Custis, Rasouli, Lancaster, Mosca, Singh, Khan & more have made the #CFL strong.
— CFL (@CFL) August 13, 2017
Diversity is our Strength. #BringItIn pic.twitter.com/4daH8D1l2V
Edmonton heads east to Winnipeg for Thursday Night Football. The Friday night doubleheader starts with the Ottawa RedBlacks at Tim Hortons Field followed by the Calgary Stampeders in Vancouver.
The Montréal-Toronto rivalry shifts to BMO Field for a Saturday afternoon contest for the top spot in the East.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders want to keep the momentum but get a week off.
TSN
Thursday
Edmonton @ Winnipeg, 8:30p
Friday
Ottawa @ Hamilton, 7:30p
Calgary @ BC, 10:30p
Saturday
Montréal @ Toronto, 4p
Bye week: Saskatchewan
Ed Gainey had an unbelievable game with 4 interceptions and a fumble recovery for Saskatchewan against BC Sunday night. The 3 first-half interceptions were more interceptions than the Roughriders had to that point in the season.
Gainey actually called on the sidelines for the TSN cameras that he would get a fourth interception and he fulfilled that promise.
The TSN graphic noted that there were now 9 players with 4 interceptions in a game. What wasn't clear is that 4 isn't the record for most interceptions in a game.
Rod Hill had 5 interceptions in a game for Winnipeg against Hamilton in 1990. Bud Grant, yes that Bud Grant, had 5 interceptions in a playoff game in 1953. What is even more remarkable is that Grant was a receiver, not a defensive back.
On Gainey's final interception, Duron Carter was playing defence. Carter might have had that interception if Gainey hadn't been in such good position.
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The CFL had its Diversity in Strength campaign ready to go for later in the season. Given what happened in Charlottesville, VA over last weekend, the league and Commissioner Randy Ambrosie stepped up and brought the campaign to the BC-Saskatchewan game.
That game aired on ESPN2 in the States. Chris Cuthbert and Glen Suitor talked about the campaign during the 3rd quarter. They noted that players from all continents (except Antarctica) have played in the CFL.
When Warren Moon finished his University of Washington career after the 1978 Rose Bowl win over the University of Michigan, no NFL team drafted him. Moon played 6 seasons for Edmonton with 5 Grey Cups. In 1982, NBC carried 4 CFL games during the NFL strike. Moon played in 2 of those games. That coverage likely helped the U.S. see that a black man could play quarterback. Moon is the only undrafted quarterback to reach the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Canada isn't immune from its own troubles, but the way the league made this move felt very Canadian: awareness but not overblown hype, just quiet but powerful leadership. Thanks CFL.
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Shania Twain will be the halftime entertainment for the 105th Grey Cup November 26 in Ottawa. Twain clicks all the major categories: well-known, talented, Canadian, and U.S. crossover appeal. I don't know her music too well but will likely take a listen.
Twain also performed at the 2002 Grey Cup in Edmonton. Excellent choice. I still want Rush to play a Grey Cup someday.
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If the Montréal Alouettes pull off the sweep of Toronto, the top team in the East will be at .500 at 4-4, a significant improvement. The Alouettes, Argonauts, and the last-place Saskatchewan Roughriders all have 6 points currently.
The Alouettes look like the team went backward with dealing promising quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. to Saskatchewan for national defensive back Tevaughn Campbell, and a pair of third-round draft picks in 2018 and 2019. The Als gave up a first-round pick to the BC Lions for Adams.
Campbell will help and draft picks can make a difference but the Alouettes have struggled at quarterback since Anthony Calvillo left. Darian Durant has done really well this season but the future was Adams. Drew Willy is the other quarterback on the roster; he looked really bad in Winnipeg and Toronto last season.
If Durant goes down this season, a distinct possibility, Ottawa, Toronto, and even Hamilton will catch a huge break. As bad as the East Division is, 2 teams have to make the playoffs.
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We haven't written much about the U.S. ratings lately. We do have some recent numbers (info via Son of the Bronx through awfulannouncing.com).
- Ottawa-Toronto July 24 (154,000 viewers)
- Montreal-Winnipeg July 27 (235,000 viewers)
- BC-Edmonton on July 28 (142,000 viewers)
- Hamilton-Edmonton on August 4 (150,000 viewers)
The article notes increases from comparable games from 2016. Those make for nice numbers but there are always outside factors. The TV numbers are relatively low, but even more anemic in the 18-49 age group.
The numbers, which we don't have, is how many Americans are watching on WatchESPN (ESPN3). I had been watching games on my large computer but now find having the app on my smartphone makes taking the game with me much easier. A tablet, if I had one, would be even better.
Since U.S. TV is now on hiatus, computer and phone watching is the plan for about a month.
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Twitter grab: @CFL
photo credit: ESPN2/TSN/CFL
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