3rd & 1

Everything about this game made no sense. The play in this game was undisciplined with ridiculous outcomes. There was times this game felt like it was in the Twighlight Zone. I’ve never seen such an unorthodox combat between the Bombers and the Riders like we did today. I don’t like the name Banjo Bowl as it dissrespects everyone involved. Yet this is the1st time the name of the game matched the play of the game. I felt that even the officiating was way off today for both teams. I’m not sure where either team goes from here. What’s going to happen behind the Bombers centre going forward? How can the Riders continue kicking field goals and relying on their defence. It is a very weird year in the West

If I was a Bomber fan I would think exactly like SPuDS is thinking. I believe the game today will see a much different D-line on the side of the Riders. The last game in Regina the D-lineman were not gap sound. Allowing Harris to have the success he did in the 1st half. You could tell in the 2nd half of last weeks game that the half time discussions had the green team staying gap sound and Harris was not as successful. The fact that Harris took a hard double team tackle also played into his second half performance. I suspect this game will be one of the best defensive games of the season. With neither team scoring a lot of points. I hope I’m wrong. I would think the crowd will play a part today but will it be enough. There seems to be a real hatred from some Bomber fans towards their Western rival. I don’t understand that part as it’s only a game. I’m hoping both teams bring their A game and we see an incredible football game today. Especially if it ends 41-40 for the team from .... well you know. Good luck everyone.

Deal with what? The fact that Bomber fans have named them self the Banjo Bowl. It’s far more deragatory to the Bomber fans than Rider fans. The game itself is always going to be an excellent rematch. But go ahead, keep the rest of the league thinking Winnipeg is a bunch of Banjo picking Earl Scruggs. Or the young kid on the porch in the movie Deliverance. It’s self deprecating for Bomber fans. Maybe it’s best.

Actually that’s better. At least it targets the right group!

1st of all that makes no sense in anyway. The Legaue as in Randy Ambrose’s office make up the schedule. Not the SK Roughriders. Also if you look around the league. The CFL is proud of the traditions it has going on Labour Day. Over 50 years games have been in the same Cities on Labour Day. No one is going to change the leagues mind on that. They love tradition as much as they love Diversity No one in the CFL knows about or cares about Troy Westwood’s words except SK and Manitoba. So I’m repeating myself but if you took a poll across the Country with CFL fans. I’m telling you that the largest Majority think Winnipeg is or are the Banjo people. Some might think it’s both fans. Very few would take the time to figure out that the name of the home town Banjo Bowl is suppose to represent the visiting team and fans... seriously, they wouldn’t. If someone says they are going to the Potato Bowl. Any smart person knows that has to take place in Idaho. In the Famous Idaho Potatoe Bowl. No one in the world thought the visiting team the Colorado State Rams were the Potatoe Heads. They all know the Idaho Vandals reside in the land of the Potatoe! So why would anyone watching the Banjo Bowl in Winnipeg think anything but the Bombers and Bomber fans as being the Banjo pickers. Its a name that has to go. Not just for the green fans. But for your own self respect. Not to mention how the game makes fun of a type of person who is pretty helpless. We all know that O’Shea use to coach special teams so it was a natural fit to take over in Winnipeg. Haha The name has to go.

Ok it’s time to discuss the name of the rematch game coming this weekend. Troy Westwood so eloquently named the fans from SK who includes Troy’s Mom Banjo Picking Inbreds. At the time it was funny. What is beyond funny to the point of stupid is the name of the rematch in Winnipeg. Football Bowl games are named by that which happens for the home team. For example the Rose bowl takes place in Pasadena known for Roses. The Orange Bowl takes place in Miami. I could go on but I’m sure you get the picture. Think about it and then tell anyone why Winnipeg would call the rematch the Banjo Bowl? No doubt the idea was to continue with the smack talk name given to Rider fans. When in fact the name Banjo Bowl in Winnipeg makes it sound like Winnipeg is the Banjo picking capital. I lived in Vancouver for 7 years. The fans their do think that Winnipeg is the Banjo people On the other side in today’s so called politically correct world. Even names like Eskimos is being frowned upon. So banjo picking inbreds might be way over the line. 2018 Labour Day Classic was very quite calm in disrespectful junk leading up to the game. Most of the focus was on the contest or the game itself. Far too many fans in the past have gone overboard and taken what is suppose to be entertainment and taken it personally. Leading to verbal threats and stupid acts of assault. With all this being said. It’s time to rename the Banjo Bowl to something more respectful for both the Manitoba and SK fans.

