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Tag: Grey Cup
Trying to figure out Marcel Desjardins and 2019 Redblacks
These are some restless times in #RNation, with the Redblacks on a 4-game losing streak and fans wondering if all their doubts about the 2019 version of the team are already materializing. Redblacks fan @Lordele shares his thoughts on how we may have got here and why no one should be surprised.
By Lordele Greenyer
Let's be honest: by Day Two of CFL free agency 2019, any objective Redblacks fan pretty much knew where this team was gonna be this year. The success of this season's team was determined when big names – Trevor Harris, Greg Ellingson, William Powell and SirVincent Rogers being the biggest – were not re-signed, and without any substantial names walking back through the doors of TD Place. At the time, General Manager Marcel Desjardins defended the strategy and spoke of prioritizing the re-signing key defensive free agents, which limited the team's cap flexibility. Some bought it, others not so much. And while the first couple weeks of the season offered some hope, the season has not surprisingly been mostly pitiful.
So this is where we are: Two wins, four losses and not a lot of hope. But how did we get here? Or, WHY did we get here? I've got my suspicions…
Strap on your tinfoil hat and join me!
Theory One: Marcel Desjardins actually believes this team will be good
I honestly have a hard time believing this. MD has spent countless seasons evaluating talent and building competitive teams, most recently the championship team in 2016 and two others reaching the Grey Cup in FOUR seasons. Regardless of the strength of the East division, his teams were regularly at the top of standings. And while there have been some mistakes over the years (Eric Rogers 😢), they are far outweighed by a number of strong free agent signings-turned-CFL stars (or at least stars in the making). For Desjardins to suddenly lose his touch with player evaluation and roster composition seems unrealistic. Has to be more to it.
Theory Two: OSEG has tightened the purse strings
This one has been widely speculated on social media and among the fan base since the off-season. And since CFL salaries still aren't being made public, it probably won't stop any time soon. Many fans point to the cost of operating Ottawa Fury FC, and their relatively modest attendance (averaging about 4,500 spectators through 10 home games in 2019) as a factor. The 67s have also been suffering somewhat the last few years at the box office, though last season's playoff run had to help the bottomline.
OSEG cherishes brave people with independent thought.
We believe in our GM & coaches…with good cause given their track record.
Your REDBLACKS have always spent to the CFL salary cap building a TEAM…just spread out a little different than some others. Bring on 2019 🔴⚫!
— Mark Goudie 🏈⚽🏒🎼 (@OSEGMarkGoudie) February 12, 2019
I frankly just don't buy it. My expectation is that Desjardins and the Redblacks have been given the OK to spend to the cap. OSEG CEO Mark Goudie said as much. The organization seems pretty sound financially and has many more outlets for revenue beyond butts in seats. I mean, they even found a sponsor for the 15 minutes the fans spend on the field after games!
Theory Three: Desjardins has his eyes set on 2020
I'm going full tinfoil here, but bear with me.
With a new collective bargaining agreement due before this season, it's no secret a number of players made a point of signing contracts that would expire at the same time, in hopes of cashing in on an increase in available cap dollars. With the CBA ratified nearly three months after the start of free agency, however, teams and players had to guess at where the cap might land. Many clearly expected a cap increase and the league's biggest names signed two-, three-, even four-year contracts with big signing bonuses.
Now that we know the big cap increase didn't materialize (going up only $50,000 from 2018), teams like BC, Edmonton and Winnipeg may be hard pressed to be active in free agency in 2020, because they have a good portion of their money locked up.
In walks Desjardins. He let his big names walk and take big contracts elsewhere, didn't really make any long-term commitment to any player, let alone bringing in a big contract. So they might be a "cap team", but that doesn't mean they don't have money to spend.
No question defence has been this team's biggest strength the last couple years. And while individual accolades are great, defensive players seem to get paid when the team wins. Conversely, it's harder to demand big, long-term deals when the team hasn't had a great season. Should the season play out that way, MD will be better positioned to re-sign key parts of the defence to reasonable deals.
Now, putting these two concepts together, Desjardins would have the ability and flexibility at season's end to not only re-sign those key parts of the defence (at perhaps a more reasonable cost) to contract extensions and apply signing bonus dollars to the 2019 salary cap.
Putting a couple hundred thousand dollars to work in this way could allow the Redblacks to be major players in 2020 free agency, while also better allowing them to keep guys like Brad Sinopoli, Lewis Ward and our growing list of defensive studs.
So is it worth it to write-off 2019 for the sake of 2020 or beyond? I'm not sure, but this is my best guess at how – and why – we got here.
Follow Lordele on Twitter at @Lordele and check out his photography at @LordyShoots.
Follow us on Twitter @DefendTheR and check out Defend The R gear on Teespring!
Photo courtesy CFL.ca
Posted on July 30, 2019 July 30, 2019 by DefendTheRPosted in Guest post, RedblacksTagged cfl, cflfa, Grey Cup, harris, lansdowne, oseg, ottawa, redblacks, rnation, salary cap, td place. Leave a comment
T-shirts! Get yer Ottawa football fan t-shirts here!!
After thinking about it for a couple years, spending a few months putting concepts together and a little bit of teasing on social media, I'm happy to announce the launch of Defend the R gear on Teespring!
Put together a little FAQ to capture how I got here.
What gave you this idea?
I've always been fascinated by and drawn to fan base-specific and ultra-local stuff that teams do. Whether it's a chant, a saying or an inside joke, this stuff is the glue that keeps a fan base together. In the case of Ottawa football, we've got over 140 years of history that deserves remembering, celebrating or mocking, as the case may be. So not only is this a way to capture my own memories, but hopefully a way to encourage any and all in #RNation to share their own bit of history.
Is any of this stuff licensed by the team or league?
So, doesn't this take away money that could otherwise be going to the Redblacks directly?
I'm glad you asked. This is a very fair question and one I thought long and hard about. Let me start by saying I'm the kind of guy who would rather go up to the ticket window and pay full price for a ticket than buy from a scalper. I've happily bought an almost unhealthy amount of Redblacks gear since the team returned to the CFL. I'm a season-ticket holder that (currently) lives five hours out of town. Supporting the franchise matters to me in a big way.
So this little online t-shirt shop is not about taking anything away, but filling in the gaps. It's giving the die-hard fans something that's a little more personal; capturing those parts of Ottawa football that aren't necessarily mainstream, have been forgotten or frankly just aren't suitable for licensing.
Okaaaaay…. What else you got?
Well, besides this being a fun and creative venture, I will also be donating a significant portion of the proceeds to a great Ottawa charity. Not exactly sure who that will be at this point, but lots of worthy organizations I'd be happy to support in this small way.
Men's and women's sizes available?
Yep. And sizes S-4XL for most t-shirts.
I see Teespring is a US-based site. Any issues shipping to Canada?
Products are fulfilled in the US, but they absolutely ship to Canada. Just select Canada from the Shipping Info drop-down on the product page.
(By the way, @bRian5or6 uses Teespring for his Hotsam Batcho gear)
How often will you be releasing new designs?
You can expect a new design every couple weeks throughout the CFL season.
Are you open to suggestions? Can you arrange for custom orders?
