Good Night Old Girl: A Farewell to Taylor Field

Saturday marks the end of an era to the people of Saskatchewan, the final Rider game at Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field (Yes that is indeed the official title).  While the Riders will not be the ones shutting off the lights, it will be most people’s final goodbye to the old girl before New Mosaic officially opens next year. Countless people have visited Taylor Field for various events: it has held concerts, stage shows, football games from high school to Junior to Collegiate, movies, and even hosted the Toronto Blue Jays.

My relationship with Taylor Field has been an interesting one...

My first trip to Taylor Field was a game versus the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the early 90s, can’t remember the exact year but I do know 2 things. 1) Don Narcisse was THE MAN, after that game I was his biggest fan. 2) My dad was either given the tickets or won them because there is no way he as a Bomber fan would have paid to drive to Regina to watch the Riders and Ti-Cats.

After that, Taylor Field wasn't really in my life until my second year at the University of Regina. That year I was elected Sports Editor of “the Carillon”, the U of R’s campus weekly. While it was easy to get someone to cover the Rams in their second season of CIS football, it was near impossible to get anyone take pictures at the games. So, I spent most of that season doing my best photographer impression every other weekend. That assignment landed me my first real press pass and I still have it to this day as a reminder.

My third year I was on the sidelines again but in a much different role. I was the first male cheerleader in U of R history. Long story short, I tried out for the team as a feature for the Carillon, supposedly they were scared I was going to rip them in the piece if they cut me… so they didn’t cut me. Then my buddies started taking bets on how long it would take me to quit. So, at first I was just being stubborn because I was challenged, then I was having fun, then I got to know my future wife and I stayed on the team. (And when I say future wife I mean way down the line… it took 13 years of friendship and several relationships in between before I could con her into walking down the aisle).

While it is easy to point to all the amazing games I have been to like the Blackout Game, the 2007 Labour Day Classic, all the Rams-Huskies rivalry games, the 2003 Grey Cup which landed on my birthday, and obviously, the 2013 Grey Cup Victory. To me, the allure of Taylor Field was never about the building itself, or even the event, but the people I went there with.

It was about the memories, like the “Lee Cherkas fan club” chanting “Throw the guy! Throw the guy!” towards me and my cheer teammates. The Rider game where the mother sitting in front of me and my buddies asked us before the game if we wouldn’t mind watching our language because of her young children, so we spent the entire game yelling things like “Balderdash” and “Poppycock” much to her amusement.  Taking both of my kids to their first football games and meeting Gainer. Getting our wedding pictures at Taylor Field so we could get the one at the tunnel where we used to run out onto the field or getting "sacked" by my wife. Watching my son run (well more like waddle) up and down the sidelines having the time of his life while I was playing a touch football game. The game this year where my daughter got to perform halftime on the field “Like mommy and daddy used to do”.

Taylor Field will always have a place in my heart and Saturday will be both a day of celebration and sadness.  

Good Night Old Girl. Let’s send you out the right way on Saturday.

Even though I got sacked in the best way at Taylor Field... I still needed a better O-line

3 Things: Als release Duron Carter and Kenny Stafford… Or… "Oh Duron, You've Killed Kenny!"

Today the CFL world was shocked to discover that the Montreal Alouettes released “problem” receivers/prized off season signings, Duron Carter and Kenny Stafford. Both players announced on twitter that they were released which then was confirmed by the team. It was no secret that both players were butting heads with on again/off again starting Quarterback Rakeem Cato which made for a less than peaceful locker room.

So what 3 things can we learn from this fussin' and a feudin'.

1) Chapdelaine probably isn’t going anywhere, but Noel Thorpe most certainly is.

The Alouettes might as well removed the interim tag off Jacques Chapdelaine’s “Interim Head Coach” title, as it was widely reported that he spearheaded the move to remove the players. If Chapdelaine isn’t going to be with the Alouettes next year, why are Popp and Wettenhall allowing him to call the shots on roster moves?

Also both players were on deals that ended at the end of the season. So it wouldn’t be hard for Popp and Wettenhall to tell everyone to suck it up for the remaining three games and decide everyone’s fate then. But if they are looking at keep Chapdelaine in some fashion then the receivers, talented or not, had to go.

This situation is probably going to speed up another divorce between the Alouettes and Noel Thorpe. Poor Thorpe, he just wants to be Head Coach and can’t buy a break in Montreal. Thorpe already tried having his contract nulled last off season so he could get a fresh start elsewhere and it was blocked by the league. Can’t imagine he would want to stay after being passed over again.

2) Contracts after the trade deadline should be guaranteed.

It was also reported that despite Stafford having four years in the CFL, he doesn’t have enough games in to be considered a four-year veteran so his contract wasn’t guaranteed. Combine that with the fact that they were released after the trade deadline, while they can sign with a team, they are not allowed to play for that team till the 2017 season. So no team can pick up either player for a playoff run, essentially ending their seasons today. 

Make no mistake these two were probably released mainly on their attitudes and actions, but money was probably also a factor.  Alouettes beat reporter Herb Zurkowsky was reporting this week that he was hearing rumblings that the Als were on pace to be 300,000 over the salary cap. Which is entering the “losing multiple draft picks and big money fine” territory.

According to Looniecap.com, Carter’s 2016 contract was for $260,000, while Stafford’s was a much more affordable $52,000. If you average that out over the three remaining games, the Alouettes end up saving $52,000. It’s like Popp got Stafford’s 218 yards and 2 touchdowns for free.

While neither player was a great teammate it isn't a good look that a team can wait to drop a player after the trade deadline to keep him from earning an income despite not being on their roster. The CFLPA should probably look at closing this loop hole at the next CBA, even if can get a short signing window after the release happens. 

3) Talent doesn’t mean anything unless you are a pro.

Vince Lombardi said “Football is like life - it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority.” Unfortunately, for Carter and Stafford they missed this lesson and are now paying the hard price for it.

Carter’s antics were nothing new to the Alouettes, they had similar issues with him in 2014 when a team meeting almost came to blows because Carter supposedly disrespected a teammate. According to then Head Coach, Tom Higgins, there was actually a vote to decide whether or not they could go on with Carter on the roster. Then follow that up with his and Stafford’s run in’s with Cato at practise and the constant stories of locker room turmoil coming from Montreal it is painfully obvious that Carter is a “me” guy (or is it “moi” guy in Montreal) and not a real teammate.

I’m sure both Carter and Stafford will sit out the rest of the season and they will probably both check to see if there is any NFL interest.  If there isn’t any NFL interest I am sure there will be a CFL team or two kicking the tires on either one because they are definitely great athletes. 

But great athletes don't make great teammates... Just ask Duron Carter's old community college Quarterback.