Wow, this will enhance next years series....

[notahomer]

Playoff success a long time coming
It's been 10 years since Saskatchewan's last Grey Cup appearance
Gordon Mcintyre, The Province
Published: Monday, November 19, 2007
So many things have come together recently for the province, it was fitting Saskatchewan's football team also seems to be one of destiny.

A running back played with a broken -- and sprained -- foot.

Players acquired through trades and signed mid-season as free agents came through big time.


A 13-year veteran who's worn only green and white his whole life -- including playing university ball in his hometown Saskatoon for the Saskatchewan Huskies -- is getting another crack at the Grey Cup.

Even a coach, Kent Austin, who's last two Grey Cup experiences as a player were winning with Saskatchewan in 1989 then winning with B.C. at the Dome in 1994.

Wheat's selling, the oil sector's sizzling, real estate's going through the roof and the NDP government was voted out of power -- the Riders don't win Grey Cups when the socialists are running things.

Are the gods smiling their once-every-generation smile on the Stubble Jumpers?

"I was 11 when the Riders won in 1989," said Riders defensive lineman Scott Schultz, a native of Moose Jaw. "That's what sparked my love of football."

Schultz modelled a T-shirt the players had made, with the words S--t List on top, F---ing Hostile For 60 Minutes across the bottom, and a list of every Lions player in between.

"[The Grey Cup] is a monstrous game, there's almost 100 years of history there," he said. "For a Saskatchewan kid it's a big deal."

Gene Makowsky, another Saskatchewan kid, grew up 250 kilometres north of Regina and played his university football for his hometown Huskies, appeared in the Grey Cup in his third season, a blowout loss to Doug Flutie's Argos in 1997.

He could have been excused back then for expecting to have played in a few more by now, but this will be his first trip back.

"You hope you'll get back, but you never know," the 34-year-old offensive lineman said. "It's hard to believe, just hard to believe. You wait a long time and you work and work and work. Finally you get over the hump, against these guys especially. It's just a great feeling."

Two players who made an impact all season with the Riders were acquired by general manager Eric Tillman through trades.

Wes Cates had his foot frozen before the game to overcome the pain of a fracture and sprain.

"It was sore, but I could run," said Cates, who had 70 yards on 12 carries, including a crucial 22-yard scamper from the Riders 15-yard line that moved Saskatchewan away from the shadow of their own goalposts early in the fourth quarter.

"Right now I don't really know how sore it is. The meds are still working. I'll find out [today] how bad it's hurting. I'm just glad I was able to participate in this game and that we're on our way to Toronto."

And receiver DJ Flick's season (along with returner Corey Holmes) was the major reason Hamilton fired Marcel Desjardins, the first-year GM paying the price for sending them to the Prairies.

"That trade may have been the best day of my season," said Flick. "It's been an outstanding adventure and I'm looking forward to next week to continue it on."




© The Vancouver Province 2007

[notahomer]

"I was 11 when the Riders won in 1989," said Riders defensive lineman Scott Schultz, a native of Moose Jaw. "That's what sparked my love of football."

Schultz modelled a T-shirt the players had made, with the words S--t List on top, F---ing Hostile For 60 Minutes across the bottom, and a list of every Lions player in between.

This story shocked but gave me good insight into how motivated the Riders were to beat the Lions. Beating the Lions WON"T win them the Grey Cup but its a big step.

[FINELION77]

take notice fans: when Austin does not get his own way he is full of pissin /moannin/ and lame excuses like shivers! shivers got very rich off the anticipation of a weak weak promise of a grey cup! CAN YOU SPELL *poop*? i can and you did!and that other wage suckin clow the riders used 2 have! at least Austin earns his$$$$$$$$$$$$ you can only lie 2 the fans so long before they see thru the BS! and if you can't stand the truth GFY! respectively! bout time someone in the game calls it as they sees it!! I only tell the truth!

[Vern Halen]

take notice fans: when Austin does not get his own way he is full of pissin /moannin/ and lame excuses like shivers! shivers got very rich off the anticipation of a weak weak promise of a grey cup! CAN YOU SPELL *poop*? i can and you did!and that other wage suckin clow the riders used 2 have! at least Austin earns his$$$$$$$$$$$$ you can only lie 2 the fans so long before they see thru the BS! and if you can't stand the truth GFY! respectively! bout time someone in the game calls it as they sees it!! I only tell the truth!

?????????????????????????????

How do you get that Austin is a whiner? He makes sure his players don't have an excuse for losing. Earlier this year, when a reporter asked about the Riders facing a banged-up Eskimos team, he pointed out that the Riders had lost more man-games to injury than any other team. Then he said "the difference is, we don't talk about it". If you talk about how injured your team is, you're giving the players an out, an excuse to fall back on if you lose. That's why there are 46 players on the roster - to deal with injuries. Your second string guys should be just as ready and prepared to play as your starters.

You have to admit, Austin had the Riders prepared for the crowd at BC place this year - sure we took a few procedure calls, but what team doesn't? If you compare the difference in preparation between this year's Riders and previous year's teams, this is one prepared team. Kent also closed the country club - if you don't play up to even your own standard, you're benched (see: Fantuz in game 3).

Bottom line: There is no comparison between Tillman/Austin and Shivers/Barrett.