Absolutely! Whether that's improvements to existing designs or ideas for new ones, the goal is to have a collection of memories that speak to and accurately represent Ottawa football fans. And Teespring doesn't need big numbers on this stuff, so a small run of custom tees can be done. Hit me up on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email if you want to discuss.
Alright, so with all that out of the way, I bring you the inaugural lineup of Defend the R t-shirts on Teespring!
10-TIME CHAMPS
Ottawa football has a long, storied history, filled with twists, turns – even a couple of dead-ends. Celebrate Ottawa's 10 championships with this understated tee.
DESIRE + POWER
Red for desire, black for power. Show your Ottawa football pride with the 'Desire + Power' tee.
THANKS HANK
Pay tribute to the man who delivered Ottawa's first football championship in 40 years with the 'Thanks Hank' t-shirt.
WE THE NORTH SIDE
The oft-maligned and ridiculed "better half" of the Ottawa football fan base. It's all in good fun. But not really. Show your North Side pride with the 'We The North Side' tee.
Go to Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and tell us which of these four tees you like best by Retweeting/sharing our post(s). Winner will be randomly selected and will receive their choice of Defend the R t-shirt, shipped to your door. Open to Canada and US entrants only. Winner will be announced Friday, July 19, 2019 during the Redblacks-Bombers game.
Good luck and thanks for your support!
Thanks for reading! Follow us on Twitter at @DefendTheR.
Featured Post by DefendTheRPosted in Jerseys, Redblacks, T-shirtsTagged burris, cfl, contest, die-hard, diehard, fan gear, Grey Cup, ottawa, redblacks, renegades, rnation, rough riders, T-shirt, teespring. Leave a comment
Saturday & Sunday at the Grey Cup
By Nelson Hackewich
Editor's note: Our friend, fellow CFL fan (Saskatchewan, but try not to hold it against him) and favourite uniform concept designer Nelson Hackewich was kind enough to share some of his thoughts and experiences at this year's Grey Cup Festival in Edmonton. This is the second of two recaps on all the great stuff the festival had to offer. (here's the first) Thanks Nelson! Super jealous!
Grey Cup Saturday
Saturday started with the traditional Calgary pancake breakfast and the Grey Cup parade. A little underwhelmed watching the parade, so when the 'Rider contingent walks by, I step off the sidewalk and join the parade!
A couple of wheatheads with the one and only Pinball Clemons
After the parade, we all head over to the TSN booth to see the live hits of Grey Cup Saturday. While stopping inside to warm up we bumped into the legend, Pinball Clemons. And of course made the TSN coverage.
Yeah, a lot of green…
It was a short day at the Nissan Street Fest as we prepare notes and dig up dirt on both teams for the game tomorrow. Here's what was seen, heard and researched:
The Stampeders were not to fond of the playing surface today at Commonwealth Stadium. Bo Levi Mitchell considered the turf to that of Ottawa's in last year's Grey Cup and Eric Rogers saying "If the game was today, we wouldn't be able to wear cleats out there."
When the Redblacks players were asked about the conditions of the turf, most said they were used to it, as they play on a similar surface at home.
Calgary will already make history tomorrow, playing in a team-record third Grey Cup in a row. Last teams to play in three GCs in a row? Montreal 2008-10, Hamilton 1984-86, Edmonton 1977-82, Montreal 1977-79.
The Redblacks are playing in a Grey Cup for the third time in the last four years, a first for any Ottawa club since the late '60s (1966, '68 & '69).
This will be the fourth time Calgary and Ottawa have met in a Grey Cup, with Ottawa winning in 1968 and 2016, while Calgary won in 1948.
Dave Dickenson is looking for his first Grey Cup as a head coach, and trying to avoid becoming the first head coach since 1956 to lose three Grey Cups in a row.
Rick Campbell looks to get his second Grey Cup. He would become the 20th head coach to win multiple championships.
Teams head to head:
Calgary holds a 7-1-2 regular season edge over Ottawa since 2014; Ottawa has the 2016 GC win, however.
The last time these teams met in the Grey Cup, they combined for 852 passing yards – by far the most in Grey Cup history (#2, 777 yards in '89)
Season series:
Calgary outscored Ottawa 51-17 – with the gap (+34) made up of points off of Turnovers primarily (26 of Calgary's 51 points).
Trevor Harris did not complete either game and has passing totals of 135 and 93 yards with 3 INTs and 0 TD passes.
Bo Levi Mitchell passed for 251 and 166 yards with 3 TDs, 3 gains of 30+ yards and one INT.
Don Jackson rushed for 186 yards (Max 102) on 30 carries for one TD. William Powell had 140 yards.
Grey Cup Sunday
Game day was full of generally a pro-Ottawa crowd, with CFL fans in sight from morning breakfast across the street at the hotel to the train to the stadium.
Arriving at the stadium at about 1:30pm (three-and-a-half hours before kickoff), we took in some of the tailgate parties, then headed into the stadium to walk about.
Two hours prior to kickoff it was a balmy 2° and the field conditions looked absolutely perfect. The Redblacks took the field for warm-up to a thunderous ovation, while it seemed the Stamps were only backed by those from Calgary and some die-hard western Canadian types who dislike our current prime minister.
The Reklaws belted out "Long Live the Night" and with an iconic Snowbirds fly-over, Grey Cup 106 was under way!
The game wasn't much to write home about until Terry Williams had a record 97-yard punt return touchdown on a now slippery Commonwealth Stadium field, sending Stamps fans into a frenzy. If you watch the highlights, the most impressive part of the return (besides his speed on ice) is the fact he almost fell on his own. No doubt an absolute game-changer.
In the end, Bo Levi Mitchell and the Stamps got the monkey off their back, outlasting the Redblacks to win the Grey Cup.
Yeah, yeah. They won. (photo CFL.ca)
Overall, Edmonton knows how to throw a party! From the street festival, to the $300k+ 50/50 jackpot, to meeting old friends and making new ones, there was tons of great CFL and Grey Cup buzz all week long, as it should be.
Can't wait for Grey Cup 107. See you next year, Calgary!
Follow Nelson on Twitter at @NelsonHackewich.
Follow us on Twitter at @DefendTheR.
Posted on December 5, 2018 December 5, 2018 by DefendTheRPosted in Guest postTagged Bo Levi Mitchell, GC106, Grey Cup, redblacks, rnation, Stampeders, stamps. Leave a comment
Thursday & Friday at the Grey Cup
Editor's note: Our friend, fellow CFL fan (Saskatchewan, but try not to hold it against him) and favourite uniform concept designer Nelson Hackewich was kind enough to share some of his thoughts and experiences at this year's Grey Cup Festival in Edmonton. This is the first of a couple recaps on all the great stuff the festival has to offer. Thanks Nelson! Super jealous!
It was a lengthy eight-hour drive through the frosted Canadian prairie from Regina to Edmonton, which gave me a lot of time to think about who to cheer for this Sunday in the 106th Grey Cup. People will tell you, "you're from the west how can you not cheer for the west?", or "the cup has to stay in the east!" But, over the course of the drive, I've come up with a few reasons which determined that, although I primarily bleed green, for one weekend in November, I'll cheer for the Ottawa Redblacks.
Reason #1: Rick Campbell. He's just a darn decent dude! Back when CFL Week was in Regina, I bumped into Rick almost daily in the Tim Hortons line at Evraz place, where we talked football and his love for Saturday Night Live. Plus, he is linked to not only the Riders, but the Eskimos through his father, the great Hugh Campbell.
Reason #2: The increasingly popular CFL adage of ABC – Anyone But Calgary. I think Stampeders coach Dave Dickenson hit the nail on the head in his West Final post game comments when he told reporters that Canada doesn't like seeing them in the Grey Cup.
Anyway, onto the festivities!
Grey Cup Thursday
Edmonton has definitely come alive as the hotbed of Canadian football. Everywhere you look it's decorated businesses, "Grey Cup" food and drink specials and the like. The city is roaring and ready to go! Everywhere you go people are dressed in all 10 CFL team (including the Atlantic Schooners) jerseys and apparel. Bars and restaurants are full and on American thanksgiving, where the NFL generally holds the spotlight, it was almost non-existent as the conversation turned to who is going to win on Sunday. I even heard a conversation about the Las Vegas Posse and Shreveport Pirates.
