With Rookie Camp getting underway Wednesday morning, it's officially time to talk about the 2026 Winnipeg Blue Bombers!

The bigger issue will be how much ticket sales drop going forward, starting next year.

I've had season tickets for 25+ years and I can tell you I'm not excited about the games this year. Anecdotally was talking to another long time ST holder recently who said the same thing and about how many games he'd given his tickets away for.

6 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

The bigger issue will be how much ticket sales drop going forward, starting next year.

I've had season tickets for 25+ years and I can tell you I'm not excited about the games this year. Anecdotally was talking to another long time ST holder recently who said the same thing and about how many games he'd given his tickets away for.

As another long time STH, I have zero excitement about going to games and for the first time, I'm debating on whether or not I'll be renewing.

When the coaches, players and front office don't seem to care, why should I?

It's getting used to winning every single home game and then NOT winning... People are like "WTF??? WE'RE SUPPOSED TO WIN EVERY GAME!!"

Now don't get me wrong... Things have been **** this year. That last game vs BC was embarrassing. But... The fan base is absolutely spoiled rotten... Only Child levels of spoiled.

Just now, Noeller said:

It's getting used to winning every single home game and then NOT winning... People are like "WTF??? WE'RE SUPPOSED TO WIN EVERY GAME!!"

Now don't get me wrong... Things have been **** this year. That last game vs BC was embarrassing. But... The fan base is absolutely spoiled rotten... Only Child levels of spoiled.

Nah, we've sat through many losing seasons so that's not it

4 minutes ago, Noeller said:

It's getting used to winning every single home game and then NOT winning... People are like "WTF??? WE'RE SUPPOSED TO WIN EVERY GAME!!"

Now don't get me wrong... Things have been **** this year. That last game vs BC was embarrassing. But... The fan base is absolutely spoiled rotten... Only Child levels of spoiled.

you’ve got it wrong. it’s not about winning, it’s about effort and quality of team on the field. The on field product is embarrassing. We could have a worse record but better engagement if the team was losing close, nail biting good games. if they were playing physical and smart football. from the coaching to the players, the quality is apathetic and fans are matching that.

Edited August 11Aug 11 by wbbfan

10 minutes ago, Noeller said:

It's getting used to winning every single home game and then NOT winning... People are like "WTF??? WE'RE SUPPOSED TO WIN EVERY GAME!!"

Now don't get me wrong... Things have been **** this year. That last game vs BC was embarrassing. But... The fan base is absolutely spoiled rotten... Only Child levels of spoiled.

Yeah it's not losing, it losing and shrugging their shoulders about it and not doing anything to improve.

20 hours ago, Goalie said:

As a fan of dogs and even more than people, dogtopia would be great but the real solution is finding them all good loving homes. Dogtopia wouldn’t accomplish that anyways.

dog rescues can absolutely help get dogs into good loving homes. a lot of rescue dogs would be great pets but need some rehab before they're ready to go home with their forever families. Plus a good dog rescue/foster will vet the adoptees so that the dude who lives in an apartment and works away from home 70 hours a week doesn't get the husky puppy that will be miserable, mean, and loud if it's not running laps 24/7.

yes, I would rather talk about imaginary dog rescues than football right now.

maybe the General board needs a "post your pet" thread to lighten things up.

Edited August 11Aug 11 by johnzo

27 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

We have coaches that pretty much refuse to make changes to who is playing unless forced by injury so i would reserve some judgement on the GM at this point. The lack of accountability on the field is the #1 issue for this team right now.

I agree...not like we brought in nobodies...non college players...dudes new to the sport....most if not all have had NFL stints of some type...were on other CFL squads...came from legit schools with better coaching than a lot of CFL teams employ....the issue here with this coaching crew...mainly the lead of the HC is ability to assess...recognize and then utilize talent...or coach them up...we see it on a game to game basis how we are literally out coached...unprepared...unable to adjust until its too late and have guys in wrong positions natural to them....wasnt an issue when we had studs...CFL experienced in their prime...before that we had retreads and guys past their prime...and last several seasons again guys past their prime...others well on their way to being at that point...and quite a few with no business being on a roster let alone starting...and only so due to being here a while...all the while nobody in the wings being coached up and developed...

15 minutes ago, Noeller said:

It's getting used to winning every single home game and then NOT winning... People are like "WTF??? WE'RE SUPPOSED TO WIN EVERY GAME!!"

Now don't get me wrong... Things have been **** this year. That last game vs BC was embarrassing. But... The fan base is absolutely spoiled rotten... Only Child levels of spoiled.

