’t really like bye (weeks) after you win, personally,” Dickenson said. “You’re 7-0 and in a good rhythm, so I, personally, would have continued to keep playing.”
Dickinson called Tuesday’s practice “spirited,” a good thing after a break.
“It was just one of those things where we needed to get back out here and get the team back together,” Dickenson said.