A smaller crowd strolled the street fest today taking in activations from Shaw (where you could sit in a Redblacks locker stall donning Brad Sinopoli's jersey and equipment), get some s'mores compliments of TSN, or "Take a Kick at the Can" and see if you can last 8 seconds on a giant can of Twisted Tea (Mechanical bull style). Our night was capped at the outdoor street stage where Winnipeg's The Watchmen played all their hits! Daniel Greaves (lead vocals) came out in a retro Bombers sweater and opened by stating "I wish the Bombers were here" and closed by asking the crowd "Who are we cheering for on sunday" with a primarily pro-Ottawa response.
Team hospitality rooms open up Friday with the highly anticipated announcement of the Atlantic Canada franchise team name, the CFL fan state of the league, a dip into the Shaw conference center to check out more fan fest activities, performances by Maestro Fresh Wes and Canadian supergroup Toque, capped off by a stop in Riderville and back to the stage to catch The Strumbellas.
Grey Cup Friday
After a quick autograph signing with Saskatchewan WR Namann Roosevelt and Argos WR SJ Green, Canadian hip hop legend Maestro Fresh Wes, Dressed in a special edition Eskimos Damon Allen jersey custom made for the 2018 Grey Cup, got our day going belting out "Let your backbone slide". Taking shots at current Canadian rap superstar Drake, saying "I've been doing this since he's been on Degrassi" was classic. Wes was followed up by Canadian super group and cover band Toque, featuring Todd Kerns (Age of Electric) Brent Fitz (Slah, Myles Kenedy, Alice Cooper) and Cory Churko (Shania Twain, Live), who played nothing but hits from Loverboy, Streetheart, Chilliwack, and Queen City Kids. True Canadiana and very fitting for the Grey Cup festival.
From there a dip into the Atlantic Kitchen Party for the 10th franchise name unveiling. Seriously, is anyone shocked? There were rumblings early in the week from a few of my media contacts in the league that it would be such. If the Schooners weren't called the Schooners, it would be crushing not only to the people that host the Atlantic Schooners Kitchen Party year after year, but all of the people that have dreamt of this moment for so long. The font they chose was an interesting "UA Falcon", which is primarily used by Under Armour teams. Using a white font on a grey stormy background also leaves a lot to be desired. Will they be black and grey? Will they be black and gold?
The night was capped by visits to the #RNation Party, where we bumped into the lovely Redblacks Cheer team, Winnipeg RB Andrew Harris and Ottawa mascot Big Joe (and his forearms). Then a short walk down street fest to Riderville, where we saw performances by the BC Felions dance team, the Alouettes Cheer team and Rider Cheer team.
Saturday, we take in the Grey Cup parade, team walkthroughs at Commonwealth Stadium, a tour of the Oilers beautiful Rogers Arena, and cap the night with a performance by Tim Hicks. Can't wait!
Title photo credit: Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
Posted on November 25, 2018 November 25, 2018 by DefendTheRPosted in Guest post, JerseysTagged Atlantic, cfl, Edmonton, Grey Cup, Grey Cup Festival, Halifax, Maritime, redblacks, riders, roughriders, Schooners, Stampeders. 1 Comment
Your 2017 Ottawa Redblacks
With training camp in the books and the 2017 Canadian Football League season on the horizon, general manager Marcel Desjardins, head coach Rick Campbell and the Ottawa Redblacks had the difficult task of paring down the roster to the league-mandated maximum of 46 (not including injuries, plus 10 practise roster spots) over the weekend.
Here's the team that will storm the field at TD Place on Friday, June 23rd:
DB – Defensive Back
A.J. Jefferson (photo Scott Grant Photography)
21	Berger, Adam 🇨🇦
20	Bolduc, Jean-Philippe 🇨🇦
46	Carrington, Lloyd
19	Claiborne, Imoan
4	Gavins, Jerrell
24	Jefferson, A.J.
15	Johnson, Keelan
6	Pruneau, Antoine 🇨🇦
9	Rose, Jonathan
32	Taylor, Nicholas
33	West, Dan 🇨🇦
Definitely the biggest question mark coming into the 2017 season. While there are a few returning vets (Gavins, Pruneau) and the addition of former Toronto Argonaut standout Jefferson, the fact is this is an inexperienced group. And while that may be a fairly regular occurrence in the CFL, it nonetheless means dealing with the uncertainty that comes with young players and CFL rookies. That said, D-Block 2017 looks to be a very talented and athletic group, led by coach (and DB guru) Ike Charlton.
DL – Defensive Line
41	Gascon-Nadon, Arnaud 🇨🇦
99	Williams, Connor 🇨🇦
96	Ankrah, Jason
93	Ceresna, Jake
92	Evans, Zack 🇨🇦
49	Lattanzio, Ettore 🇨🇦
90	Marshall, Andrew 🇨🇦
97	Miller, Steven
47	Romick, Nigel 🇨🇦
After defensive backs, the defensive line is probably the next biggest question mark for the Grey Cup champs. The group remains a strong one, with high-end Canadian talent in Gascon-Nadon, Williams and Evans, but the fact remains Ottawa had difficulty getting to the opposing quarterback for most of the 2016 season. It appears the plan is to rotate seven or eight of these big boys with regularity, at least for the first few weeks of the season.
K – Kicker
3	Maher, Brett
39	Medeiros, Zack 🇨🇦
Maher returns to Ottawa following a strong 2016 season in Hamilton and a brief stint on the Cleveland Browns roster. Medeiros has had a strong camp by all accounts and has performed well in preseason games. Dare we say the kicking positions seem (knock on wood) somewhat solidified?
LB – Linebacker
22	Bass, Khalil
10	Bryant, Serderius
42	Omara, Ron 🇨🇦
44	Reed, Taylor
The Redblacks had some challenges at LB in 2016, with a fair amount of turnover, including adding 'Tank' Reed at mid-season and having Gavins (admirably) jump into the position from his normal DB spot(s). Bass was one of the most sought-after free agents available this offseason. This group looks strong.
LS – Long Snapper
52	Doll, Tanner 🇨🇦
50	Bourassa, Louis-Philippe 🇨🇦
Doll was solid in 2016, and 2017 draft pick Bourassa looks to be a versatile back-up that can contribute on special teams.
OL – Offensive Line
SirVincent Rogers (photo Scott Grant Photography)
53	Albright, Matthew 🇨🇦
68	Draheim, Tommie
63	Gott, Jon 🇨🇦
64	Johnson, Evan 🇨🇦
58	Lauzon-Séguin, Jason 🇨🇦
66	MacMillan, Nolan 🇨🇦
56	Mateas, Alex 🇨🇦
55	Rogers, SirVincent
59	Silas, Jake
With the return of Jake Silas this week, the Redblacks offensive line is essentially the same strong group from 2016. While J'Michael Deane is gone, 2017 first-round pick Evan Johnson will look to make his way into the rotation. Most importantly, guard SirVincent Rogers looks fully recovered from season-ending ankle injury.
QB – Quarterback
Trevor Harris (photo Scott Grant Photography)
7	Harris, Trevor
14	Lindley, Ryan
5	Tate, Drew
For the first time in his pro career, Harris will be the undisputed starting QB. And while he has put up excellent numbers the last two seasons with extended time as fill-in starter, being "the guy" is a different kind of pressure. How Harris responds will be a – if not the – major storyline of the Redblacks season.
RB/FB – Running Back/Fullback
William Powell (photo Scott Grant Photography)
25	Gillanders, Brendan 🇨🇦
45	Gosselin, Anthony 🇨🇦
81	Lavoie, Patrick 🇨🇦
23	Madu Jr., Mossis
29	Powell, William
Powell was a force for Ottawa in the back-half of 2015, including a team-best performance in the Grey Cup loss. After missing all of 2016 with an Achilles injury, WiPo is healthy and looked strong in his limited preseason reps. Lavoie is the incumbent FB and should continue to be that 6th/7th receiving option for Harris.
WR – Wide Receiver
Diontae Spencer (photo Scott Grant Photography)
86	Criner, Juron
82	Ellingson, Greg
8	Harty, Jake 🇨🇦
2	Shaw, Kenny
88	Sinopoli, Brad 🇨🇦
85	Spencer, Diontae
87	Stangby, Joshua
The Redblacks got a lot younger at receiver this offseason, and many believe they have a chance to be even better than the 2016 crew. Lofty, considering they are coming off a second straight year where four receivers topped 1,000 yards. Shaw (1,004 yards for Toronto last year) & Spencer (706 yards in just 12 games with the Argos) are the big free agent additions, while Criner put up 446 yards in the final eight games of the year, including playoffs, once Chris Williams was lost for the year. Add these three to what we've come to expect from The Buds (Ellingson & Sinopoli), and the 2017 Redblacks receiving corps is setting up to challenge the league's best. Is FIVE 1,000-yard receivers a possibility?
