Riders can not fall into a trap

The Saskatchewan Roughriders must not let themselves get overconfident as they approach their second meeting at home against the Eskimos in three weeks.On Saturday July 28th they completely manhandled the Northern Alberta crew to the tune of 54-14.Since then they have defeated the BC lions and Toronto Argonauts and in so doing have outscored their opponents 99-36 in their last three games and have the number one offence and defence in the CFL and are ranked number one overall. This is a situation where overconfidence could easily become a problem however rookie Head Coach Kent Austin is not about to let that happen.

The Riders face an Eskimo team that is wounded both mentally and physically.The proud wining Green and Gold tradition of not missing the playoffs in 34 consecutive years came to an end last year and the Edmonton crew are determined to not miss the playoffs for two years in a row. The Eskies will limp into Mosaic Stadium with possibly ten of their early season roster personnel on the injured list including their two best offensive linemen Dan Comiskey and Kevin Lefsrud among the wounded and they will both be missed more than any of the other injured warriors.It appears that veteran receiver Jason Tucker and starting defensive back Shanon Garrett will also not be dressed.

A couple more losses and there could be some big changes in the Northern Alberta City as many of the media are hollering for Head Coach Danny Maciocia,s scalp and if a change were to be made it would be interesting to see who would succeed the beleaguered pint sized Coach now in his third year as the Head honcho. Edmonton COO Rick LeLacheur. vehemently supports Maciocia but that support is not universal as there are those on the board of Directors who would like to see offensive Co-ordinator Jacque Chapdelaine take over and others including former Head Coach, General Manager and team President Hugh Campbell who are leading the charge for Campbells son Rick currently the defensive Co-ordinator to take over.However that is unlikely to happen as the Igloo dwellers currently have the worst defense in the CFL.

The good guys in Green and White realize to a man know how important this game is as if they are triumphant for the second time in three weeks over the Eskimos they will find themselves either alone in first place or at worst in a tie with the Leos for Western Division leadership depending what happens in the game between the Stampeders and Lions Friday night in Calgary.I cannot remember the last time Saskatchewan beat Edmonton twice in a row and certainly not within a period of three weeks.

The fanatic football fans of this province are in a giddy state right now as they have waited so long for the club be in the position they currently are as the last time the club went into the Labour Day classic in first place was in 1976 and the fact that could be their status after Saturday night has coffee rows throughout the province buzzing. So many of the thirty to thirty five year old fans I talked to cannot believe the teams good fortune because most of their life they have seen the Roughriders struggling to not just make the playoffs but sometimes to win just a few games in order to keep the franchise alive.

It is virtually one year ago that General Manager Eric Tillman arrived in Regina to straighten out the mess and chaotic state of affairs that Roy Shivers had this franchise in and I am certain that in his wildest imagination he would not have beleived in a turnaround in the teams fortunes of this magnitude taking place. There have been no arrests and no negative off the field incidents that got so much ugly attention in recent years .Overall there is a belief out there that this team is for real and the past should be forgotten about.

Kent Austin creates an atmosphere where a quiet even keeled confidence prevails and things should just get better and it should all begin with another sound whipping of the hated and despised Eskimos on the weekend.