That makes no sense at all. You can’t have it both ways. Collaros was a top tier QB pushing for MOP. Then was pushed into duty on a really bad team in Hamilton. Every player that has left that 0-8 team has done well. Especially CJ Gable and Collaros. Hamilton basically slow fired Austin. Changed the whole coaching staff and the players on offence before they win a few games. So Collaros was also in a funk in Hamilton. But is learning and winning in SK. That is more than I can say for Nichols. If he’s in a funk as you say then Collaros was on a really bad team where everyone was in a funk. Nichols is on a good team huge difference Here’s hoping it’s a close game in Winnipeg. I believe the Bombers will split the series. I would rather see the EE lose twice to Calgary and all of a sudden be the odd man out. The facts are simple. There are no starting QBs in the CFL that are awful or suck. Even the ALs May have found a starter. Let me remind you that in the CFL in both the games and the season. It’s not how you start but how you finish. At this moment the Bombers and Riders are trending in opposite directions. SK is consistently getting better since Collaros came off of IR. They pounded Calgary 40-27 and beat the Lions in BC since Zack came back. That’s more than any other team in the league can say. So I would suggest your thoughts on QBs are nothing more than self serving ideas to help you ease how Nichols play is losing the Bombers games.

Man if your saying that the Riders QB Collaros sucks. Then how bad is Nichols right now. Collaros beat Nichols hands down in this game. In fact here are the stats. Nichols... 14 of 26 for 166 yards with 1 TD and 2 INTS Collaros... 18 of 30 for 250 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT Nichols is on a 3 game losing streak. Collaros on a 3 game winning streak and has won 4 of his 5 starts with SK. If my memory serves me correctly the only game Collaros has lost since joining SK was against Ottawa in Ottawa! Collaros was knocked out of the game at 14-14. Then SK back up got his azz beat bad. All QBs with new teams take time to learn the new offence. If you can win while your learning. That is the sign of a poised Veteran. If the Riders win again next weekend in the rematch. With another passing performance under 200 yards. Then I would think O’Shea has no choice but to make a change at QB for a couple games. 4 loses in a row would feel like Playoff hopes are a dwindling. There probably won’t even be a cross over this year with the East pulling up their big boy pants.

The Bombers has the better of the play???? Nichols... 14 of 26 for 166 yards Collaros... 18 of 30 for 250 yards Harris... 15 carries 158 yards. 95% in the 1st half. Shut down 2nd half Thigpen... 5 Carries 55 yards and a 35 yard TD catch. All in the 2nd half I’m going to say the Bombers have taken the wrong game plan approach the last 3 games. They come out firing and show everything they have in the 1st half. Because they lead at the half. They continue with the exact same game plan in the 2nd half Ottawa, Calgary and Regina all shut down the Bombers in the second half. Nichols had all of 60 yards passing in the 2nd half and Harris ran for maybe 20 yards. Harris ran for big yards in the first half because the Riders defensive line were doing a poor job playing their gaps. You could see immediately in the 2nd half when Harris made his 1st run the Riders had made half time adjustments and were all of a sudden gap sound. Anyone saying the Bombers has the better of the play against SK are living on the ground in the 1st half. As Harris was running solid and he won the ground battle in the 1st half. The Riders played decent in the 1st half but won in all 3 phases in the 2nd half and that’s why the won the game. I don’t expect to see a Riders defence not being gap sound next week. If the Bombers want to get a split. They better play 60 minutes. Instead of showing everything they have in the 1st half.

Don’t forget that Brandon Bridge started 5 of those games and went in to the Ottawa game in the second Qtr after Collaros had his bell rung. I believe the score when Collaros went down was 14-14. When Bridge took over the Riders got cleaned!! Or beat up!

If one team was to take both games right now. With the way both teams are trending. I don’t believe it would be the Bombers. I believe SK may have a better chance. What I truly feel is going to happen is a split.