While there are always question marks, there's little question the Redblacks have improved depth at most positions. Barring significant injury, a healthy Redblacks squad should contend for first in the East Division.
By the way, here's the Redblacks practise roster for Week 1:
27	Baltimore, Sherrod (DB)
31	Brown, Kevin (LB)
17	Collins, Danny (QB)
98	Ellis, Avery (DL)
80	Hartley, Austen (WR) 🇨🇦
35	Jackson, Kevin (LB) 🇨🇦
57	Lofton, Eric (OL)
89 Rhymes, Dominique (WR)
69	Schmidt, Ryan (OL)
28 Tindal, Corey (DB)
PR UPDATE (6/22): Preseason standout WR Daje Johnson has been added to the practise roster, replacing OL Ryan Schmidt. Johnson will wear number 13.
It all starts Friday. Can't wait.
All photos courtesy Scott Grant Photography. Follow Scott on Twitter at @CFLPhotoArchive.
Posted on June 20, 2017 June 22, 2017 by DefendTheRPosted in RedblacksTagged #cfldraft, #cfltc, cfl, defend the r, Grey Cup, harris, ottawa, plaid, pruneau, redblacks, rnation, twitter. Leave a comment
Offseason of change begins for Grey Cup champs
By Cranky Frank Clair
I really don't have anything to offer that hasn't already been said about the Redblacks Grey Cup win. So instead of rehashing/celebrating what happened, I'm going to look ahead a bit. The Redblacks have a pile of pending free agents as do most other teams in the CFL. There are quarterback and management questions in other cities, and a team or two will be using the next few weeks to begin their march on Ottawa and the 2017 Grey Cup. I won't get too deep into Redblacks 2017 roster projects – there are too many moving parts at this point. But here's a look at the current situation as well as my view of some other situations in other cities.
Redblacks offseason
Ernest Jackson & Jerrell Gavins (photo Scott Grant)
The CFL's Big List of Free Agents now out, we can certainly look at the team's offseason challenges.
This means there is much work to be done, but it's the best kind of work – keeping a champion together and making it better. Not everyone will get to stay, however.
Sadly, Chris Williams is likely in the "won't be back" category. He'll be rehabbing his knee well into next summer and may be back just before his 30th birthday. That isn't a great combo, especially considering that his last contract was likely in the $200k+ neighbourhood. Williams has his detractors, but his world-class speed kept defenders on their heels and opened up the field for his teammates. Losing him for 2017 will be doubly unfortunate because Trevor Harris has the arm to take full advantage of Williams' talents.
The list of must-sign players is fairly long. Ernest Jackson, Mitchell White, Abdul Kanneh and Nolan MacMillan would be hard to replace. Tank Reed is the LB the Redblacks need – his presence boosted Damaso Muñoz. And #RNation needs to be concerned about John Boyett's return – we never really heard much about his knee injury and now he's looking at free agency. There are rumblings that Abdul Kanneh will be looking south, and now we hear that the team has released Cleyon Laing so he can look south as well. If I could, I would bring them both back. Laing proved his worth, collapsing pockets from the inside and making lots of room. As I hoped, he even played some DE and it proved an experiment worth continuing.
I somehow doubt we'll see Aston Whiteside back. He never really recovered from his knee injury. Its hard to see from here whether the Redblacks rushed him back or whether the knee didn't respond to treatment or whether he actually got reinjured. The Redblacks so-far fruitless search for its next speed rushing DE continues. But…given the way the Redblacks DLine performed in the Grey Cup, I'm inclined to think the team should stop trying to slot in an unproven speed DE and go with muscle. I saw some devastating power rushes from Laing and Connor Williams from the DE position, showing that Clydesdales can get the same result as a racehorse.
Antoine Pruneau (photo Scott Grant)
Meanwhile, fan favourite Antoine Pruneau is also a pending free agent. Without knowing enough about Montreal's FS situation, must think that he's a guy they'd love to sign. Pruneau gave an interview following the Grey Cup parade that made me think he is thinking about options other than returning to Ottawa. I have no quote that signals this, its was just a feeling. Jeff Richards (rumoured to have several opportunities in the NFL) may be a more consistent FS, but it is hard to deny that even without his passport, Pruneau is a big contributor and the Redblacks would be well-served to try to get him back.
Lots of potential for moving parts on the offensive line. J'Michael Deane and Nolan MacMillan are each pending free agents. MacMillan is a very good veteran presence. Deane had a lot of penalty issues this season. Jason Lauzon-Séguin is a legit starter at G and showed he can play OT. Backup Matthew Albright absolutely seems ready to start at G. Jake Silas has proven to be a solid RT, SirV is locked in for another 2 seasons as one of the league's premier LTs. Tommie Draheim got better into the playoffs and the Grey Cup but is not a strong starter. The long-range plan was for John Gott to switch to G and have Alex Mateas take his place at centre. I don't see that happening, possibly ever.
Nolan MacMillan (photo Janet MacMillan)
The makeup of the 2017 OL hinges on whether MacMillan can be signed and whether management wants to keep Deane. I have my thoughts on how this should play out, but will save them for another column. I will say that Deane is possibly expendable which is unfortunate for a guy who may want to stay (he owns a house here).
It's hard to say whether we'll see FA RB William Powell back – if he's willing to sign for not a ton of money upfront, then he'd certainly be worth bringing into camp and let him compete with Mossis Madu. Travon Van, who was a good insurance policy in 2016, likely isn't a priority to re-sign.
Tanner Doll & Kienan Lafrance (photo Scott Grant)
Just a couple of special teams observations at this point. First, I spent a lot of Twitter characters questioning the removal of Kevin Malcolm from long snapper duties – he's exceptionally good at delivering hard clean spirals to the punter. The team replaced him mid-season with Tanner Doll, who was immediately visible in ways that long snappers aren't supposed to be. He improved as he went along, but most importantly, he showed why the team made the switch in the first place. Doll is a special teams coverage demon, not easy to do coming out of the snap.
Elsewhere across the CFL
Have to question what Chris Jones thinks he's doing in Saskatchewan with the Darian Durant negotiations. Durant is a fan favourite, a very solid performer and there really isn't a better QB on the market. Maybe Chris Jones is the genius he was supposed to be and he's trying to save the team some needed cap space, or maybe he has a strong-armed rabbit to pull out of the proverbial hat. Or maybe he's unnecessarily playing hardball with a QB who isn't his guy. We'll see.
Corey Watman (photo Scott Grant)
Then there's Toronto. Word is that co-owner Larry Tanenbaum wants to appoint a football management layer between ownership and the team GM. It makes sense, and it's an approach he sees working (I guess) with the Maple Leafs. Who will it be? A lot of the CFL's grownups are either locked into great jobs or on the verge of taking on fewer responsibilities rather than more. I saw a suggestion that Eric Tillman could be the guy, and that makes sense. I'm not convinced of Tillman's football genius, but I'm convinced that he's the type of person who will be hired for that job.
In Winnipeg, a team that seems on the cusp of greatness just let its fans breathe a sigh of relief by re-signing Coach Michael O'Shea. Now, the team may be doing some serious soul-searching on whether they have a QB whose trajectory matches the rest of the team. If Saskatchewan loses Durant, he could be enough to propel Winnipeg to true contention in 2017.
Photo Scott Grant
