Riders Trade Fred Perry to the Smoe's

[Sir Purrcival]

When times are good, which they are now for Tillman, he's going to get more or less a free pass but if times go bad (and let's face it, with the Riders, it's only a question of when) his shtick is going to get old real fast.

Whats that crap supposed to mean? As if in BC, times have always been good. Before Ackles/Buono, the Lions were terrible.

:lol:
BC has never had bad times, they have always been great. Gee, I don't know where I could have got that idea from?

or or

[Big Time]

When times are good, which they are now for Tillman, he's going to get more or less a free pass but if times go bad (and let's face it, with the Riders, it's only a question of when) his shtick is going to get old real fast.

Whats that crap supposed to mean? As if in BC, times have always been good. Before Ackles/Buono, the Lions were terrible.

Three championships in 100 years, one home playoff game in 18 years, zero first place finishes and finding ways to lose in ways previously thought unimaginable (remember when they only had to not lose by less than 24 points to secure a home playoff game and then went on to lose by 25?). I could go through some of the truly embarrassing losses the Riders have suffered over the last few years but I'll spare you and just give you the bottom line. In an 8 team league, the Riders have been possibly one of the worst franchises in professional sports history. Even in leaner times, the Lions still managed to squeak out a few Grey Cups in 1994 and 2000. People like to think that the Riders are in some sort of glory period because they got lucky last year, but look at their record over the last few years and it tells a different story. When it comes to being mediocre, the Riders have been that and a whole lot worse for the vast majority of their history. It's not a stretch to suggest they'll be back there again real soon.

[DerekDD]

When times are good, which they are now for Tillman, he's going to get more or less a free pass but if times go bad (and let's face it, with the Riders, it's only a question of when) his shtick is going to get old real fast.

Whats that crap supposed to mean? As if in BC, times have always been good. Before Ackles/Buono, the Lions were terrible.

Three championships in 100 years, one home playoff game in 18 years, zero first place finishes and finding ways to lose in ways previously thought unimaginable (remember when they only had to not lose by less than 24 points to secure a home playoff game and then went on to lose by 25?). I could go through some of the truly embarrassing losses the Riders have suffered over the last few years but I'll spare you and just give you the bottom line. In an 8 team league, the Riders have been possibly one of the worst franchises in professional sports history. Even in leaner times, the Lions still managed to squeak out a few Grey Cups in 1994 and 2000. People like to think that the Riders are in some sort of glory period because they got lucky last year, but look at their record over the last few years and it tells a different story. When it comes to being mediocre, the Riders have been that and a whole lot worse for the vast majority of their history. It's not a stretch to suggest they'll be back there again real soon.

:lol:

It sounds to me like someone is scared of the Riders.

[Robbie]

zero first place finishes

Are you referring to just those 18 years or are you referring to overall?

Because Saskatchewan did finish in first place in the West Division and also had the most regular season points several times in the 1960's and 1970's.

[Big Time]

I was referring to the last 18 years. There seems to be a sentiment that the Riders are in their glory years and their recent history proves otherwise, despite last year's championship.

[DerekDD]

I was referring to the last 18 years. There seems to be a sentiment that the Riders are in their glory years and their recent history proves otherwise, despite last year's championship.

What recent history? With who? The Lions sucked before Ackles and Buono came in to run your franchise. We weren't exactly sucking before Tillman came in and hired Austin but we were always a .500 team and stagnating so the years under Barrett and Shivers weren't glory years. Things changed when the new president, Jim Hopson, began clearing house and fired Shivers. Tillman was hired who waited the rest of the season and then hired Austin, shed about 700 thousand in salaries, and brought in many new coaches.

The results spoke for themselves. We've now lost Austin but Austin raves about his replacement, Ken Miller. You're just blowing a lot of air because the Riders organization isn't poor anymore (look for a multi-million dollar profit to be posted this year, way more than the Lions) and the salary cap levels the field. We now have good management just as you do with Ackles and Buono, along with stable finances. The old days of the Riders being the CFL Western whipping boy are over.

I'd be more concerned with your own franchise. Braley won't be the owner forever and you might end up with another Murray Pezim.

[Big Time]

What recent history? Are you nuts? Do you know the last time the Riders finished in first place in the Western division? It was 1976!!! 31 years and counting! They've managed ONE second place finish in the last 18 years and have not managed higher than third for the remainder of that time. Next to Ottawa, every single team managed to finish first and win championships in that period. You throw out 2007, and I would argue that the Riders have been mediocre for a long time. Just because your team came close to winning the WDF in 2004 doesn't change the fact that this team has been more or less average or terrible for three decades. You're right the Lions haven't always been good but there results have been far better than the Riders over the same time frame.

What recent history indeed. If what you have seen over the last 18 years is a measure of good team success, than I wish you 18 more years of the same.

[DerekDD]

What recent history? Are you nuts? Do you know the last time the Riders finished in first place in the Western division? It was 1976!!! 31 years and counting! They've managed ONE second place finish in the last 18 years and have not managed higher than third for the remainder of that time. Next to Ottawa, every single team managed to finish first and win championships in that period. You throw out 2007, and I would argue that the Riders have been mediocre for a long time. Just because your team came close to winning the WDF in 2004 doesn't change the fact that this team has been more or less average or terrible for three decades. You're right the Lions haven't always been good but there results have been far better than the Riders over the same time frame.

What recent history indeed. If what you have seen over the last 18 years is a measure of good team success, than I wish you 18 more years of the same.

I look forward to the next few years and won't live in the past, like some other people.

[hwgill]

Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. Other than 07 & 89, the Riders past is pretty bad.

The Riders won't repeat, they're simply not that good. Yes, they won the GC last year, but if it weren't for a lack of effort on the part of the Lions, they wouldn't even have made it that far.

The Riders had good coaching last year, and were hungry, but repeating? Never gonna happen.

In the West, I see either the Leos or the Stamps making it to the GC, in the East, Bombers or Argos.