Atomic

I just hope no one decides that Pat DelMonaco needs to remain as the OL coach.

I just hope no one decides that Pat DelMonaco needs to remain as the OL coach.

I just hope no one decides that Pat DelMonaco needs to remain as the OL coach.

I just hope no one decides that Pat DelMonaco needs to remain as the OL coach.

I just hope no one decides that Pat DelMonaco needs to remain as the OL coach.

There's a difference between questioning it (which some are) and what you are doing which is essentially just making the same snide comment a million times.

I hope Rogers turns around and invests some money into producing a quality NHL broadcast rather than the mickey mouse bullshit they've been putting out for the last ten years.  Are Nick Kypreos and Doug McLean still their analysts?  God help us all.
 
At least we get to keep TSN Jets.

I go to the Grey Cup every year....I don't even know the total.  I took my daughter this year, she's 22 and this was her 11th Grey Cup.  I sometimes take her, sometimes my sons, often my father, and sometimes my wife wants to go.   I'm a Grey Cup vet, and I have a true love for our game.  I've been to the Grey Cup in every CFL city except Hamilton.  (I Include Ottawa, as I was at the 2004 Grey Cup there, which was super)  I've been to multiple Grey Cups in most cities.  I offer the following opinions on this year's event:
 
 
The Good:
The fans immediately around us were good fans (even though they were all green)  We held decent football conversations with them.  They were good natured and we enjoyed meeting them.   The weather was better than anticipated.  Fortunately, we were protected from the wind in our seats, so it was quite warm.  The wind had some impact on the game, but for outdoors on the prairies, it was okay.   We got a good parking spot and were able to get to the stadium efficiently and also to exit quickly.  We walked about 1.5 km, which is fine.   The half time show was decent.  Much better performer than last year's. (I'm not a fan of the Beibs)  
The Bad:
Some very rude/obnoxious Rider fans as we were leaving after the game.  I understand that they are the minority, but obnoxious winners are much worse than sore losers.    Game production was substandard to virtually every other Grey Cup I've been too.  It just seemed to be run by amateurs.  This was also evident in the botched player introductions. It looked second rate.   It also really felt like a local only event.  Many of the sponsors were local, and gave local prizes.  Even the good things, like large donations to charity that were announced, were all local....so a business guy in a Rider jersey presenting a cheque to a local charity rep in a Rider jersey.    Nothing was national.  To me, at the Grey Cup, it should be a guy in a suit presenting a cheque to a national organization.  It should recognize the whole league.   Price/value.  300.00 to sit in a semi-temporary endzone seat and be restricted to limited temporary food services and porta-potties.  Really?  For that price, you should at least be able to access the main facilities.   The game wasn't competitive, but that just happens sometimes.  
The Ugly
The lack of hotel rooms.  I decided to drive to Regina for the game, and drive back afterwards, so as to keep my attendance record in tact.  I'm sorry, but I'm not interested in staying in a trailer/RV park, and I'm not comfortable billeting with strangers.  I normally go to Grey Cup on Thursday and attend events for a few days, and return on Monday.  In Regina, this isn't possible as the rooms were sold out prior to the game being officially announced.  It's not just the lack of hotel rooms that is the concern, but the effect on everything else.  Grey Cup is usually a national celebration, where you see many fans from all of the teams in pubs, restaurants and shops around town.  This Grey Cup wasn't that way, it was a Rider home game, with very little out of town representation.   The entrances to the stadium.  We arrived at the stadium at 3:45 for a 5:00 start.  We were directed to the North entrance and lined up for 15 minutes to the north east side of the north entrance.  When we finally got near the entry point an official came and said to all of us in line that we had to "go to the line coming in from the south west.  (directing us down a packed back alley).  By the time we got to the end of that line it took another 1 hour and 15 minutes to gain access to the ticket check point that we had previously been to.   With all of the temporary seating that they put in, they didn't account for enough ticket takers/access points.  We passed by 4-5 locked gates that easily could have been made to be entry points, so it was really just poorly thought out.  We finally got to our seats at 5:15, an hour and a half after arriving at the stadium.  1st Grey Cup I've every been too that I didn't have at least 1 beer, as I couldn't bring myself to stand in 2 more lines to get one  (you have to line up at one to by a token, and a second to get the beer)    Brutal start, and it really did sour our impression of the event. I'm not sure if I'd attend a Grey Cup in Regina again, and for me, that is a sad statement.  I am still a great fan of the game and the league.  I'll reconsider after they get a new stadium....but still worry about the hotel situation there.   
 
I'll be booking my hotel for Vancouver 2014 very soon, as that city is just better equipped to host the game.

I just want to see the Riders lose.

I just want to see the Riders lose.

Well, I dunno about you guys, but I'm a CFL fan. Back around 2003, I had a roommate who, to this day, is the most die-hard CFL fan I've ever known. He's also a Rider fan, which is a shame, but he's one of the few good ones. He knows about as much about the rest of the league as he does about the Riders, and can talk intelligently about the league, as a whole, so that's alright. That guy made me realize just how important it is to watch the GC every single year. Even if your team's not in it, it's still the Grey Cup. It's an event, like the Super Bowl.. It doesn't matter who's in it...it's a huge national event.
 
Sucks that the Bombers aren't in it, and yeah I hate the TiCats and Riders, but Goddamnit, it's the Grey Cup, and I'm excited to park, it in my chair and watch the whole thing.

