Rider Rivals Invade from the East
Corporate Riders
Make no mistake the Riders are what they once thumbed their collective noses at, a corporation. Oh maybe not in legal sense, but for certain in practical operation. In the corporate world branding and promotion is imperative. While the Riders aggressively protect their brand they also like to use black hat gamesmanship sanctioned by an entire nation to promote it. The WWE villain atmosphere that now surrounds the self-declared Canada’s team makes for good drama and internet banter, but real it serves to sell more t-shirts and coffee mugs. The Riders first create the anti-everything illness and then sell the antidote. Of late the Riders have created their own problems then feed the standard Jones “us against the world” solution to their believers. True corporate acumen!
In Edmonton, Esk fans have seen this act before. It worked well to galvanize a club that lacked the unity and emotion to win. Why wouldn’t Jones recreate the situation while the self-professed best fans with the deepest pockets are still behind Jones. Plenty of cash to waste on fines, billboards and high priced football operation salaries. Eventually the act will get old if it isn’t coupled with winning, but for now the Riders revel in wearing the black hats, the cash it creates and hope that it will lead them out of the wilds of losing. Esk fans know it will and that it will result in record profits too. Yet, there is something different about this version of the Jones authored one act play about persecution. Could it be that the act is becoming tiresome for many and their wrath is actually well founded?
Campbell Football League
Back in the late seventies and mid-eighties Rider nation accused the Eskimos of underhanded acts. They went as far as dubbing the Eskies the Evil Empire and complaining that CFL stood for the Campbell Football League. A reference calling out Hugh Campbell, former general manager of the Eskimos, for buying championships. Meanwhile the Riders were challenged to stay afloat holding telethons and lotteries to keep the team from folding. Rider management argued that a salary management system was needed to prevent rich teams from signing all the best players. The SMS and a deep rivalry was born as a result.
In 1989, the plucky boys from the rectangle changed a fate of a franchise with a single kick to win a Grey Cup. They would not win another until 2007, but in the interim 1989 cup win a stimulated a fan base and opened their wallets. Meanwhile the Eskimos would add cups in 1993, 2003 and 2005 stoking the fires of jealousy and rivalry. From 2007 to 2010 fortunes had been reversed and Rider pride changed somehow. Going from lovable underdog makes good to corporate swagger that filled the coffers of a community owned team. Just like the Eskimos had done years before. It seems the two franchise had become akin to one another only separated by timing.
WWE Smack Talk
As the pendulum of change swung towards ineptitude in 2012 and 2013 it was Riders nation’s turn to smugly poke fun at their rival. Further bad blood ensued. In 2015 the Eskimos won another Grey Cup and the Riders countered by luring away the Grey Cup coach. More bad blood ensued. Recently accusations of duplicitous acts were levied by Eskimo and Stampeder fans against the cash flush Riders. Another feud of words broke out in the twitterverse and rivalries deepened even more. As football goes very rarely have the Eskimos and Riders been first and second in the west battling it out for supremacy in the standings. The rivalry has all been about perceived slights, cheats and snubs.
The pettiness of fan bases aside the reality is that the Esks versus Riders rivalry is good for the CFL. It makes for good television that drives sponsorship, the two corporate revenue streams that drive the CFL today. Even with the Riders recent troubles on the field they always come to play against the Eskimos. In week ten Esk fans can fully expect a knock down drag out street fight on the field. In the seats and the twitterverse a war of words from both sides WWE smack talk style.
Never Look Past
The Esks offense needs to come out and make a statement putting up big numbers against a team they should beat. Currently the Esks are favorites by 13.5. It will be disappointing if the offense doesn’t put up more than forty points and win by ten or more against the last place defense. This is more than just beating up on a lesser team, it is about making a statement that the Brotherhood Of Nasty Eskimos are back. Back against their rival. However, Esk fans should expect that Jones has something special cooked up for his old team. It will be nasty and black hearted with the intent to embarrass the Esks. So don’t get caught Eskies.
On the other side of the ball the defense needs to show last week was no fluke. Jumping routes, force fumbles and get to the quarterback. It is about showing that the defense is improving and can be a mid-tier defense in the second half of the season. A top five defense and a top two offense will get the Esks back in the conversation as a rival and contender down the stretch. To do this the defense needs one more piece a veteran national nose tackle that gets pressure on the quarterback and also stuffs the run. The answer may just be weeks away in Detroit Lions pre-season camp. Defensive tackle Stefan Charles is rumored to be on the bubble behind Khyri Thornton and Gabe Wright. A player that would help next to Almondo Sewell when the Esks are next in Mosaic Stadium.
Coming into week ten the Eskimos are currently tied for third in the west division. Additionally, the Esks have an opportunity to put the rivals in a hole that makes it difficult for the Riders to rebound from. Although Esks fans couldn’t fathom a Jason Maas coach team lacking intensity, the Esks must not look past the Riders. Winning the two games against the riders in the next four is paramount for the Esks to stay in the thick of the standings.