Hello Rider Fans,
Welcome to your inaugural edition of keys to the game and fun facts for the 2014 Rider season. Before every game this season check us out here on riderville.com as the Green and White make another run at the Cup.
With the Riders winning the 2013 Grey Cup on their home turf for the first time ever, the only thing to top that would be back to back championships for first time in our franchise’s storied history.
Kent Austin brings his Ti-Cat squad back to Mosaic Stadium for a Grey Cup rematch to end week one of the CFL season.
– Since 2004, the defending Grey Cup champs are 5-5 in their next season’s opening game.
– The Riders overall have won 6 of their past 7 home openers while the Ti-Cats have lost 9 straight season openers.
Milestones:
Darian Durant is:
– 289 yards away from 23,000 in his career
– 18 completions from overtaking Kent Austin for second in Riders career pass attempts
Dwight Anderson’s next interception is the 20th in his CFL career
John Chick is three sacks away from 30 in his CFL career
Ricky Foley is two sacks away from 40 in his CFL career
Chris Getzlaf’s next catch is his 300th in his CFL career
Neal Hughes is 2 games away from 140 in his CFL career
Paul Woldu is 2 games away from 100 in his CFL career
With the current 46 man roster here is what conferences (this is with the current NCAA alignment, not when the player played at his school) are best represented:
CIS School – U of Saskatchewan Huskies – 4 (Steinhauer, Heenan, Woldu, McHenry)
CIS Conference – Can West – 8 (Sask-4, Regina-3, Calgary-1)
NCAA School – San Diego St Aztecs – 3 (Maze, Schilens, Swain)
NCAA Conference – Atlantic Coast Conference – 7*(Va Tech-1, N.Carolina-1, Pitt-1, Ga.Tech-1, Syracuse-1, Duke-2* Chris Best played at Duke for his 4 years before transferring to Waterloo)
Here are three things I will be watching from the press box:
POUND THE ROCK – Like in 2013, the key to the Rider success will be how well they run the football. Kory Sheets had a remarkable season a year ago with 1598 yards and this season will kick off with CFL rookie Anthony Allen in the backfield. The former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket will have what many call the best offensive line in the CFL to run behind. If he finds success against the Ti-Cat front 7, the Green and White offence will have a great day.
MAKE ZACH COLLAROS’ LIFE MISERABLE – The former Toronto Argo back-up is now the starter with the Hamilton Ti-Cats replacing perennial all-star Henry Burris. This is the first time that Collaros is the man after backing up Ricky Ray the last two seasons in Toronto. We’ll see if the 3rd year CFL pivot can take the pressure of being the man to help lead Hamilton back to the Grey Cup.
THE GREEN INTERIOR – With the departure of Keith Shologan and Jermaine McElveen, there was a great battle at training camp for the two defensive tackle rotation spots alongside all-star Tearrius George. Two players will be making their first ever CFL start: Former two-time second team all-big-ten defensive tackle, Derek Walker and a 7th round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2012, Trevor Guyton.
Tune into riderville.com on Tuesday for the first episode of “Rider Rewind”, this will be a breakdown of Sunday’s game against the Hamilton Ti-Cats with interviews and analysis from future Hall of Famer, Geroy Simon.