The potential for stability on the Alouettes in 2017 should scare the rest of the East and help re-ignite fan interest in Montreal. Hamilton and Ottawa had it pretty easy in 2016 sharing a division with two teams in a bad downward spiral. A Montreal comeback will make the East much more of a horserace, although whether it would be enough to avoid a western crossover in 2017 remains to be seen. Look for Montreal's new GM and the coaching staff to assemble and ready an offence that can take advantage of its young QBs. Either Rakeem Cato or Vernon Adams could emerge out of training camp as a legit dynamic playmaking QB and make the Als offence a nice complement to the team's already good defence.
That's it for now, I've tried to avoid talking about teams or situations where I don't have information or a decent opinion, though I guess that's really up to you to judge. I'll check in again as teams sign more of their pending free agents. And don't forget to follow me on Twitter at @CrankyClair.
All the best, and Merry Christmas.
Cranky Frank Clair
Most photos courtesy of Scott Grant Photography. Follow on Twitter at @CFLPhotoArchive.
Posted on December 11, 2016 December 11, 2016 by DefendTheRPosted in Guest post, RedblacksTagged #cfldraft, cfl, cflfa, free agent, Grey Cup, ottawa, redblacks, rnation. Leave a comment
Photo essay of a Grey Cup victory
It has been pure joy to read the many articles, blog entries, Facebook posts and Tweets capturing Ottawa's first Grey Cup victory in 40 years. Nearly two weeks have passed and it still feels a bit dream-like. For a city and fanbase not used to having nice things, it has definitely been an adjustment period.
Not often does a championship carry so much weight for a city and have such deep an impact on the families that support the team, with fans spanning two, three, even four generations. It is equal parts elation, relief and vindication for a city that too often gets a bad rap.
Thanks to all of you in #RNation for sharing your experiences, celebrations and memories. It's been a real pleasure.
With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to try and capture my Grey Cup experience in photos rather than words (well, maybe just a few words). Hope you enjoy.
(Photos mostly courtesy my bro)
Grey Cup & poutine. #Canadianity
Sigh of relief. And now, gametime. Time to put the phones away…
…until late in the 4th quarter.
An onside kick away from sealing it and… oh crap.
Put the phones away again!!!
After an emotional night, the after-party was subdued but delicious!
After midnight on the walk back downtown to catch a cab. All's quiet, but a final reminder of what this team just accomplished.
Best day ever.
Two days later, celebrating with the rest of Ottawa:
Oh, and my dad was pretty pumped 🙂
Follow us on Twitter -> @DefendTheR
Posted on December 10, 2016 December 10, 2016 by DefendTheRPosted in RedblacksTagged burris, cfl, Grey Cup, parade, redblacks, rnation. Leave a comment
OSEG & Redblacks submit bid for 2017 Grey Cup; Ottawa's GC history
Canada's 150th birthday celebration in the capital is a step closer to securing another major event. In fact, perhaps the biggest one of them all.
What's long been rumoured / speculated / expected will soon be set in motion at Ottawa city council, and on Monday, the Ottawa Sports & Entertainment Group (OSEG) confirmed their bid for the 2017 Grey Cup has been submitted to the CFL board of governors.
And while the awarding of the 105th Grey Cup may be pretty much a done deal, the pressure is definitely on the Redblacks to make it something special, befitting of the country's sesquicentennial.
(I had to look that up).
Some elements to consider:
Half-time show: Securing a big name half time act is key and you have to think there will be pressure to go Canadian. Lots of very talented Canadians doing great things in music, but this could be tough. Could they get someone like Drake to do it? Are groups like the Sam Roberts Band or Sheepdogs a big enough draw? Kardinal Offishall featuring Neil Young or Anne Murray?
Stadium upgrades: It's always nice to show off a little when hosting friends from out of town, so why not throw a few extra bucks into TD Place? An east-end scoreboard would be amazing. Some work on the North Side concessions would be welcome, too.
Alumni: Bring in as many as you can find to as many events as possible. Renegades included. And we need lots of quality Russ Jackson time. Would be an opportune time to have a statue of the legend made.
Parliament Hill: Do something really cool there. Maybe a good start or end for the Grey Cup parade.
Another Trudeau Kick-Off? I'm not a huge fan of mixing sports & politics, but those Pierre Trudeau kick-offs are a great slice of Canadiana. Great opportunity to re-kindle the memories and give Justin some air time. So camera-shy, that one.
There will be plenty of time to discuss these and other ideas for making Grey Cup 105 the best event it can be. But before we look too far forward, let's take a quick peek back at Ottawa's history as Grey Cup hosts.
In the 12th Grey Cup game, played on Dec. 5th, your Ottawa Senators Football Club defeated the Winnipeg Tammany Tigers 24-1 in front of 6,900 rowdy Ottawans at Lansdowne Park. This would also be Ottawa's first Grey Cup championship. Huzzah!
Played on Dec. 9th, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers edged the home town Ottawa Rough Riders 8-7 in the 27th edition. The home team was robbed, no doubt.
Bit of an asterisk here, as the 28th Grey Cup was a two-game total points series between the Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers (terrible name) and the Ottawa Rough Riders. Games were played Nov. 30th (Toronto's Varsity Stadium) and Dec. 7th (Lansdowne Park). The Riders took both ends of the series – by scores of 8-2 and 12-5 – to win Ottawa's third Grey Cup.
It would be 27 long years before Ottawa would again host the Grey Cup. Played on Dec. 2nd, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats beat the heck out of Saskatchewan 24-1. 31,358 showed up to watch.
WATCH: Short film from the National Film Board on the 1967 Grey Cup (h/t to @pinemud)
Ottawa waited another 21 years for their next opportunity to play host. The 76th edition of the Grey Cup was played on Nov. 27th, with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers edging the BC Lions 22-21. Our friends at Wikipedia capture the storylines nicely:
This was the first Grey Cup game between two teams from west of Ontario, and the first to be won by a team which had only a .500 season.
Crossover. Yuck.
This event was essentially the swan song for the Ottawa Renegades franchise. During Grey Cup week, the Ottawa Sun broke the story that Brad Watters' ownership group was working on selling the three-year-old franchise to the father-son-ownership-group-that-shall-not-be-named.
The game took place on Nov. 21st, with the Damon Allen-led Toronto Argonauts defeating the Lions 27-19.
I was fortunate enough to attend this game. My first Grey Cup, in fact. Couple of blurry memories:
While I had my ticket on me, no one ever asked to see it nor was it ever scanned. Honour system, I guess.
Shortly after Allen took the field for the first time, I made sure to yell out "Ho-bart!" Yep, I'm that awesome.
Metal benches on the South Side upper deck weren't ideal on a chilly night. Not that I really had a chance to get cold with so many people rammed into each row. More like seat suggestions, really. Very sardine can-like.
Getting to the bathroom at halftime was probably the worst experience of my life. Missed all of the Tragically Hip and about the first eight minutes of the 3rd quarter.
What will Grey Cup 105 (Presented by Shaw) have in store for Ottawa? No doubt a home game would be music to #RNation's ears.
@OTTRoughRiders
Posted on February 2, 2016 February 2, 2016 by DefendTheRPosted in RedblacksTagged #greycup105, 150th, cfl, drake, Grey Cup, justin trudeau, ottawa, parliament hill, redblacks, renegades, rnation, rough riders. 4 Comments
The Evolution of Renegade Nation
Every fan base has them, those die-hards who stick with their team through thick and thin. But in most cities, those fans aren't as well organized or as close as one group in Ottawa. Back before every single fan base in every single sport gave themselves the "Nation" moniker, there was Renegade Nation.
In 2002, six years after the historic Rough Riders franchise folded leaving a gaping hole at Lansdowne Park and in the hearts of their fans, the Renegades returned CFL football to Ottawa. During the CFL's absence, internet use exploded and across the country online forums like the 13th Man (http://www.13thman.com/) sprung up for CFL fans to preview games, play armchair GM, debate player personnel moves and plan tailgates. Tired of being left out in the cold, a couple of passionate fans, Phil Tanguay JF Fournier, Glen Handley and Shane Johns decided to take matters into their own hands. After a chance meeting at an early season game, Renegade Nation was born.
