2025 CFL (Non-Bombers) Season

[johnzo]

my completely unqualified opinion is that football commentary is a team sport.  You want complementary energy -- a high-energy goofball (Neilson, Dunigan, Walby) with a more chill straight man (Forde, Smith, Ferguson, Lapo).  Without Dunigan in the mix, the energy is imbalanced, and the only Team Goofball member is Neilson.

Smith in particular needs someone who brings energy into the booth.  I think the guy is the best PBP guy on TSN even though at times he's got the vibe of a funeral director.  But you put him in the booth with Dunigan and that's basically the best that CFL TV can do.

Gonna miss Matty.  I hope his retirement is awesome and completely on his terms.

Edited June 5 by johnzo

[greenrider55]

1 hour ago, M.O.A.B. said:

How long before Maier starts?

Hopefully longer than 3 weeks 😭 

[rebusrankin]

Hopefully he starts the Banjo Bowl warm up and Banjo Bowl

Edited June 5 by rebusrankin

[johnzo]

if you're a nerd like me you might like the 2025 CFL Guide and Record Book I just found online. 

It's jam-packed with information, way better than trying to look up historical stats on the CFL website.

[Super Duper Negatron]

The degree to which I am looking forward to watching CFL football tonight cannot be measured.

[Noeller]

6 minutes ago, Super Duper Negatron said:

The degree to which I am looking forward to watching CFL football tonight cannot be measured.

I had been planning on golfing my weekly men's night tonight and I'm like "**** sakes it's the opening night of the CFL season!" so instead I shall pour a drink and watch Dru destroy the Gappers...

Edited June 5 by Noeller

[JohnnyAbonny]

3 hours ago, johnzo said:

my completely unqualified opinion is that football commentary is a team sport.  You want complementary energy -- a high-energy goofball (Neilson, Dunigan, Walby) with a more chill straight man (Forde, Smith, Ferguson, Lapo).  Without Dunigan the energy is imbalanced. 

Smith in particular needs someone who brings energy into the booth.  I think the guy is the best PBP guy on TSN even though at times he's got the vibe of a funeral director.  But you put him in the booth with Dunigan and that's basically the best that CFL TV can do.

Gonna miss Matty.  I hope his retirement is awesome and completely on his terms.

I don’t care for Rod Smith as a pbp, although he’s better than Neilson. Smith has a bad habit of just stretching out the name of whoever made the play and calling the action after the fact like he’s still doing highlights. 
“Oliverrrraaaaaa….” (Whistle blows and team goes into the huddle) “Comes close to a first down there” 

[Arnold_Palmer]

Luke Wilson has joined TSN as a CFL sideline analyst.  I watched his “takes” before on NFL games and he is an absolute moron lol 

[Super Duper Negatron]

32 minutes ago, Arnold_Palmer said:

Luke Wilson has joined TSN as a CFL sideline analyst.  I watched his “takes” before on NFL games and he is an absolute moron lol 

Would have preferred his brother Owen.

[wbbfan]

5 hours ago, johnzo said:

my completely unqualified opinion is that football commentary is a team sport.  You want complementary energy -- a high-energy goofball (Neilson, Dunigan, Walby) with a more chill straight man (Forde, Smith, Ferguson, Lapo).  Without Dunigan the energy is imbalanced. 

Smith in particular needs someone who brings energy into the booth.  I think the guy is the best PBP guy on TSN even though at times he's got the vibe of a funeral director.  But you put him in the booth with Dunigan and that's basically the best that CFL TV can do.

Gonna miss Matty.  I hope his retirement is awesome and completely on his terms.

Agree. I think chemistry is the most important factor in success. You don’t need tony romo dropping insider play call stuff or an all time gear pbp guy. 
 Two people in the booth who are passionate about what they’re watching and who can Carry on a conversation people want to listen to makes all the difference. 
 

1 hour ago, Arnold_Palmer said:

Luke Wilson has joined TSN as a CFL sideline analyst.  I watched his “takes” before on NFL games and he is an absolute moron lol 

All I could think when I saw that was, “but why?”  I hope he’s working for subway coupons or some thing. Tsn is probably going to be muted in my house the entire season. 

[Gail]

2 hours ago, Super Duper Negatron said:

Would have preferred his brother Owen.

Or his cousin Flip.

[sweep the leg]

1 hour ago, wbbfan said:

All I could think when I saw that was, “but why?”  I hope he’s working for subway coupons or some thing. Tsn is probably going to be muted in my house the entire season. 

I like Luke Wilson. He’s funny and knows the game. I’d rather see him on the panel than the sideline, but this still gets a thumbs up from me.

[Piggy 1]

All I know is ,It'll suck without Matty. Good luck to him ,in all future endeavors. 

[SpeedFlex27]

16 hours ago, Bigblue204 said:

Has there been anything proof that Dunigan was laid off? He isn't exactly a young buck anymore. And let's be honest, he often struggled to put sentences together. I could see him just wanting a break and to relax in his well earned retirement. 

