We continue to get blindslided by the NBC Sports Network sudden schedule changes. Hope you saw the Twitter feed and the update to Friday's article with the news of the West semifinal being tape delayed. More on that later.
Toronto and Calgary jumped over their individual issues to reach the semis. While you could argue that Edmonton and Saskatchewan had no chance to advance, especially with below .500 records, the Roughriders could have (should have?) won the West semifinal.
Most of the first half of the West semifinal wasn't memorable, but unlike Drew Tate, you remember the first half. Calgary pulled together some amazing momentum thanks to some CFL magic.
Saskatchewan took as 16-14 lead near the end of the first half. The snap for the extra point was blocked and the Stampeders ran back the ball about 100 yards for the 2-point conversion. Suddenly, the game was tied at 16. Calgary added a field goal and went in with a 3-point lead.
Though the Roughriders took the lead late in the game, the 6-point swing still loomed large. Tate got better as the game went on, and the Roughriders late-game defense wasn't as tight as it should have been.
I got to watch most of the game live on TSN from Canada in the 36-30 game. When I left, Calgary had a 26-16 lead in the 3rd quarter.
As for the East semifinal, I saw the first 21 points. Edmonton scored its first 1st quarter touchdown all season and Chad Owens had his first TD return of the season. When I returned back, the Argonauts were up 31-7 and the game appeared to be all but over, even in the 3rd quarter. Toronto won 42-26, though the game wasn't even that close.
Will look forward to seeing what I missed on the DVR when I get home.
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Chris Cuthbert and Glen Suitor switched over to carry the East this year. Saw Rod Black and Duane Forde carry Regina at Calgary on TSN on Saturday, so I knew they would stay for Sunday. Cuthbert and Suitor tend to stay out west for the playoffs, but being the #1 team means you get to pick where you go.
I don't think the weather played a factor. My guess is that Cuthbert and Suitor wanted to be close to Toronto, home of the 100th Grey Cup.
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You figured that Matt Nichols was going to play at some point for Edmonton. Nichols went out with a very bad leg injury in the third quarter. As poorly as Kerry Joseph had played, Stephen Jyles wasn't an option. This was a hard finish for Jyles, the original starter on this team. This has to be the last game that Jyles wore an Edmonton uniform.
Then again, when Chad Owens goes a whole regular season with a TD return and gets one in the second quarter, this might not have been your day.
Edmonton was 7-11 and on the road in the playoffs. Still, Toronto deserves some credit for coming to play. Now the big Toronto-Montréal rivalry is set for next week.
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Saskatchewan lost its last 4 regular season games, and came close to winning. Calgary won its last 4 regular season games and came close to losing. B.C. might have the lighter load next week.
Cuthbert and Suitor worked the Eastern Semifinal last year as well (Hamilton at Montreal). I believe it is by their choice and I think in previous years there may have been some criticism of TSN by always putting the A team on all of the western playoff games. I suspect they will work Calgary at B.C. next weekend.
Posted by: Tyler | November 13, 2012 at 11:40 AM
The broadcast quality via Directv was awful. Perhaps this was an NBCSN issue. It was like watching online-frequent freeze-ups and skips. I couldn't tell what happened to Nichols because of it. Why does the CFL enter such broadcast contracts with such leeway to get jerked around? As a satellite user it worked out better for me to have the regional sports networks pick up various games and the playoffs.
Posted by: Tim | November 13, 2012 at 09:35 PM
Tyler, I'm curious to see if the pattern holds. I think Cuthbert and Suitor will stay East all the way. Looking forward to see which way that goes.
Tim, I didn't have those issues with cable (NBCSN) and watching Nichols injury live (TSN). He landed badly on his left ankle. You can find the hit on YouTube. Maybe you were having a bad satellite day? With regional sports networks, you could have had longer delays before seeing the game.
Posted by: Chad | November 13, 2012 at 10:12 PM
Note that Glen Suitor lives in Vancouver and he hasn't had many home games this season. Since Cuthbert has to travel either way, I imagine he will head out west. But we'll see.
Also note TSN is broadcasting the two CIS football semifinals, Acadia at Laval (Uteck Bowl) and Calgary at McMaster (Mitchell Bowl). Rod Black and Duane Forde will be doing one of those so it would make sense for them to do the East Final on the Sunday.
Posted by: Tyler | November 14, 2012 at 12:35 PM
Tyler, these are good details. This is the advantage of living in Canada, and not watching it from outside. I just got back from 5 days in Windsor. And whatever you might say about Windsor, I was on Canadian soil and I was happy.
Posted by: Chad | November 14, 2012 at 03:00 PM
Sara Orlesky just let the cat out of the bag on Twitter. Indeed, Cuthbert and Suitor will call the West Final on Sunday.
@saraorlesky: Hey @PaulLaPolice, be forewarned that @CCtsn & @GlenSuitor may make you sing this wknd at WF! #rookieintiation #weveallbeenthere
Posted by: Tyler | November 14, 2012 at 05:02 PM
I would surely give 10 on 10 for such incredible content.
Posted by: thomassinger0 | December 01, 2012 at 12:50 AM