I would ask you to read all the comments from the begining and you would know I’m being 100% upfront and transparent. I have no other game here. I’m a football fan and nothing more. I’m respected on all the sites I discuss football. If your unsure of me here. Click on my screen name and you will see I’ve been around for a couple years. It’s only when I say I’m a fan of a competing team and discuss that team I’m looked at as being something else. I don’t look at Blue & Gold or Green & white as being anything other than the colors of the teams that play the GAME we like that ENTERTAINS us. It’s only those who take things to another level or takes personally by drawing a line in the sand. I am your neighbour who wants to chat with other fans. Now that 3 Down Nation has shut down their comment section. If I want to talk to other teams fans I have no other choice but to chat more at sites just like this. Cheers.... Heres hoping the Labour Day back to back series is really good football.

Without reading a whole lot of comments. My take on Paul Lapolice is 3 parts. I remember Paul as the OC in SK and having to endure Jason Armstead heading to the back of the end zone for supposedly the last play of the 2009 G.C. Only to lose on the 13th man penalty. Then I remember Paul going on to become the HC in Winnipeg. Taking the Bombers to the Grey Cup and facing the Lions in BC and losing to the home team. Then the following year Paul seemed to have lost the locker room. His GM at the time gave Paul zero support. Paul suffered 3 devistating events in 3 years. To me Paul is a pretty good OC. Yet I’m not a fan of his run on 1st and pass on 2nd down game plan. When Paul gets on that roll and the RB is stuffed every 1st down it becomes annoying. For the most part though Paul can game plan and get his fair share of wins. The one thing that has bugged me from the beginning is his inability to use Dressler properly. He gets Weston injured far too much. After Paul left for the 2010 season. Dressler went on and had some personally good years. No injuries and playing a big part on the team. Since Lapolice and Dressler have been back together in Winnipeg. Weston is once again used as if he was a standard sized person and getting rocked. Last year, this year 6 game IR. I’m sure if I look back Weston’s first year in Winnipeg with LaPo saw him getting injured. He’s still too good for the Bombers not to have in their lineup.

I totally get what your saying. I enjoy several different sites around the league. This being one of them. I’m a green team supporter and I don’t go on Riderfans.com at all. It’s not sanctioned or even supported by the Riders in anyway. It was started by a couple fans. It’s become a site of total bitching and complaining and name calling. I’m surprised it’s still up and running. If you want to read somewhat better comments from green fans. The Riders support rodpedersen.com 2 loses is not the end of the world. Happens to all teams every year. Except maybe Calgary. It will be a battle all year between the EE, SK & Winnipeg for 2nd and 3rd. I don’t expect anything less.

As a competing fan I saw the game slightly different. Believe it or not as a green team supporter I was cheering for blue. I’ll explain at the bottom. The game I watched saw the Bombers go into the nest of the top 7-1 team. The Bombers staid toe to toe with Calgary for 95% of the game. The Bombers defence held Calgary’s offence many times and had the Stamps stalling drives or having to settle for 3 points. To me the turning point was not the DC’s fault. I called it the Larry, Curly and Moe play. You have Loffler, Randle and Fenner all right there. Calgary’s receiver should have been buried right there. Instead you have a woop, woop, woop play of 3 very good defenders bumping into each other and the receiver scamming to the end zone. I still felt the games wasn’t completely out of reach and there was maybe a slight hope. Then Mitchell throwing a screen behind the line of scrimmage but right into the hands of D-end Davis who takes it a short distance to the end zone was hard to take. This game was reminiscent of the 1st game of the year with Hamilton in Calgary. Both visitors kept it close until the 2 minute mark and then all hell broke lose. I wanted the Bombers to win. Why? I’m tired of Bo Mitchell getting so much credit when the team around him plays as big of a role and often even a bigger role. If Mitchell would have been on Montreal when he got his start. We all know he would be known as a good QB but not this CFL super hero status he has now. With the Bombers having played 1 more game than SK. It all would work out after Winnipeg’s next by week. I’d rather have Calgary lose 2 in a row than worry about the Bombers getting 2 points in Calgary. Anyway looking forward to our up and coming back to back series. Should be 2 great games. No doubt both stadiums will be rocking and the crowds will play a huge roll. At this point I can’t see anything other than a split. With each team obviously winning at home. Good luck Bomber fans. Except when your playing the green team. cheers