I just want to see the Riders lose.

Can someone explain to me why its such a big deal to have Miller involved in football decisions, such as hiring a head coach? I'm still not getting it.
I'm looking for reasons other than "Because other teams don't do it that way".

"I've got a bad feeling about this."

I think some people here would rather have a big flashy name fail than Walters succeed.

It's so unfortunate that the moniker "Old Boys Club" has gained a bad rap, 'cause there's something to be said for it...

I have to disagree with Iso on this point.  Being a Specialty Teams Co-ordinator is > being a linebacker coach.  (I've been both, albeit at the amateur level)   IMHO being a STC is more complex than being a DC, as a DC gets more help from their position coaches.  The details involved in specialty teams are very complex, and the game day management is significant.   I've been extremely impressed with O'Shea as a STC, he's been creative, aggressive, and successful.  To be a STC, you need a detailed knowledge of the game, especially the nuances that are different from the small field game played down south.
 
The other factor is that O'Shea is a Canadian, and has a deeper understanding of our game.  This isn't an override, but it is a factor.
 
I really don't know who I would choose between Khari and O'Shea; I've got a deep appreciation for both.  I'd be happy to have both/either.

The head coach isn't going to give this team an offensive identity, that is the job of the offensive coordinator.  The argument that we need an offensive-minded head coach to fix the offense is one that just doesn't fly with me.
 
I think we need a strong LEADER, more than anything else.  And no one will dispute that as a player and a coach, O'Shea has been a great leader.  His experience as a coach is certainly limited but when you stack him up against other coaching candidates that have been floated out there, like Khari Jones, I think he is right on the same page as them.  But to be honest, my preference is based on a gut feeling about the man as an individual more than anything else.  I can't speak for the media or anyone else though.

The head coach isn't going to give this team an offensive identity, that is the job of the offensive coordinator.  The argument that we need an offensive-minded head coach to fix the offense is one that just doesn't fly with me.
 
I think we need a strong LEADER, more than anything else.  And no one will dispute that as a player and a coach, O'Shea has been a great leader.  His experience as a coach is certainly limited but when you stack him up against other coaching candidates that have been floated out there, like Khari Jones, I think he is right on the same page as them.  But to be honest, my preference is based on a gut feeling about the man as an individual more than anything else.  I can't speak for the media or anyone else though.

If we're going with a rookie head coach, I think O'Shea would be a great pick. If it helps ensure we get Zach Collaros, even better. O'Shea for head coach and Khari Jones for OC would be just fine with me.

Yep, lots of different ways to look at it.  That's why I'd be interviewing guys from both camps - young up'n'comers and older guys who have had a shot at head coaching in the past.  Make a decision based on who seems to bring the most to the table right now... and that includes coaching philosophy, possible guys they would bring on as coordinators, etc.  It won't be an easy decision and there is no "slam dunk" candidate out there, IMO.

The head coach isn't going to give this team an offensive identity, that is the job of the offensive coordinator.  The argument that we need an offensive-minded head coach to fix the offense is one that just doesn't fly with me.
 
I think we need a strong LEADER, more than anything else.  And no one will dispute that as a player and a coach, O'Shea has been a great leader.  His experience as a coach is certainly limited but when you stack him up against other coaching candidates that have been floated out there, like Khari Jones, I think he is right on the same page as them.  But to be honest, my preference is based on a gut feeling about the man as an individual more than anything else.  I can't speak for the media or anyone else though.

The head coach isn't going to give this team an offensive identity, that is the job of the offensive coordinator.  The argument that we need an offensive-minded head coach to fix the offense is one that just doesn't fly with me.
 
I think we need a strong LEADER, more than anything else.  And no one will dispute that as a player and a coach, O'Shea has been a great leader.  His experience as a coach is certainly limited but when you stack him up against other coaching candidates that have been floated out there, like Khari Jones, I think he is right on the same page as them.  But to be honest, my preference is based on a gut feeling about the man as an individual more than anything else.  I can't speak for the media or anyone else though.

For me, I just like the guy as a person and think he has always come across as a strong leader... I can't really point to anything other than that and his recent success as a special teams coordinator.
I'd also be on board with Khari Jones as HC and Mike O'Shea as DC if that is what is going on here. O'Shea might have realized no one will hire him as HC with only ST coordinator experience, and Chris Jones isn't going anywhere... So he could come here to be the DC.

Clearly the press are speculatng, that's part of the job.   It's also clear that Miller has be interviewing several candidates for the jobs, which is why all these different names keep popping up.   An interview isn't a formally arranged meeting with the press invited to sit in.  It's often an informal lunch, or a meeting in a hotel room.   There is lots of that going on this week for sure. 
 
Let's also not forget that some of the names being tossed around are involved in a big game this week, while others were still involved up until last Sunday.   It isn't hard to imagine a potential candidate saying, "I'll talk to you after the season is over".  To be honest, I wouldn't be impressed with anyone who said otherwise.
 
I personally happen to think that Walters is an excellent candidate for GM, but I also know that other viable candidates should be interviewed.  Given that we have only had 3 days to discuss people from Calgary and Toronto, and it will be next week before we can realistically talk to people from Sask and Hamilton, I'm not surprised that no announcement has been made.  I'm prepared to just chill until the end of the month.