tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16538424.post3202958566233178498..comments2024-02-29T23:31:03.341-05:00Comments on Out Of Left Field: Mythbusters Sundaysagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16538424.post-23608412798398764482008-11-18T15:23:00.000-05:002008-11-18T15:23:00.000-05:00Western was building a pretty good team in 2007, a...Western was building a pretty good team in 2007, as evidenced by how they continued to win this season. <BR/><BR/>I'd argue that Calgary was the fourth best team in CanWest in terms of how they matched up against Laval.<BR/><BR/>Regardless, they were both conference champs and were crushed.<BR/><BR/>I didn't write that the fourth place CanWest team would win the Yates, only that they could. CanWest isn't that much better than the competitive OUA teams anymore. But CanWest is better. I think the OUA champ has only beaten the CanWest champ once since the 1994 (OT) Vanier Cup.<BR/><BR/>There aren't dramatically fewer juniors, as Dan posted above, but it is a gradual change.Steve Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05755534565368552820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16538424.post-88135839154712574052008-11-18T12:15:00.000-05:002008-11-18T12:15:00.000-05:00There's been a dramatic change in Can West ... few...There's been a dramatic change in Can West ... fewer juniors!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16538424.post-34891741362982128712008-11-18T09:24:00.000-05:002008-11-18T09:24:00.000-05:00You mean the No. 6 seeded Western team that unexpe...You mean the No. 6 seeded Western team that unexpectedly won the Yates and was far from the most talented Ontario team?<BR/><BR/>And, Laurier did OK against Saskatchewan in 2005.<BR/><BR/>No, the west hasn't fallen into an abyss, but the suggestion that the fourth best Western team would win the Yates in 2008 is based on what evidence exactly?Duane Rollinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16512076277116230020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16538424.post-82411857432822055162008-11-18T03:37:00.000-05:002008-11-18T03:37:00.000-05:00By 'old thinking' I assume you mean the thoughts o...By 'old thinking' I assume you mean the thoughts of a wise old man.<BR/><BR/>Was there a dramatic change in the OUA or CanWest from last year when Manitoba dominated Western?Steve Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05755534565368552820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16538424.post-35288064487496016672008-11-18T03:30:00.000-05:002008-11-18T03:30:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Steve Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05755534565368552820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16538424.post-83568149615020077202008-11-17T20:45:00.000-05:002008-11-17T20:45:00.000-05:00I agree with what Dan said above, definitely old t...I agree with what Dan said above, definitely old thinking! Really the way Calgary played this weekend they'd likely have been in 4th place had they played in the OUA this season - at best ;)<BR/><BR/>Young team they'll bounce back, they overachieved this season and good on them for doing it, but they were just completely outmatched! (as likely any of the CW teams would have been)Mike Radoslavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00186979931088512463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16538424.post-24045156291339924542008-11-17T19:17:00.000-05:002008-11-17T19:17:00.000-05:00"The fourth place CanWest team could win the Yates..."The fourth place CanWest team could win the Yates, but the OUA has started to close the talent gap."<BR/><BR/><BR/>I think this is old thinking.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16538424.post-45051211746822649752008-11-17T19:03:00.000-05:002008-11-17T19:03:00.000-05:00Canada West's superiority ended some time ago. Th...Canada West's superiority ended some time ago. They had a good run. It is still the strongest conference, top-to-bottom, but Laval clearly has University football's top program. The fourth place CanWest team could win the Yates, but the OUA has started to close the talent gap.<BR/><BR/>Calgary looked bad on Sunday, but it's a mistake to judge the whole conference on one game by 5-3 team. Calgary may not have made the playoffs in Quebec, but that's mostly due to the growth of football in Quebec.<BR/><BR/>The eligibility rule change is making it more difficult for the CanWest teams. It's also diminished the Prairie dominance of junior football.Steve Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05755534565368552820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16538424.post-53010132060210667992008-11-17T17:26:00.000-05:002008-11-17T17:26:00.000-05:00Dan - I stand corrected regarding Calgary! I woul...Dan - I stand corrected regarding Calgary! I would ask, though, how many of those 15 former junior players were truly impact players. If a good number of them were their go-to guys, then obviously the former junior player pipeline is alive and well. <BR/><BR/>As a guy who played junior football, though, I will say this - the quality of players, and of the leagues, can really vary from season to season. Some years there are some stud players in the junior leagues, and some years the quality of play can be really spotty.Dennis Prousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01117649570711228161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16538424.post-87597170212349513422008-11-17T16:30:00.000-05:002008-11-17T16:30:00.000-05:00The Quebec conference dominance really is Laval's ...The Quebec conference dominance really is Laval's program being so dominant over everyone else.<BR/>But the Q is a pretty good conference otherwise, with the notable exception of McGill.<BR/>Certainly, Quebec is currently is a better league than the AUS was when SMU was running roughshod over everybody.<BR/>Ontario has always had a lot of dead wood in it...some really, really bad programs.<BR/>I think that has hurt the better teams in the league.<BR/>Playing teams like York or Toronto is worse than a bye week.<BR/>A good team can fall into some bad habits continually playing inferior competition.<BR/>I just hope Western can give Laval a good, competitive game this Saturday.<BR/>It was stunning to see Calgary get chewed up, spat out and ground under Laval's heel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16538424.post-38280045555140909682008-11-17T15:04:00.000-05:002008-11-17T15:04:00.000-05:00After reviewing Calgary's roster this year it look...After reviewing Calgary's roster this year it looks like there are 10-15 former Junior players so it seems like it applies to them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16538424.post-20079267268513239042008-11-17T13:10:00.000-05:002008-11-17T13:10:00.000-05:00Fair point on the junior football eligibility rule...Fair point on the junior football eligibility rule. That was a good rule change that was long overdue. For every 26 year old getting playing time, it meant that there was a 19 year old who WASN'T playing. That simply had to change. <BR/><BR/>It is worth noting, though, that it was three teams primarily (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Regina) who benefitted overaged former junior players. The BC and Alberta schools generally didn't get a lot of those players. In UBC's case, it was admission standards that hurt them - even at age 21 or 22, it was hard for a player with a academic background to get into UBC, whereas at Manitoba their "mature student" rule makes it a cinch to get pretty much any player admitted after his 21st birthday.<BR/><BR/>Finally, it is worth noting that these things go in cycles. For a while Canada West dominated - now it is Quebec's turn, with a bit of resurgence in Ontario also. Eventually, the pendulum will swing back West. That machine that Laval has built themselves is awfully impressive, though.Dennis Prousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01117649570711228161noreply@blogger.com