Pre-game intros need to be fixed for next year - embarrassing.
As many long-timers here know, I am a nitpicker when it comes to in-game elements 
(gold lines on the field, inflatable igloo, ads, promos, etc.etc.etc.)...because they add a lot to the in-game experience when they are done well.
But I don't recall ever seeing a pre-game as poorly orchestrated as tonight's. Those who were watching on TV probably don't know, but here's what happened:
With about 11 mins on the clock, they started the CORE video (intro video as they've been using all year). It runs probably 2 or 3 minutes.
At the conclusion of the video, in theory, the boys are in the helmet and here they come as a group (minus the starters who are announced). But not tonight. A couple of guys come out of the room, but no more. A few seconds go by...then a few more...then the first of the fireworks go off. Only about two shots went off, and then they stopped.
Another pregnant pause.
Then one lineman - O'Donnell, I think - runs out of the helmet. Scheetz announces "and now, led by head coach Kavis Reed, your EDMONTON ESKIMOS!"...and the rest of the fireworks go off.
At the conclusion of the fireworks, there were four guys through the helmet (when it's usually 30 guys). Just then the non-starters started to come out of the room in small groups and jog through the helmet without any fanfare. Scheetz waits about thirty seconds until he can wait no more and then launches into the starting defence - who weren't all ready to go, but managed to come out in some sort of decent order.
JC is the last starter announced (fittingly)......and then Calgary, who is all nicely grouped in THEIR helmet (why the hell we give the visitors their own nice tunnel is beyond me), runs out as a group while we're still at centre field.
Now, I have two issues with this.
One is that, when we come out like that, our team doesn't appear anywhere NEAR ready to play to the observing fan. They're supposed to have their heads in the game and they can't even come out of the room when they're supposed to? They were disjointed and disorganized and it does not look good on the team. They don't even look like a team - if they come out as a group, they look much more unified. At least they got the right starters coming out with the right names etc., which doesn't always happen.
The second, which has been going on for three games now, is that the visitors have been introduced last. This goes against everything I have ever seen or thought about intros.
1) When the visitors are introduced first, it doesn't give them time to get fired up in their tunnel (anyone see Sask knocking it around like a plaything last game? That's what they do at their home games - what they do to get fired up).
2) It also forces the visitors to watch your introductions - your intro video, your fireworks, your attitude as you come out. If you come out as a group, with energy, they know they're in for a game. It can be intimidating.
3) It also prevents conflict at centre field - if the away team gathers at centre field first, they usually disperse before the home team comes out. In the Hamilton game, there was nearly a fight pre-game because the Esks gathered at centre first, and then they got mad at the Ti-Cats coming out and bouncing up and down on the logo at centre. Simple way to fix that.
4) It keeps the crowd in it and preserves positive energy. When the visitors come out first, everyone boos...and then the home team comes out, and everyone cheers, and they keep cheering through the starters, and are in a much better mood through the anthems etc. But when the home team comes out first, there's cheering......and then booing for the visitors, and then no real reason to cheer until the home team does something good on the field.
Now, some coaches will purposely be late on the road to try to dictate the pace to the home team if the visitors are introduced first. Easy way around this - if they're late, screw 'em, they won't get announced. They aren't worth paying attention to. If the home team wants to be late second, fine, it keeps the visitors waiting - no issue with that at all. Even better, maybe, if the home team is early - shows the away team they're ready to go.
This may seem like nothing to a lot of people. But I really think it has a true psychological effect, and I wasn't surprised one bit when we started the game so slowly. Whatever speech Kavis kept them in the room for obviously didn't work...so how about being on time for your own damn intros?
Don't get me wrong, I think the game day folks usually do a great job and if they have to work with the team to fix this, fine. I tweeted at them after the Sask game asking for a reason why the home team was intro'd first - didn't get a response.
But tonight, honestly, that was pathetic, and I don't necessarily blame the game day crew (I think it's probably on Kavis's pre-game speech going long more than anything)...but they have to do a better job of coordination with the team. If the team isn't out, fine - don't start the intro video so early. And I'm still trying to figure out why the visitors are second - that usually gives the home team more time to talk and get organized, so why are we trying to rush things and intro the home team first?