For Handley, you could say that the foundation of Renegade Nation was the consummation of a lifetime of supporting Ottawa football. It began with a childhood summer boating trip from Kingston up the Rideau River to Ottawa. "We were floating along, and just after passing Dow's Lake I saw a huge building, full of people. I asked my mother what it was and she replied that it was where the Ottawa football team played. At that moment, an enormous roar bellowed from the stadium. I was awestruck and the sound of those fans sent a chill through me that I still feel to this day." From that moment onwards, Handley has been obsessed with Ottawa's CFL teams. Despite living in Oshawa, he never missed a Rough Riders game, (normally watching on TV but sometimes in person when the opportunity presented itself) and eventually moved to Ottawa for school, mainly because of the team. Unfortunately, shortly after he relocated to the capital, the Rough Riders folded. When football returned in 2002, Handley was as passionate as ever and quickly bought season tickets.
After it's inception, it didn't take long for a Renegade Nation flag (featuring their beloved mascot Skully) and tents to become fixtures behind the South Side stands in Lansdowne's parking lot on game day, often appearing 10 hours before kick off. As word spread, groups of 20-30 people were regularly tailgating with members of Renegade Nation. Soon, their tailgates featured drop ins by Renegade staff members, players and coaches.
Members of Renegade Nation tailgating
Gerald Vaughn stopping by before the game
Along with the Southsiders (with whom they are closely aligned), Renegade Nation was a visible fan presence the Renegades sorely needed. "We had a pretty symbiotic relationship with the team", recalls Shane Johns. "We helped them generate buzz, gave some great visuals to TSN, and they treated us well". While not overly rowdy, Renegade Nation always managed to express themselves. In fact, an unnamed member made it a point to moon the opponent's team bus each week as the visitors arrived at the stadium. "That got a huge laugh out of Pinball Clemons when the Argos came in" remembers Johns.
One of Renegade Nation's proudest moments came in 2005, when two players were fined following an on field scuffle. Members of Renegade Nation believed that the Ottawa players were merely sticking up for their teammates and so a hat was passed around to raise money to help pay the fines. They collected more than $300 and with the help of a local reporter, managed to get access to the team locker room to turn the money over to the players. One of the players being fined, Jerome Haywood, was overcome with emotion and had tears in his eyes when he found out what the money was for. "For us, it was just part of supporting the team", says Johns.
But perhaps the online forum's true value was only fully realized when Ottawa lost it's CFL team for the second time. "That announcement in April 2006 was like a collective punch to the gut" says Dennis Prouse, "yet the Nation hung together. We used this board, and the friendships we built, to encourage each other, keep the spirit of football alive, and ultimately strategize and help out with the efforts to secure another franchise and revitalize Lansdowne Park. I can't tell you how proud I am of everything Nation members did in terms of writing letters, doing media interviews, appearing at public meetings, and anything else we could think of to bring the CFL back to Ottawa. Those were some dark times, but we never lost hope, and I like to believe that the spirit of Renegade Nation played a significant role in the establishment of the REDBLACKS and the building of TD Place."
Members gathered at Hometown to watch the Redblacks away game in Winnipeg
The friendships built during the Renegade era are what helped so many members cope during those dark days. "From 2006 to 2009 or so, things were bleak. We would all constantly check the board to see if there was any news. Everyone was bummed about losing our team, but we had each other to bitch to and that was something. By 2010 we had a feeling we'd get our team back but with the endless delays our patience was really tested. Then one day it finally happened. All of us have been through a lot together. We've had get togethers at Gee Gee games, and one year we even did a Christmas dinner that had 30 guys show up!" says Cam McFayden, another long time member. "With over 100 registered members, during the lean years we probably had a group of 10-15 guys who still posted regularly".
The beauty of an online forum is that it truly allows anyone to be included. Take the case of Solar Max, Renegade Nation's lone West Coast member and currently the Redblacks furthest living season ticket holder, as confirmed by Jeff Hunt himself. Max's grandfather and father were both season ticket holders in Ottawa during the '60s and '70s and Max grew up watching his father being able to park anywhere he wanted at Lansdowne on game days due to the huge R decal on his windshield. Living so far from Ottawa, Max had no idea that the private Renegade Nation forum even existed until 2005. As he puts it: "In 2005, the Grey Cup was held in Vancouver and while I'd been to Grey Cups in other cities, I hadn't done one near where I lived in a long while. I decided to volunteer to pick up various Ottawa fans and dignitaries at Vancouver airport attending Greg Cup".
One of those Ottawa fans he gave a ride to just happened to be Glen Handley. During the ride they got to talking and when questioned by Glen about the numerous Ottawa logos plastered on his car, Max replied that he was the only Ottawa fan he knew in BC. That's when Max received his invitation and membership to Renegade Nation.
"I was over the moon to discover a world of people like me that lived, breathed, ate and slept Ottawa football" he says. "I had a duplicate of our Renegade Nation flag with Skully made, and I took it to every CFL stadium in 2006 after our team was murdered by Tom Wright and the CFL's Board of Governors, in order to show other cities and fans that we of Renegade Nation, we die-hard Ottawa fans would not be forgotten, or shoved aside."
Skully's Cross Canada Tour: BC
Skully's cross Canada Tour: Edmonton
Skully's cross Canada Tour: Calgary
Skully's cross Canada Tour: Regina
Skully's Cross Canada Tour: Winnipeg
Skully's cross Canada Tour: Toronto
Skully's Cross Canada Tour: Hamilton
While Ottawa might not have had a team between 2006-2013, that never stopped members of Renegade Nation from attending the Grey Cup. Every year a group of members coordinate their accommodation and which events they attend to always ensure that Ottawa was well represented at the country's biggest party.
R-Nation at the 102nd Grey Cup
When football finally returned to Ottawa last season, many in Renegade Nation felt it was time to rebrand, in order to stay modern and relevant. Some in the group felt that Renegade Nation was too outdated and clung to the past, so after some discussion someone proposed the name R-Nation. "The R is to represent the Rough Riders, Renegades, and Redblacks and it also sounds like 'Our Nation' which has a great feel to it" explains Handley. "The main thing was incorporating the R since it's been such a great logo for us".
After voting to rebrand as R-Nation, members of the group began using the hashtag on twitter, especially when tweeting at the team. "We wanted Ottawa's fan base to have a good nickname" says Santino Filoso, "Redblacks Nation doesn't exactly roll off the tongue the same way R-Nation does". Much to OSEG's credit, they took the ball and ran with it, quickly adopting and using the moniker on their various social media platforms.
Another key change Renegade Nation made was to move from a private forum, where membership was only granted by invitation or word of mouth, to an open public forum, accessible to anyone at all willing to talk Ottawa football. Though everyone is now welcome (including fans of opposing teams), spamming and trolling with not be tolerated, meaning first time offenders will be permanently banned.
