Sunday, November 16 Edmotnon (13-5) v. Montreal (13-5) 6pm EST CBC/RDS (In Canada) America One/YES (In the US) Early bets make the Esks the favorites.
This looks like another classic, much like their clashes in the 50's and 70's. Will 50,000 show up? I hope the Rider fans can drag themselves out of their sorrows (and put away their banjos ) long enough to make it a great spectacle. Sadly though, the halftime act is Bryan Adams. After all, the Canadian Government has had to apologize for him on any number of occasions.
There are a lot of tickets to be had in the local classifieds, but I popped into Regina today and the mood seemed to be good. There was a lot of activity and hype and a lot of people won't start flooding in until Friday. I think the seats will be full. It's a lot of money to spend on tickets and not go. I'm not sure how loud the crowd will be though. Riders fans are bitter about losing to Edmonton, they also really hate Mtl coach Don Matthews and they have a sense of duty to cheer for the western team, but a week after a defeat like that? We'll see I guess. The forecasts of rain have died off, but it's also supposed to be a little colder than they thought. Still -3C at kickoff is waaaay better than the -15 it was two weekends ago. Tom Sheppard, who has done pretty much everything for the Riders is trying to get fans to cheer for Edmonton and support the west. Considering his press box antics after the interference call on the on-side kick in the west final was reported in the Edmonton papers, it strikes me as odd, he'd be backing the Esks, but so be it. cheers, hobbes
What's the difference between a rouge and a safety? The CFL site makes it sound like it's the same thing.
7-0 Esks after the first quater. Esks reciever Ed Hervey has left the game with a suspected groin pull.
Pat Woodcock catches one from 5 yards out to give the Als some breathing room. 14-7 The man is a terrible dancer.
2nd Quarter scores Sylvain Girard with a 32 yard TD for the Als. 14-14 Keith Stokes fubles an Esks punt which gives Edmonton back control of the ball. Jason Tucker takes in a 20 yard pass from Ray for his second of the night. 21-14 Calvillo to Cahoon for a 27 yard TD. 21-21 Stokes fumbles another another ball and the Esks recover. Sean Flemming hits a FG for the Green and Gold Halftime Edmonton 24 Montreal 21
Sean Felmming hits a FG witha minute left in the 4th to seal the win. Final Edmonton 34 Montreal 21 EDMONTON ESKIMOS WIN THE 2003 GREY CUP!!!!!!!!!
Full stat line for the game Edmonton 34 Ricky Ray 22 for 32, 301 yds and 2 TD's. Rushed for another Jason Tucker 7 Catches for 132 yds and 2 TD's Mike Pringle 17 Carries for 70 yds and 1 TD Scored 13 points on turnovers. Montreal 22 Anthony Calvillo 22 for 37, 371 yds and 2 TD's Ben Cahoon 6 Catches for 148 Yds and 1 TD Germain Copeland 8 Catches for 102 Yds and 1 TD MVP: Jason Tucker Outstanding Canadian: Ben Cahoon Attendance: 50,909
A safety is worth two points. A rouge (called 'a single' by basically everyone) is worth one point. Our goal posts are at the goal line. So anytime a punt goes into the end zone and isn't run out, a field isn't run out or a field goal or punt goes through the end zone you get a single point. In this case Kellett kicked a 70-yard punt through the end zone. It was a fun weekend. I was really impressed by the atmosphere. The Riders fan woke up out their depression by Friday and the Bomber fans were in party mode all week. Esks fans were in good form too. Crowd was seriously behind the Esks, I didn't think it would be that decisive. I can't believe Mtl started Johnson and Williams on the corner. Hervey was ready for about a 200-yard day against Johnson until he got hurt. cheers, hobbes P.S. oh and Ben Cahoon made one of the sickest catches I've ever seen. One handed, leaping, diving catch at the four to set up the first Mtl TD.
2 more stupid American questions: 1) After a rouge (touch back) the recievers get the ball at the 35? What is that? 2) Are all punts and missed field goals live balls?
Not exactly a classic, but better than most Super Bowls. Thank God, Bryan Adams played "Summer of '69." The announcer made a crack about not lip-synching. Was that in reference to Shania Twain? Hobbes and Doyle can check me on this but I think that when you're scored upon, you have the option of taking the kickoff or scrimmaging the ball from the 35 yard line. I think it's automatic when the single is scored on a kickoff or punt. If a field goal attempt hits the goal post, it's a dead ball and the other team gets it on the 25.
That was that "pinko-Commie" Brian Williams saying that. He isn't hard to spot in TO. He drives a Lada. The 35 Yard Line option would only apply to a FG. When a FG is scored, the team scored on has the option of taking it from their own 35 or have it kicked to them.
All missed FGs and all punts are live, but you have to give five yards to the receiving team to catch/recover the ball. Unless you're on side. This makes more sense to anyone who follows rugby. On punts/FG the kicker and anyone lined behind him can recover the ball inside the five-yard restraining zone. Why the 35 after a single? Same reason as the 20 in NFL, I have no idea. It offers a reward for surrendering a point. Most singles occur when one team decides to take the field position and sacrifice the point. As Doyle said you can start at your 35 after giving up a FG and after a touchdown it's the team who is scored upons choice to kick or to receive. I don't know if they have that rule in US football, but you certainly don't see it often. The only time I can remember is when a team was scored upon late, fell behind and decided that an on-side kick was more likely than a big return to get them to within hail mary distance. cheers, hobbes