Certainly any team is beatable this Season in the CFL. It wouldn’t shock me if Toronto beat Calgary after losing to Montreal. However I disagree with the statement Collaros is terrible. Last nights game was only the 4th game he has started in SK after game 1.5 concussion. He looks to be getting better each week where as Nichols looks to be slipping some what. The back to back Labour Day Classic. Will more than likely be split. The crowds will play a huge part for the home teams. Im going to try and start an agreement between Manitoba and SK to stop calling the rematch the Banjo Bowl. I lived in Vancouver for 7 years and the fans out there think it’s incredible that 2 Prairie teams agree to use that derogatory name. They honestly think Winnipeg fans are basically admitting to being mongoloids along with their Rival Rider fans. To me Winnipeg and SK are the CFL and really don’t need that negative publicity. We need to collectively just call the head to head series the back to back labour day series. ( or something like that)

Seriously I would have been here even if both games were complete opposites. I was challenged properly by Bomber fans to come here after the weekend. As I had said that SK is getting better now that Collaros is back. Many Blue fans had suggested Collaros time is over. I’m hoping they are wrong. If you look back a week ago under competing fan heading. You will see I am 100% up front. Hopefully I can change some minds in that not all green fans are young and mouthy. All fan bases have them. I just enjoy good football. Plus I really hope the trend of Calgary losing continues.

Welcome to the CFL. Home of the passionate fans.

I hope it’s a great rock em sock em 2 weeks of awesome football. Honestly im not nervous as I understand that both teams are still finding their groove. The more practises Collaros gets. Hopefully our stagnant offence gets better. I’m expecting a split but 1 team might step up and take both games.

If you read all the comments. You would see I mentioned that losing to Montreal was humbling. I’m not here boasting. Just suggesting a week can change things. It may change again next week.

Man you guys fall off the rails fast. If you gel thatcomment was anything but a football topic stating how things were and became. Then it’s your anger not mine that creates a feeling of dissrespect.

I am not Patronizing anyone. The Bombers were playing well the previous 3 games and were on a roll. I’m treating myself but I was here chatting with Bomber fans. I’m not trying to rub anything in. What I wrote is exactly the way things were and how they ended up. I’m talking about 1 measly week. Previous to this week football attitudes were completely different. Next week it may continue or it may flip. It’s not a big deal. I understand now why there is so much hatred. You can’t accept that a fan can come here and have a discussion. He must be up to something because that’s what maybe you would do. Or your looking for intent in my words. I’m not doing that. let’s just talk football. I don’t hate or dispise anyone anywhere. If you ever read 3 down nation comments after articles you would see I was respected as a football fan

Take it easy guys. Calling people scum is going way over board. Trust me when I say there are tons of Bomber fans that fit your discription. You don’t see your own side. I’m not being disrespectful. We are only talking about football here. Last week I was commenting on how good the Bombers were looking. Since 3 Down Nation is no longer allowing comments. I drop in here and Calgary and Edmonton. None of those fans get so riled up. I don’t understand why we can’t talk about a flipping game? An entertainment. Not a right of passage. I agree with SpeedFlex in that next week it could all change in a hurry. Between injuries or just bad game planning. Hell you don’t think it was hard to swallow when Montreal went into Mosaic and beat the Riders in a 3 phases of the game. I know what it’s like to be humbled. White Out, dude just chill. I’m not here disrespecting you or anyone else. Why are Bomber fans so hateful. There are some really good fans here that like discussing football. Then there are those that takes things to a personal level that I don’t understand. I have been chatting on here for over a year. Yet some fans think I only came here now. Truthfully I can’t wait for our back to back series. It should be some stellar football. Until then let’s just keep in mind it’s only a game.

Boy Bomber fans can dish it out. I’m just stating fact. No Parades are being planned just looking forward to the turn around ive been here the last while chatting with Bomber fans. That’s where I got the tire fire, train wreck comments from. I was told not to hide and to make sure I came around after the games this past weekend. I said I would no matter the outcome. This outcome certainly feels better than what the opposite would have felt like. Cant wait for Labour Day and the rematch.

Probably best to be looking over the last while. I’ve been here. Started the topic of competing fan sees greatness in Bombers play. No one is boasting. Every Bomber fan told me to come back after the weekend.