With a recent overhaul of their website and new members joining every day, things have never been better for members of R-Nation. When not chatting online, members meet up on game days, tailgating however they can. With no on site tailgating currently allowed at Lansdowne, the group has been forced to get creative, using Carleton's parking lot this past season, despite run ins with campus security. "It's unfortunate that tailgating in the shadow of TD Place isn't currently an option" says Handley, "but I'm confident that with a little bit of patience we'll figure something out".
So what are you waiting for? Head over to http://r-nation.ca/ and join today!
P.S. A huge thank you to all members of Renegade Nation who made this story possible
Posted on April 8, 2015 April 27, 2015 by redblackrenegadePosted in RedblacksTagged cfl, Fans, Forum, Grey Cup, online, ottawa, Ottawa Renegades, redblacks, Renegade Nation, rnation, Tailgating, website. 2 Comments
#TBT: Looking back with Pat Woodcock
Today we catch up with Pat Woodcock, one of the most successful CFL players to come out of Ottawa. After finishing his college career at Syracuse University and a short stint in the NFL with the New York Giants (and later the Washington Redskins), Woodcock began his CFL career in Montreal. 2002 was a breakout year for Woodcock, culminating with a Grey Cup ring, a Grey Cup record and the Dick Suderman Trophy (awarded to the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian). In 2004 Woodcock signed with the Renegades and over the following two seasons made 64 catches for 860 yards and 5 TDs, averaging 13.4 yards per catch. Following the Renegades dispersal draft, Woodcock went on to play for Edmonton Eskimos and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats before retiring in 2008.
Growing up were you a Rough Rider fan and did you ever imagine you'd play professionally at Lansdowne?
I think everyone at some point dreams of playing for their hometown team when they're playing pickup games or dreaming about the future. As a kid, I had the chance to play during halftime of 1988 Grey Cup, which of course was an amazing experience. The Rough Riders folded just as I headed to Syracuse University to play college football, so it certainly wasn't on my radar by that time.
In the 90th Grey Cup (2002), you won the Most Valuable Canadian award and had a historic 99 yard touchdown play. Take us through it.
Field conditions were lousy, and it had been a really slow start to the game for both sides. During the week, we'd played around with different receiver formations to capitalize on match ups. For this play, I ended up in the slot closest to Anthony Calvillo on the wide side of the field. The route was called D97; the receiver outside of me had a "Go" or "9" route, and I was running diagonally across the field. Basically the safety had to choose one of us, and he chose poorly. As the ball got to me I could feel him just missing the tackle behind me, then it was a pure sprint to the end zone. When I got to the sideline, Chris Cuthbert told me that I'd set the record for longest TD reception in the Grey Cup. For a Canadian kid who grew up with the Grey Cup being the biggest day of the year, it was a pretty surreal moment.
How would you describe your time with the Renegades?
I think the only way to describe it would be bittersweet. It was frustrating that we were never able to use the full talent of the players on our team and achieve more success. And the way we were treated by management was extremely disappointing, we all had such high hopes for the organization, but unfortunately the owners at the time had no interest in really trying to run a professional team.
On the other hand, I was able to fulfill a dream and play for the hometown team, and it was amazing being able to play in front of friends and family again after having been away for college and the early part of my pro career. Not to mention that of all the teams I played for, it's the Renegades teammates that I'm most in contact with today.
After the 2005 season, did the players have a feeling the Renegades were going to fold or did it catch you off guard?
I don't know if we really thought the team would fold, but obviously we knew that things weren't moving in a good direction. It wasn't much of a surprise to be honest.
Why did you wear #16?
When I first started playing at 8 years old, they gave me #16. I changed numbers a couple of times when I was in high school, but then when I got to Syracuse they gave me #16 as well. I took that as a bit of a sign and just kept it after that.
Looking back on your career, what are you most proud of?
I think it's easy to say the 2002 season; being named an all-star, winning the Grey Cup and the Top Canadian Award, and setting that record. But I'm proud of my career as a whole, I had a dream and a goal from a very young age and made a plan, worked really hard, and achieved everything I dreamed of. Not many people get to say that.
What was your most disappointing loss?
Probably the 2003 Grey Cup. I definitely felt like we had as good a team if not better than in '02, but on that particular day things didn't go our way. It would've been pretty special to win two Grey Cups back-to-back.
Who is the funniest guy you ever played with?
Wow, that's a really hard question, football locker rooms are pretty crazy places and I played for 8 years. If I had to pick one guy for all-round craziness and non-stop jokes, it would have to be Sherrod Gideon. He was a receiver for the Renegades in 2004 and I'm not sure that guy ever said a serious word in his life.
What are you currently doing for work?
I actually partnered with another former Renegade, Donnie Ruiz, and together we run Elite Performance Academy in Kanata. We're a High Performance Athlete Development Program and we work with many of Ottawa's top athletes. Our clients include professional and national level athletes from the NFL, CFL, NASL, NLL, Team Canada Baseball, Basketball and Taekwondo, Team Ontario Game Medalists, Team France Lacrosse, prep school athletes with scholarships in football, basketball and lacrosse. Not to mention over 60 NCAA and CIS athletes in every sport from football to soccer to rugby and rowing.
If you had one piece of advice you could offer young football players, what would it be?
It's actually that they're playing too much football! With the way the various leagues (at least in Ontario) are set up, many young athletes are playing close to 30 football games in a single year. There are lots of issues with this, all stemming around the fact that because they are always playing, they never have a chance to just work on their individual game. They're constantly beating down their bodies physically, and not spending any time actually developing the strength, speed, and skill required to compete at the next level. It also means 30 games worth of collisions and head impacts, which surely is influencing the number of concussions we're seeing in young players.
Do you still keep in touch with a lot of your former teammates?
Yes, quite a few. As I mentioned, I work with Donnie Ruiz every day and we also run Elite Football Academy during the winter and have had a number of former teammates as part of our coaching staff, including Darren Joseph, Steve Glenn, Mike Sutherland. Yo Murphy and Kerry Joseph are also involved in training athletes (in the States), so we keep in touch with them as well.
Now that you are retired, what do you most miss about playing in the CFL?
I miss the guys, and the competition. I'm lucky in that my post football career provides a little bit of both of those things; our staff and our athletes are kind of like being in a locker room and we compete with our athletes occasionally as part of their training and development. But it's not quite the same, there's nothing like a football family and going on the field each week and laying it on the line together.
Are you a Redblacks season ticket holder?
Yes sir and I'm looking forward to season two! There's definitely a different feel to games when you're watching from the stands.
Thanks for everything Pat and best of luck training the next generation of CFL athletes!
– All images via Scott Grant Photography
Posted on April 2, 2015 April 27, 2015 by redblackrenegadePosted in Interviews, RedblacksTagged #TBT, cfl, Dick Suderman Trophy, Elite Performance Academy, EPA, Grey Cup, Interview, ottawa, Pat Woodcock, renegades, rnation, Syracuse University. 1 Comment


