The Rider nominees for year-end awards were released this morning. They are
MOP-Kerry Joseph
Canadian-Andy Fantuz
Defensive player-Fred Perry
Lineman-Jeremy O'Day
Rookie-John Chick
Special Teams-Luca Congi
To see the nominees from all eight teams, go to CFL.ca. The division finalists will be named later this month with league winners being announced as always during Grey Cup week.
The CFL and the Riders have announced the start time of their final home game against Toronto has changed. Instead of beginning at 2. kickoff will go at 1.
The first round of CFL year end award balloting will be released tomorrow when we find out the team nominees for the various awards. Up for grabs as you know are Most Outstanding Player, Top Rookie, Top Canadian, Top Lineman, Top Defensive Player and Top Special Teams player. I'll give out my selections on the Drew Remenda Sports Show tonight but I want to know.....who would you be picking. The CFL wants our top two so gimme your top two in each category.
That's the one word that comes to mind when I think of Sunday's outing. Every aspect of the game came through with a solid yet unspectacular game and that's fine. Yes there were some standouts like John Chick who was a monster out there and Kerry Joseph who just continues to move this team down the field but really with the exception of the above two were there any real standouts on this afternoon.
Another solid effort by the Riders. They stomped on Hamilton 38-11 in front of another sold out crowd at Mosaic Stadium. Kerry Joseph only played a half and a little bit but it was another productive afternoon for the Saskatchewan quarterback as he threw for 260 yards and a touchdown while running for two others. Saskatchewan is now 11-5 on the season--still 3 back of first place BC and must hope the Lions lose both of their remaining games with the Riders winning both of theirs to finish first. Saskatchewan's next game is in Edmonton on Friday.
Can the Riders make it 4 in a row or does Hamilton win its first road game of the year in what is their last chance. It should be a raucous crowd at Mosaic as they salute their football team for clinching a home playoff game--the team's first since 88 as you all know. Here's what I'll watch for Sunday afternoon
1. What will the Riders wear: Its Plaza of Honor Weekend, BRING BACK THE RETRO JERSEYS!!!!!
Fourteen hundred people at the plaza of honour dinner watched the Bombers clinch the Riders first home playoff game since 1988.
What a Friday night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Riders are in, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Jim Hopson celebrates the home playoff game and comments on what this will mean to his legacy.