Confusing, honestly.
(gold lines on the field, inflatable igloo, ads, promos, etc.etc.etc.)...because they add a lot to the in-game experience when they are done well.But I don't recall ever seeing a pre-game as poorly orchestrated as tonight's. Those who were watching on TV probably don't know, but here's what happened:
With about 11 mins on the clock, they started the CORE video (intro video as they've been using all year). It runs probably 2 or 3 minutes.
At the conclusion of the video, in theory, the boys are in the helmet and here they come as a group (minus the starters who are announced). But not tonight. A couple of guys come out of the room, but no more. A few seconds go by...then a few more...then the first of the fireworks go off. Only about two shots went off, and then they stopped.
Another pregnant pause.
Then one lineman - O'Donnell, I think - runs out of the helmet. Scheetz announces "and now, led by head coach Kavis Reed, your EDMONTON ESKIMOS!"...and the rest of the fireworks go off.
At the conclusion of the fireworks, there were four guys through the helmet (when it's usually 30 guys). Just then the non-starters started to come out of the room in small groups and jog through the helmet without any fanfare. Scheetz waits about thirty seconds until he can wait no more and then launches into the starting defence - who weren't all ready to go, but managed to come out in some sort of decent order.
JC is the last starter announced (fittingly)......and then Calgary, who is all nicely grouped in THEIR helmet (why the hell we give the visitors their own nice tunnel is beyond me), runs out as a group while we're still at centre field.
Now, I have two issues with this.
One is that, when we come out like that, our team doesn't appear anywhere NEAR ready to play to the observing fan. They're supposed to have their heads in the game and they can't even come out of the room when they're supposed to? They were disjointed and disorganized and it does not look good on the team. They don't even look like a team - if they come out as a group, they look much more unified. At least they got the right starters coming out with the right names etc., which doesn't always happen.
The second, which has been going on for three games now, is that the visitors have been introduced last. This goes against everything I have ever seen or thought about intros.
1) When the visitors are introduced first, it doesn't give them time to get fired up in their tunnel (anyone see Sask knocking it around like a plaything last game? That's what they do at their home games - what they do to get fired up).
2) It also forces the visitors to watch your introductions - your intro video, your fireworks, your attitude as you come out. If you come out as a group, with energy, they know they're in for a game. It can be intimidating.
3) It also prevents conflict at centre field - if the away team gathers at centre field first, they usually disperse before the home team comes out. In the Hamilton game, there was nearly a fight pre-game because the Esks gathered at centre first, and then they got mad at the Ti-Cats coming out and bouncing up and down on the logo at centre. Simple way to fix that.
4) It keeps the crowd in it and preserves positive energy. When the visitors come out first, everyone boos...and then the home team comes out, and everyone cheers, and they keep cheering through the starters, and are in a much better mood through the anthems etc. But when the home team comes out first, there's cheering......and then booing for the visitors, and then no real reason to cheer until the home team does something good on the field.
Now, some coaches will purposely be late on the road to try to dictate the pace to the home team if the visitors are introduced first. Easy way around this - if they're late, screw 'em, they won't get announced. They aren't worth paying attention to. If the home team wants to be late second, fine, it keeps the visitors waiting - no issue with that at all. Even better, maybe, if the home team is early - shows the away team they're ready to go.
This may seem like nothing to a lot of people. But I really think it has a true psychological effect, and I wasn't surprised one bit when we started the game so slowly. Whatever speech Kavis kept them in the room for obviously didn't work...so how about being on time for your own damn intros?
Don't get me wrong, I think the game day folks usually do a great job and if they have to work with the team to fix this, fine. I tweeted at them after the Sask game asking for a reason why the home team was intro'd first - didn't get a response.
But tonight, honestly, that was pathetic, and I don't necessarily blame the game day crew (I think it's probably on Kavis's pre-game speech going long more than anything)...but they have to do a better job of coordination with the team. If the team isn't out, fine - don't start the intro video so early. And I'm still trying to figure out why the visitors are second - that usually gives the home team more time to talk and get organized, so why are we trying to rush things and intro the home team first?
Confusing, honestly.
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