Saskatchewan Roughriders

I have received this from the CFL offices......discuss away

It's great to see Eric Tillman and Kent Austin hold the CFL accountable for some of the events from Sunday. To throw flags and eject players with very little explanation is not acceptable. George Black (head of CFL officiating) is one of the most honorable men I talk to on a semi-regular basis. He has always been the first to admit officials mistakes. This adversity that the officials face under the Rider watch will only make them better down the road.

Andy Fantuz is starting to own the CFL's Canadian of the week award. The Rider receiver winning the award for the 3rd time this year after his performance in Hamilton on Sunday. One would think Kerry Joseph might have been named the offensive player of the week for his efforts in that game but it would seem as if there is more than one person besides Rob Vanstone outside of Calgary in love with Henry Burris as the Stamps quarterback takes the award.

This Chris Szarka photo remains on display in the Rider dressing room.

Eric Tillman still hopes to see Chris Szarka return for the playoffs, but for now, the home of the Z-train sits doormant.

The Friends of the Riders Touchdown Lottery is sold out--22 days in advance of the November 7th deadline. As a result, the draw will now be held October 25th instead of November 7. Over 1.26 million dollars in cash and prizes will be given away including the grand prize of 100-thousand dollars.

If dealing with adversity makes one stronger than the Riders should have a Charles Atlas like mentality to them today. Its been bad enough that this football team has had to deal with a season ending injury to Matt Dominguez and one to Eddie Davis that cost him half the season.

A home accident has cost the Riders the services of their fullback for perhaps the rest of the season. Chris Szarka partially severed two of the fingers on his left hand while working with a table saw on Monday. He was rushed to emergency to have surgery. GM Eric Tillman says it is fortunate that the injury is not more serious and that Szarka is not expected to lose any usage of his fingers which are said to be the thumb and forefinger.  Tillman believes Szarka will miss quite a lot of game action because of this but he is not ready to deem him out for the remainder of the season.

I think the Rider Nation knows the drought is over but the football team has still not clinched that ever so elusive home playoff game....one that hasn't been seen on Taylor Field since 1988. However the team is one step closer to that goal after a solid win on Sunday and they have reached the 10 win plateau. Yes, the days of mediocrity are over and when all is said and done this team could have 12 or 13 wins to close out the regular season.