Losing is one thing, and inevitable. Getting humiliated and setting a record for futility at home is another, and that is what costs you fan support

14 minutes ago, Noeller said:

It's getting used to winning every single home game and then NOT winning... People are like "WTF??? WE'RE SUPPOSED TO WIN EVERY GAME!!"

Now don't get me wrong... Things have been **** this year. That last game vs BC was embarrassing. But... The fan base is absolutely spoiled rotten... Only Child levels of spoiled.

12 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

Nah, we've sat through many losing seasons so that's not it

yup....a losss here and there because we were just not the better team that day...to mounting losses from the same epidemic of basically what could be prevented/fixed are 2 different things...the ineptness and oblivious attitude...or juts the dont have a clue attitude is what is ailing things and turning fans off...

10 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

you’ve got it wrong. it’s not about winning, it’s about effort and quality of team on the field. The on field product is embarrassing. We could have a worse record but better engagement if the team was losing close, nail biting good games. if they were playing physical and smart football. from the coaching to the players, the quality is apathetic and fans are matching that.

exactly....we have deteriorated in a huge way...and to be honest, with Osh here I have no faith and can't see much changing...ever....It has been totally apparent what was/could happen 3+ yrs ago and the clown did nothing about it but stayed the course as it got worse...mainly cause he has knows no other way, and isnt a real builder/coacher and his time has expired...it happens to the best of them

8 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

Yeah it's not losing, it losing and shrugging their shoulders about it and not doing anything to improve.

the fact that over last 2 yrs especially the losses ...and some ugly ones didnt even trigger the idea of any change/tweak....but the same excuses, and they will fix it...and havnt

Sure sign of a coach with nary a clue how to...let alone actually doing anything about it

The fact that after being drubbed...having a bye....and we back to work and only change likely is due to injury issues, or a guy or 2 coming back from injury is proof right there they either have no clue what to do...or just dont want to....With injured guys coming back not being the saving grace, as the issues were there already with them....Its about the preparation, the game plans...the adjustment...or more specifically ability to make them and in game decisions....and thats coaching...No group of players is gonna succeed with whats going on here

We've seen WAY WORSE than we're currently seeing... But people have forgotten what that's like. It's been too much winning for too long. It's been taken for granted.

8 minutes ago, Noeller said:

We've seen WAY WORSE than we're currently seeing... But people have forgotten what that's like. It's been too much winning for too long. It's been taken for granted.

Fans have NOT forgotten- that's why there is the anger. Last game looked an awful lot like the worst of the Reinbold (etc) era.

3 hours ago, M.Silverback said:

I think we all agree that both Osh and KW are at fault. I do lean towards the GM slightly more. Even if Osh picks some favourites over more talented other options, I still think the GM has to find some talent that is clearly better than the other options. We haven't had a true impact WR, DE, DT, OL brought in by KW in years. Dalton Schoen I guess is one. Ones that come in and are so much more talented that even Osh can't deny it. Other teams find them every year. I think the problem is Osh is picking from a selection of C to B level talent, and he then leans towards intangibles.

I think that if you have two players of basically equal talent ANY coach is going to go with intangibles and experience. Our young guys need to push the old guys out and it hasn't happened and I don't believe that it is because MOS is purposely denying a superior talent.

3 hours ago, M.Silverback said:

I think we all agree that both Osh and KW are at fault. I do lean towards the GM slightly more. Even if Osh picks some favourites over more talented other options, I still think the GM has to find some talent that is clearly better than the other options. We haven't had a true impact WR, DE, DT, OL brought in by KW in years. Dalton Schoen I guess is one. Ones that come in and are so much more talented that even Osh can't deny it. Other teams find them every year. I think the problem is Osh is picking from a selection of C to B level talent, and he then leans towards intangibles.

I think that if you have two players of basically equal talent ANY coach is going to go with intangibles and experience. Our young guys need to push the old guys out and it hasn't happened and I don't believe that it is because MOS is purposely denying a superior talent.

