The Pony Express

RedandWhite revisits his pre-season analysis of his beloved Stampeders heading into their playoff bye.

I am happy to report that Mr. Heart Attack survived the last regular season game at McMahon last week.  He actually didn’t show up, sent his uncle in his place, maybe expecting to save himself potential grief as the Red and White tried to rebound against the Lions in the rematch game.  They did, in not so spectacular form but a W is a W nonetheless.  I guess that knowledge was lost upon them this past week in Winnipeg.

Quite frankly I missed everything of this last game in the ‘Peg after the second Stampeder drive, a prior commitment that put me at a distance from any radio or TV set.  It sounds for all intents and purposes that I left at a good time.  So I can’t really comment on anything, and simply re-hashing a bad nightmare from the perspective of those who did see the game would be a waste of time, and plagerism to boot.

No, what I would like to do this time around is kick myself in the rear for daring to put in writing some stuff at the beginning of the season that seems to have come full circle to slap me.  The first article I wrote for this column was titled ‘Five Things I like about the Stampeders’.  I went back and re-read that article and am wondering what the hell I was thinking.

If this sounds like I’m ready to risk a broken ankle from jumping off the bandwagon the answer is no, I tend to love my team regardless of how their faring, fool that I am.  But the time has come to really question some things going on in the Stamp camp and ask aloud ‘where the hell did this go off track?’.  The team that is present today has changed from the one at the beginning of the season, yet all the same pieces remain.  The following are excerts from that first article about what, I felt, the Stampeders had going for them.  See what I mean:

The possibilities.  …a top notch squad…in a position where other teams are required to fabricate a game plan against a powerful offence and a stifling defense.  …for those of us that stuck it out through the paper-bag-over-the-head years we are being rewarded with a team assembled to win, not just show up.

There have been too many games this year where the team just showed up.  The power and might that we were employing last year at this time has evaporated.

The quiet confidence. …the Stampeders are taking an approach this year that seems…more mature than last year.  We know we are good, we do not have to talk about it, we’ll just prove it on the field.

What was I thinking?!  This is completely embarrassing to recall!  This club has become the most vocal and at times the most obnoxious group in the CFL.  The TD dances, the bulletin board headlines, the trash talk.  I was duped I guess, like a naïve teenager promised that everyone would behave if I just had the party at my house, all would be well.  Here I am trying to explain it all to the cops and angry parents afterwards.

The professionalism. …class and tact… There is respect, class and honour being displayed in all aspects of this club and the City of Calgary is well represented by this organization.

Then tell me why we are probably the most hated club I the western division, by other western division teams?  Denny Creehan’s comments last week didn’t match up to this pre-season assessment.  Copeland and Lewis sure didn’t become great ambassadors for this City.  The QR77 radio staff should be embarrassed for referring to Charles Roberts as a ‘little puke’.  The only part of this franchise that I can get behind right now is Ted Hellard and his group.

The depth.  ….

Where did this go?  When we are leaving a completely inadequate Burris on the field, using a patched up backfield against the Blue Bombers and substituting guys I’ve never heard of in the LB position when BC is picking the likes of George White up off the street corner I have to ask where went the depth of this club?  We are toast at QB if Henry falters in the Western Semi Final.  We are toast if we can’t hold Charles Roberts to less than 100 yards in a game the D was pumped up for.

The optimism – This time last year it was all questions.

And really all those questions still remain.  We are no further ahead today than we were a year ago.  Same place in the standings.  Even less optimism going into the Semi-final game than last year.  In fact, I’d say we have more questions today about this club and its heart and desire than there were last year.  Where did it all go haywire?

If this club can somehow manage to work a miracle and extend its life into the off season then mark me a fair-weather fan who has trouble hoisting an “I Believe!” sign at the game.  Somehow though I don’t see this miracle happening, and this year, given the high hopes in June, will be a bigger disappointment than last.