The Canadian Press
Back in the ’80s, Rider stars like Glen Suitor, Don Narcisse and others recorded ’11 That’s Enough’.
The reason was the Riders had missed the playoffs for 11 years and quite frankly, the fan base, the players had enough.
It worked! They ended the drought in 1988 and year later won the Grey Cup.
Thankfully, you can relive that musical masterpiece on YouTube.
You’re welcome.
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Matt Nichols hopes to keep his team’s winning streak alive when they take on the Riders on Sunday (The Canadian Press)
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers may want to repeat the past and record their own ’11 That’s Enough’ as it has been 11 long years since they’ve won the rivalry game, known as the Labour Day Classic, against those pesky Roughriders.
The last time the Bombers found a way to win was back in 2004 when Kevin Glenn took over the reins for the team at quarterback.
And don’t fool yourself by thinking the red hot Bombers should cruise to a win against the basement dwelling Riders who have lost five straight.
During this 11 year stretch, the Riders have 1-7 and 0-9, had quarterbacks making their first start after a week of practice and still found a way to win.
Riders star receiver Naaman Roosevelt likens it to ‘Homecoming Week’ for schools down south. The crowed shows up, loud and proud and there is a different feeling around the stadium than any other week.
Maybe it’s the herd of blue and gold that travels to Mosaic Stadium that rallies the Green and White faithful or maybe it’s liquid courage or maybe it’s the fact they don’t have to go to work on Monday.
Whatever the reason, it’s hard to explain just how the Riders find an extra gear or an extra big play to win, like they did when Kerry Joseph in 2007 ran 20-yard on a QB draw for the game winning touchdown.
But maybe there is something special for the Bombers this week as they have Weston Dressler making an emotional return to Saskatchewan, where he became a fan favourite and will most definitely be honoured in the Riders Plaza of Honor when his career comes to an end.
He’ll be motivated and eager to play and his teammates know it.
“Oh big time,” said defensive lineman Keith Shologan when I spoke with him this week.
“Whenever you get thrown on another team and you’re playing against your former team of course you’re going to be excited. I think we all kind of are to get out there and play some football but the game will mean something extra special for him.”
For Shologan this will also be his first Labour Day Classic in Blue and Gold, though he’s lived the return game to Saskatchewan after being a member of the REDBLACKS the last two seasons.
In fact, the players on the opposition sideline are far more familiar with the Bomber/Riders rivalry than on the home side.
“It’s one of the funnest games you’ll play in your life so it’s exciting for us and we had fun in practice just getting ready for this game.”
Naaman Roosevelt
The Riders will look for win number two on the season when they host the Blue Bombers (CFL.ca)
Because of the Rider purge in the off-season, there are only a handful of Riders left that have played in the game. Those veteran players have had to explain to the new faces just what this game means.
“We’re talking to them about how exciting it is and how the fans get,” says Roosevelt, who was playing just his second career game in last year’s Labour Day Classic.
“It’s one of the funnest games you’ll play in your life so it’s exciting for us and we had fun in practice just getting ready for this game.”
It’ll be an eye opener for the newcomers because they’ll have to see it to really believe it. But it’s a crowd second year Rider Naaman Roosevelt hopes propels them to their second win of the season.
“You just see the excitement around the city with people telling you, ‘you guys got to win this one’, ‘you guys have to be ready, it’s a big game’, so what Robbie (Bagg) has been talking about and what (Darian) Durant’s been talking about is this could be a game changer for us.”
However, the Riders have talked a lot about needing that one win to get some momentum moving in the right direction. Could it happen on Labour Day Sunday? Stanger things have happened in this game.
Anybody remember the name Rocky Butler?
For the Bombers, however, they’re trying to keep a good thing going as they enter the game with a four game winning streak and they’re trying to keep pace in the West and even stay in the conversation for the potential of a home playoff game.
But a win for the Bombers, on Labour Day Sunday, in Weston Dressler’s return to Mosaic, ending an 11-year drought against their biggest rival, would be the cherry on top of what appears to be a turn around season.
In fact, it may be worth writing a song about.