1 hour ago, Booch said:

or....maybe Osh cant pick and assess talent worth a crap?...I lean more that way...and based on just roster use and who plays based on what he has kept...he has many many times played the lesser player

Talent at this level thats brought in...across all teams in the CFL is basically pretty consistent across the board and all comparable...yes there is the real outlier/gem but for the most part not a lot separates most....It's all about the coaching and what you do with, and how you best utilize yours....the notion our scouting team has just brought in garbage and Osh is forced to make chicken salad outta chickenshit is also just garbage

our issues of late...now we dont have established vets in their prime...basically self coaching/policing themselves is coaching and teaching....and we obviously are not a good staff in that regard....The issues that keep coming up...over and over and the excuses for it...and the non correction of it is telling

The Younger article about it just snowballing is a prime example of a staff with no answer and no ability to stop the bleeding in a game...i said it many a time...coaching has killed us

Not defending Osh, but I'd agree with you more if any of the players we brought in who went elsewhere became stars in the league. None did. I'm not talking free agents who left for $, I'm talking players we cut/didn't start who left. Most were chicken **** here, chicken **** elsewhere. Scouting and GM has to be way better. Where's our Davis Alexander; Clarence Hicks; Jaylon Hutchings; Tyler Snead; Austin Mack; Damonte Coxie ... ? Our talent aquisition may be the worst in the CFL. Not hyperbole. And add to it Osh, doing Osh things ... But if we brought in better talent, Osh would be a better coach. He's proven that when he had the best talent in the CFL. He definitely doesn't have the chops to raise the level of a mediocre talent team.

44 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

you’ve got it wrong. it’s not about winning, it’s about effort and quality of team on the field. The on field product is embarrassing. We could have a worse record but better engagement if the team was losing close, nail biting good games. if they were playing physical and smart football. from the coaching to the players, the quality is apathetic and fans are matching that.

Totally agree. The leadership in the locker room is bupkus right now.

2 minutes ago, M.Silverback said:

Not defending Osh, but I'd agree with you more if any of the players we brought in who went elsewhere became stars in the league. None did. I'm not talking free agents who left for $, I'm talking players we cut/didn't start who left. Most were chicken **** here, chicken **** elsewhere. Scouting and GM has to be way better. Where's our Davis Alexander; Clarence Hicks; Jaylon Hutchings; Tyler Snead; Austin Mack; Damonte Coxie ... ? Our talent aquisition may be the worst in the CFL. Not hyperbole. And add to it Osh, doing Osh things ... But if we brought in better talent, Osh would be a better coach. He's proven that when he had the best talent in the CFL. He definitely doesn't have the chops to raise the level of a mediocre talent team.

Completely agree. The only area we have been finding talent consistently is in the secondary. Other than that, with the exception of Schoen, we have not been able to recruit any IMPs that move the needle whatsoever. Like nothing. 1 guy in the last 5 years. That's horrible. If any of our cuts went elsewhere and been an impact player I could blame it on coaching but they haven't . Not a single one, and before anyone jumps in and says that other teams cuts aren't brought in either and become impact players, OH YES THEY HAVE. All teams go over other teams cuts and many are added to other teams across the league and eventually become really good players. That's how we got Kenny Lawler ffs. Don't give me this crap that MOS blew up their career by not selecting them out of TC.

Edited August 11Aug 11 by GCn20

just cause a training camp cut doesn't get "immediately" picked up elsewhere means jackshit...All the other teams have put time and money into their own scouting....some of it yrs in making and will exhaust that first. It's a slap in the face to your scouts to disregard their work and do that...One of the key reasons we lost our young guru..Sure he had some ties to Goviea....but he could have easily been retained, but said eff it..I going where I know my work will be put to good use

Just now, Booch said:

just cause a training camp cut doesn't get "immediately" picked up elsewhere means jackshit...All the other teams have put time and money into their own scouting....some of it yrs in making and will exhaust that first. It's a slap in the face to your scouts to disregard their work and do that...One of the key reasons we lost our young guru..Sure he had some ties to Goviea....but he could have easily been retained, but said eff it..I going where I know my work will be put to good use

Baloney, that is a myth you have created and are trying to perpetuate. We have had several players over the past few years latch onto other teams across the league after being cut here and then they have also released them. I guess everybody's wrong about them.

41 minutes ago, Noeller said:

We've seen WAY WORSE than we're currently seeing... But people have forgotten what that's like. It's been too much winning for too long. It's been taken for granted.

Nobody is forgetting anything - you're acting like losing is ancient history when in reality we didn't get above .500 at PAS until the 2021 season. We had a record of 31 wins and 32 losses from 2013 through 2020 (the first 4 years there were particularly brutal) so anybody who's had ST's for a while is fully aware of the highs and the lows.

3 hours ago, M.Silverback said:

I think we all agree that both Osh and KW are at fault. I do lean towards the GM slightly more. Even if Osh picks some favourites over more talented other options, I still think the GM has to find some talent that is clearly better than the other options. We haven't had a true impact WR, DE, DT, OL brought in by KW in years. Dalton Schoen I guess is one. Ones that come in and are so much more talented that even Osh can't deny it. Other teams find them every year. I think the problem is Osh is picking from a selection of C to B level talent, and he then leans towards intangibles.