Well, tonight not a mention of Dunigan which to means he was fired. If he retired, they'd have been praising his playing & broadcast career. No mention, like he didn't exist the past 25 years tells me he was fired. 

14 hours ago, Goalie said:

Matty, for as much as I love the guy and trust me I’m a fan, his bbq shows were fire also but I think matty was known to how you say, follow the money. Honestly my best guess is Henoc prob took Matt’s job for less $$$ or bringing in guys on bye weeks could be cheaper than flying Matty in from the USA. Could be completely Matt’s decision also tho. Who knows. He will be missed. I’m curious if Matty getting drunk or obviously having drinks on air at times maybe played a role also. Maybe corporate cfl don’t like that. Who knows. 

Matty drinking on air? What??? When?

[SpeedFlex27]

4 hours ago, sweep the leg said:

I like Luke Wilson. He’s funny and knows the game. I’d rather see him on the panel than the sideline, but this still gets a thumbs up from me.

I don't mind Wilson either. If he's on the sidelines then who did he replace? 

[bearpants]

On 2025-06-05 at 9:48 AM, Goalie said:

That would be great. Walby was a substitute gym teacher of mine in geez was it miles Mac? Probably. Wild. 
 

. 

How many high schools did you o to that you can't remember where he subbed at? lol

On 2025-06-05 at 11:36 AM, 3rdand1.5 said:

Suits is terrible, has been for a long time and will continue to be....TSN should be grooming someone for this and think of succession planning

 

I actually think Suitor is perfectly fine... as long as it's not a Riders game

19 hours ago, sweep the leg said:

I like Luke Wilson. He’s funny and knows the game. I’d rather see him on the panel than the sideline, but this still gets a thumbs up from me.

I agree... but that mullet has to go... mullets "coming back" is officially the worst trend that has ever happened.... socks and sandals being a close second 

[Booch]

1 hour ago, bearpants said:

How many high schools did you o to that you can't remember where he subbed at? lol

I actually think Suitor is perfectly fine... as long as it's not a Riders game

I agree... but that mullet has to go... mullets "coming back" is officially the worst trend that has ever happened.... socks and sandals being a close second 

and dark socks halfway up the calves with shorts....I see someone doing that I wanna kick em in the face....there's a lot of people I wanna kick in the face....particularly in the gym

Edited June 6 by Booch

[HardCoreBlue]

1 hour ago, Booch said:

and dark socks halfway up the calves with shorts....I see someone doing that I wanna kick em in the face....there's a lot of people I wanna kick in the face....particularly in the gym

And that's what I think would exactly happen to me if our paths somehow crossed at a gym knowing how I can sometimes test people's sense of ha ha in very spontaneous ways. 🙂

[Booch]

49 minutes ago, HardCoreBlue said:

And that's what I think would exactly happen to me if our paths somehow crossed at a gym knowing how I can sometimes test people's sense of ha ha in very spontaneous ways. 🙂

just let me know who u are ....lo....u will be safe

[JuranBoldenRules]

23 hours ago, sweep the leg said:

I like Luke Wilson. He’s funny and knows the game. I’d rather see him on the panel than the sideline, but this still gets a thumbs up from me.

I don't think he knows anything about the CFL.  I suppose that could be entertaining but also could be a real waste of time for actual fans of the Canadian game.

What happens to BC during the game if Rourke gets injured?

They are counting him as a Canadian starter.

My belief is that if he went out due to injury they'd have to replace an American receiver with a Canadian receiver/FB or bench an American OL for the Canadian 6th OL (also starting 4 American OL).

[Pete Catan's Ghost]

Since I won’t watch the panel, has there been any mention of Matty…or is he going to be the elephant in the room all season. 

[JuranBoldenRules]

7 minutes ago, Pete Catan's Ghost said:

Since I won’t watch the panel, has there been any mention of Matty…or is he going to be the elephant in the room all season. 

Who?

[WinnipegGordo]

4 hours ago, JuranBoldenRules said:

I don't think he knows anything about the CFL.  I suppose that could be entertaining but also could be a real waste of time for actual fans of the Canadian game.

What happens to BC during the game if Rourke gets injured?

They are counting him as a Canadian starter.

My belief is that if he went out due to injury they'd have to replace an American receiver with a Canadian receiver/FB or bench an American OL for the Canadian 6th OL (also starting 4 American OL).

Does the league still have the rule where Americans can replace an injured starting Canadian? 

[JohnnyAbonny]

6 hours ago, Booch said:

and dark socks halfway up the calves with shorts....I see someone doing that I wanna kick em in the face....there's a lot of people I wanna kick in the face....particularly in the gym

My Dad used to coach track and basketball. If anyone would wear dark socks with shorts, they’d never hear the end of it. 
“You know, white socks would make you run faster” 

“Really?” 

“No, you just look stupid with those ones” 

[JuranBoldenRules]

22 minutes ago, WinnipegGordo said:

Does the league still have the rule where Americans can replace an injured starting Canadian? 

Yeah for 22 snaps on designated players.  They have no Designated Nationalized Americans and Rourke isn't designated either to be subbed as the Canadian for that.

Edited June 7 by JuranBoldenRules