The Labour Day Classic between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and host Saskatchewan Roughriders can be a knock-down-drag-out fight.
And the game can be pretty good, too.
“I remember coming as a young-kid spectator and seeing a really good fight up in the stands, so that’s the first thing that comes to my mind,” Roughriders centre Brendon LaBatte, a product of Weyburn, recalled with a laugh. “In terms of on the field, I know we’ve won big (and I’ve) been on the opposite side and lost big.
“It’s a tough game to play in … There’s just so much emotion that gets going. Early on, the team that can control that emotion and not let it get the best of them has the best chance.”
The Roughriders play host to the Bombers in the 53rd edition of the Labour Day Classic on Sunday. Game time at Mosaic Stadium is 2 p.m. (TSN, CKRM).
Saskatchewan has won 34 of the 52 previous meetings in Regina, including 11 of the past 12. Winnipeg won the 2016 Classic, getting a last-play field goal from Justin Medlock in a 28-25 victory.
“When you’re looking at your arch-rival and biggest nemesis, there would be a lot of similarities between the way we see Winnipeg and the way the U of R sees the U of S.” — Brendon LaBatte, comparing the Labour Day Classic with the rivalry between his alma mater, the University of Regina, and the University of Saskatchewan.
Both the Roughriders and Bombers take winning streaks into the 2017 edition of the Classic. Winnipeg has won five straight games en route to a 7-2-0 record, while Saskatchewan has won two in a row to improve to 4-4-0.
It’s the first time since 2014 that each of the Classic participants will be at or above the .500 mark for the season.
Regardless of the teams’ respective records, the Labour Day Classic always tends to be a wild affair. Bombers fans make the journey west to watch their team and — except for the incident LaBatte remembered — get along with Roughriders supporters.
Having held Fan Day on Saturday and with numerous events (including the game) set for Sunday, the Labour Day weekend will keep everyone occupied.
“There’s so much that goes into it,” said Roughriders quarterback Kevin Glenn, a product of Illinois State University and a former member of the Bombers. “It’s kind of like college and homecoming. It’s the same game every year, the homecoming game, but it’s the excitement that you put into the game.”
“It’s kind of like the Michigan-Michigan State game … It’ll never die out. I don’t care who’s coaching (or) who’s playing in it, it’ll never die out. It’ll always be one of the most important games of the season for both clubs.” — Detroit product Kevin Glenn, likening the Labour Day Classic to one of the NCAA’s biggest games.
Glenn, a 17-year CFL veteran, will make his first appearance for Saskatchewan in the Classic since the 2001 season.
He said Saturday that he vividly remembers that game, mainly because he threw the first touchdown pass of his career (to Demetris Bendross) in the Roughriders’ 20-18 loss.
The last time Glenn played in the Classic was 2008 when, as a member of the Bombers, he was the quarterback of record in Winnipeg’s 19-6 loss.
Now, nine years later, he makes his return to the Classic.
“I’ve played in other ones, but I will say that this one kind of tops (the list),” said Glenn, who also played in traditional Labour Day rivalries as a member of the Calgary Stampeders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats during his career.
“The other ones are pretty close too, but this one (is tops) just because of the nature of it, how close in proximity (the cities) are, the similarities they have with their fan bases and all that kind of stuff.
“This is like a rich tradition when it comes down to the Labour Day game and I’m excited to play in it again.”
“The two teams are so close in geographic location, so it makes it a rivalry within itself. Anytime you play on both sides, you understand what it’s all about.” — Jovon Johnson, who played in six Classics as a member of the Bombers.
The Roughriders and Bombers met previously this regular season, with Winnipeg winning 43-40 in double overtime on July 1.
Saskatchewan’s defence had its issues in that contest, with coverage busts leaving receivers uncovered. The Bombers got three touchdown passes from Matt Nichols during a seven-minute eruption in the second quarter — including two scoring tosses to Weston Dressler in a span of 37 seconds — while turning a 17-13 deficit into a 34-20 lead.
The Roughriders rallied, but ultimately fell in OT.
The defensive issues seem to have been addressed, based on Saskatchewan’s showing in back-to-back wins over the B.C. Lions and Edmonton Eskimos.
“It’s the same guys, it’s just a different output,” cornerback Jovon Johnson said. “When we play for each other and we believe that we’re going to get it done and we take the field with the attitude that we’re going to get it done, things tend to happen.”
The offence also has been on target during the winning streak, which Glenn said is a result of the players buying into the system.
“Those tough couple of games early in the season helped us as a team bond together and understand that we are a team and that we have to lean on each other to be successful,” he said. “I think that’s what has been happening the past couple of weeks.”
“Everyone knows what’s at stake. Everyone knows the feeling the other team has toward you and how you feel toward them. You have friends on the other team, but you want to beat that team for a lot of different reasons. One, it’s the rivalry, but then the fans get into it too and that makes it a lot of fun. It’s that big-game feeling.” — Cameron Marshall, comparing the Classic to the rivalry between the school he attended, Arizona State University, and the University of Arizona.
With a victory Sunday, the Bombers can win the season series. The Roughriders, of course, are eager to tie up the series and make the third game — Sept. 9 in Winnipeg — the deciding match.
The implications of Sunday’s game, then, are huge.
“It’s an opportunity for us to prove that we belong in the running for the West Division,” Johnson said. “It’s definitely a game that we look forward to, a matchup that we want at this time of the season, and it’ll show what we have and how good we are.”
Perhaps the best part about the Classic is the fact that the teams will meet again just six days later in Winnipeg.
Any abuse heaped on the Bombers by Roughriders fans on Sunday will be answered in kind next weekend at Investors Group Field — and LaBatte knows it. The veteran centre spent four seasons with Winnipeg before signing with the Roughriders in 2012.
“(The Bombers) know they’re coming in to probably the most hostile environment they’ll see all year and we know a week later that we’re going to be in the same situation,” LaBatte said. “You’ve got to make sure you can keep your emotions in check. Speaking from years past when I was a member of the Bombers, it’s easy to let it snowball on you — and that’ll be the same thing when we go back there.
“If something doesn’t go right, you’ve got to be able to block it out, regroup and go back out there. You can’t let it linger around and carry on because if you start letting stuff linger around, with that amount of noise and in that type of environment, it’s only going to spiral down on you.”