Nailed it. At some point, you have to look to Wade miller as well. He keeps seeing the same situations play out over and over, that walters/mos either can't or won't miss hitting the same pitfalls, and the onus falls to him to act.

1 hour ago, 17to85 said:

We have coaches that pretty much refuse to make changes to who is playing unless forced by injury so i would reserve some judgement on the GM at this point. The lack of accountability on the field is the #1 issue for this team right now.

Yep. No one is held accountable, so no one really cares anymore. You see that in the incredible lack of hustle, discipline, and basic unit execution(Catching, tackling, etc).

1 hour ago, Booch said:

I agree...not like we brought in nobodies...non college players...dudes new to the sport....most if not all have had NFL stints of some type...were on other CFL squads...came from legit schools with better coaching than a lot of CFL teams employ....the issue here with this coaching crew...mainly the lead of the HC is ability to assess...recognize and then utilize talent...or coach them up...we see it on a game to game basis how we are literally out coached...unprepared...unable to adjust until its too late and have guys in wrong positions natural to them....wasnt an issue when we had studs...CFL experienced in their prime...before that we had retreads and guys past their prime...and last several seasons again guys past their prime...others well on their way to being at that point...and quite a few with no business being on a roster let alone starting...and only so due to being here a while...all the while nobody in the wings being coached up and developed...

Look it's happening right across the league because of one year contracts. Nobody is coaching up players anymore. I'm not going to defend the errors of MOS that make a bad situation worse, but anyone thinking that he is holding back talent is mistaken. We are not seeing year one development of players anymore league wide. Talent needs to come in and push down the door. We haven't seen it happen in quite some time.

4 hours ago, Booch said:

oh I agree....coach is control of who see's the field...and how often...but also needs to have the ability to recognize the 45 best players to keep...and he sucks at that...even if Walter's has supplied sub par guys...which I totally dont see as the case...he still picks the poorer of them anyway...what he see's/values/prioritizes in a player in a lot of circumstances doesnt translate into the best available...let alone some instances even worthy...so it wouldnt matter I think what the scouts bring in..He's flawed in his assessing, not to mention self admitting he doesnt really have a good grasp of the x and o's part of things as well....not a good mix for a HC

And I agree...Walter's needs to be a G.M and be in charge...and if his HC doesn't like it...so be it...But when you have buddies in those 2 positions...you get what we see now

If Walter's refuses...or just cant make the big boy decisions he needs to go..We already know Osh cant...

What do you mean IF Walters can't make the big boy decisions? He has clearly proven he can't. There isn't another GM in this league that doesn't save their coaches from themselves except for the guys wearing both hats and how does that turn out. NOT GOOD. Coaches and GM think differently and it's the GM's job to actually think differently and not be in lock step all the time with the coach. A GM cannot have the same biases on roster construction as the coach otherwise the pendulum will ALWAYS swing too far in one direction. There are very few coaches that make good GMs and vice versa and there is a reason for that.

I hate to say this, but bailing on season tickets at this point is a very Rider "fans" thing to do.

1 minute ago, Noeller said:

I hate to say this, but bailing on season tickets at this point is a very Rider "fans" thing to do.

Since you seem to have all the answers as to how fans should act - how should we voice our displeasure in a noticeable and meaningful way?

1 hour ago, Tracker said:

Fans have NOT forgotten- that's why there is the anger. Last game looked an awful lot like the worst of the Reinbold (etc) era.

This post proves @Noeller point.

51 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Other than that, with the exception of Schoen, we have not been able to recruit any IMPs that move the needle whatsoever. Like nothing. 1 guy in the last 5 years.

I mean Wilson moves the needle if we're just talking about receivers.... And maybe we've had other guys who can move the needle there but don't get the chance because our team has decided to make our offense feature 3 Canadian receivers.

This is pretty much the entire point that gets argued... Unless there's a void where no vet can fill it rookies don't get a chance on this team.

12 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

I mean Wilson moves the needle if we're just talking about receivers.... And maybe we've had other guys who can move the needle there but don't get the chance because our team has decided to make our offense feature 3 Canadian receivers.

This is pretty much the entire point that gets argued... Unless there's a void where no vet can fill it rookies don't get a chance on this team.

Wilson is meh. WR3 on a championship team. No defensive coordinator in the CFL is game planning to stop Pokey Wilson. And that's the best our GM and scouting staff have come up with.