THE CORBETT REPORT – Banjo Bowl

The Corbett Report – Issue 2013-05 – September 8, 2013

Winnipeg vs. Saskatchewan

The Banjo Bowl

THE OPENING SONG – The Boys in the lime green tractor–  (Sung to the tune of The Boys in The Bright White Sports Car (Trooper))

Here them come

The boys in the lime green tractors

Heading to Investors Group Field

Who do they think they are?

They’re blocking the line at the bar

There they go

The boys in the lime green tractor

Trying to impress all the girls

Invading melon head fans and with a banjo in hand

Ladadada
Ladadada
Da

Ladadada
Ladadada
Da

There they go

The boys are really rollin’

Hey Blue Bombers call the cops

That tractor is probably stolen, stolen

There they go

The boys are really rollin’

Hey Blue Bombers call the cops

That tractor is probably stolen, stolen

Here they come

The boys in lime green tractors

Waving their arms in the air

They’re 8 and 1 that’s a sin

But this Banjo Bowl we win

Ladadada
Ladadada
Da

Ladadada
Ladadada
Da

Introduction

Once a year, in the middle of the season, the CFL schedule includes an intriguing mini-series that becomes an event onto itself.  Regardless of the participant’s records, a prairie rivalry is reborn.  A mini Grey Cup if you will.  It used to be just the Labour Day Classic, but in recent years it’s turned into the back to back series between the Riders and Bombers.  LDC on the Labour Day weekend and the Banjo Bowl rematch.  The series often defies the records of the two teams, as in 2011 when the 7-1 Bombers were upset at the LDC by the 1-7 Riders.  It’s a rivalry with deep roots and a deep history that epitomizes the best that the CFL has to offer.  Two sold out games, two groups of passionate fans, sometimes even great football and always, a diminished watermelon inventory.

Welcome to the Banjo Bowl.  Welcome to the Corbett report.

Standings

I’ll do the math for you.  The Riders have scored 120 more points than the Bombers and allowed 93 fewer.

The Bombers

Another week of change for the Bombers. It’s getting difficult to keep track but here’s an attempt to name some of the new players that are wearing Blue and Gold:

Aaron Kelly (WR)

Mike Sims Walker (WR)

Jason Boltus (QB)

Levi Brown (QB)

Aaron Rouse (ooops he came and went)

Payton Manning (QB)

…plus a bunch of DB’s whose names escape me

At this point it’s fair to say that the Bombers are in a freefall unseen since Wylie Coyote opened his parachute only to find it was an ACME Anvil.  It’s also pretty safe to say that the outgoing GM Joe Mack assembled a pretty mediocre group of players and the Bombers are frantically trying to find something that sticks.

Last week Justin Goltz showed signs of hope.  He completed 9 of his first 9 passes, ran into the end zone for a 42 yard touchdown and had his team up by 4 at the half.  Then however, came the third quarter.  The Bombers have been outscored something like 42 – 2 in the third quarter this year and last week was no different as the Riders outscored the Bombers 10 – 0 in the 3^rd and then went on to outscore the Bombers 24 – 7 in the 4^th as Goltz threw two interceptions.

That’s got to be seen as a turning point in virtually every game this year for the Bombers.  They’re reasonably mediocre in the first half but dismal in the second.

Missing this week is Chad Simpson with a foot injury so the running back role will be Will Ford.  Will is the great-great-grandson of Henry Ford III who invented the SUV in the mid 1920s (I don’t make this stuff up I just report it).

It’s hard to get a read on the Bombers at this point in the season. Whether they’re righting the ship or just throwing darts at the dartboard, remains to be seen. We’ll know a lot more around 6 pm Sunday.

The Riders

Everything the Bombers aren’t, the Riders are.  Consistent, talented, well coached, well managed.  Hey, when you live in Saskatchewan you don’t have a lot of distractions (“look, a gopher”?).  In fact, by way of full disclosure, I know more names of the Rider starters this week than I know of the Bombers.  Simon, Getzlaf, Wessler, Durant, Sheets . . . sigh.

Still, the Riders record is somewhat suspect.  They’ve had some close games and perhaps they’re due for an upset.  Perhaps they’re due to slip on a stray watermelon.

Fun Facts

• Geroy Simon needs only one more reception to move into the #2 all time receiving spot
• Bombers O Line gave up 19 sacks in the first 5 games in 2013, only 2 per game since
• Bombers have turned the ball over 32 times this year.  Sask, uhmm . . .  8
• Bombers’ Alex Hall leads the league in sacks with 11 (Bombers lead the league in sacks, their lone highlight on the stats board)
• All though I seldom reference the NFL I do have to point this out: Payton Manning on Thursday threw for 7 touch down passes.  That’s 2 more than the Bomber QB’s have thrown in their first 9 games – total!