text:
Q: Is there a way to map 2 database fields to a custom object in JPA? In our database at the moment, we have two fields: location_lat and location_lng. In Java, we would map these two fields as separate float variables. In this case, would it be possible to map these two separate float fields into one object (E.g LatLng object) For GET, PUT etc...
Normally, the two fields would look like:
@Column(name = "location_lat")
private float lat;

@Column(name = "location_lng")
private float lng;

But it would be nice to have something along the lines of
@Column(name = "lat") AND @Column(name = "lng")
private LatLng location;

Something along them lines

A: Sure. What you are looking for are the @Embeddable and @Embedded .
First , annotate @Embeddable on LatLng class:
@Embeddable
public class LatLng {
   @Column(name = "location_lat")
   private float lat;

   @Column(name = "location_lng")
   private float lng;
}

To use it :
@Embedded
private LatLng lat;

By default , it will map to the columns defined in @Embeddable. To override them to map to other columns. You can use @AttributeOverrides:
@Embedded
@AttributeOverrides({
        @AttributeOverride(name="lat", column=@Column(name="LAT_COLUMN_XXX")),
        @AttributeOverride(name="lng", column=@Column(name="LNG_COLUMN_YYY"))
})
private LatLng lat;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


In 2016, we were very honored and excited to have Award Winning SmugMug Films Team create a short film about our full time photography and location independent lifestyle. The entire process was an amazing experience and the film itself was magnificently done! A huge thanks to the Anton Lorimer and the SmugMug team for making this possible.
I've teamed up with Fstoppers.com to produce a series of premium quality video tutorials.
Over the years, I've teamed up with Fstoppers.com to produce a series of premium video tutorials and educational resources. We traveled to Iceland, New Zealand, Italy, Singapore, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Dubai and parts of North and South America, so we could teach every aspect of Landscape, Cityscape, Astrophotography, and Post-processing.
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This is a pair of really beautiful Duffy sandals with an exciting design and amazing details. It's a very elegant shoe with a lovely pattern in the front with hundreds of beads in different shapes and colours. If you are looking for flip-flops that you can wear with a cute summer dress in the evening or while enjoying the sun at your favourite lunch place this is the ultimate pair for you.
The sandals are made of a synthetic leather on the top and the inside has a softer leather. This is a much more elegant version of the traditional flip-flop and a great option if you want sandals that are easy to put on and with a simple design. The main difference from original flip-flops is that the upper part is higher up on the ankle so that the sandal will follow your movements much better.
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These sandals don't need any special care. Try not to wear them in the rain or when it's muddy outside because this can damage the decorative details. If they do get dirty you can gently scrub the sandals with a damp cloth and mild soap.Show more.Show less.


If you are ever wanting to visit Bhagsu Falls in Dharamshala city, then you might know that it is a popular tourist spot. The best thing about Dharamshala is that it has a lot of tourist attractions.The best tourist attractions in Dharamshala are st. john wilderneee, bhagsunag waterfall, and triund treking apart from Bhagsu Falls.Famous localities around Bhagsu Falls are Khanyara, Bhagsunag, and McleodGanj Cantt. These places are among the best places to go in Dharamshala.If you are looking for stay options near Bhagsu Falls, then Sterling Dharamshala, Imperial Heights Resort, and Hotel Shivani International are some of the great options to stay at.
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text:
g++  -Wall -fPIC -I/opt/local/include -I/opt/local/include/octave-3.6.3 -c blah.cpp

g++  -dynamiclib -o libzip.dylib blah.o -L/opt/local/lib/octave/3.6.3 -loctinterp -loctave -lcruft

g++    -Wall -fPIC -o test.o -c test.cpp

# this works:
#g++   test.o  -o run -L/opt/local/lib/octave/3.6.3 libzip.dylib  /opt/local/lib/octave/3.6.3/liboctinterp.dylib -loctave -lcruft /opt/local/lib/libprotobuf.dylib
# this doesn't work:
g++   test.o  -o run -L/opt/local/lib/octave/3.6.3 libzip.dylib /opt/local/lib/libprotobuf.dylib  /opt/local/lib/octave/3.6.3/liboctinterp.dylib -loctave -lcruft

#if you recompile protobuffers with mp-gcc45 (same as what octave was compiled with), both work

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The Care Team supports student success and campus safety by assessing, evaluating and responding to reports of student behavior that causes concern for their personal well-being or the well-being of others.
The Care Team reviews reports about concerns regarding student wellbeing and behavior. Response is coordinated, tailored and comes from a place of care.
Use this form to report non-emergency behavioral concerns. If you have immediate safety concerns, please call 911. Your submission will be received by the Care Team and someone will confirm receipt of submission within 48 hours. For more information about how the Care Team functions, please see the About Tab.
Providing your name and contact information is optional, however, the Care Team can respond more effectively if we can follow up with you regarding your report.
Have you addressed your concerns with this person? If so, please describe.
Below are frequently asked questions about the Care Team. Click on each question for more information.
1. What is the Care Team?
The Care Team is a group of professional staff who meet weekly to review reports received about concerns for student wellbeing and behavior. More information about who is on the Care Team how the team functions is outlined in the About Tab.
2. What types of concerning behaviors does the Care Team address?
The Care Team assesses and provides support for students facing academic, social, and health challenges. The following topics are some of the more frequent topics of Care Team meetings: adjustment issues, disruptive behavior, depression, homesickness, medical conditions, academic struggles, dating violence, substance abuse, suicidal ideations and gestures, and mental health conditions.
3. How does Care Team receive information?
The Care Team has an online reporting form. We also welcome reports in person, via phone, or email from any UAS campus community member that has a concern.
4. If I am a faculty/staff member, should I let a student know that I am submitting information about them? If so, how?
We encourage you to speak to the individual about your concern and what you have noticed. In many situations, when an individual is aware that someone notices and cares, they are more open to help and assistance. However, it is often a difficult conversation, and you are welcome to contact Care Team members, or the confidential Counseling Services to discuss the approach or conversation.
5. How confidential is my report should I submit one?
The Care Team is committed to protecting students' privacy. Relevant information is shared within the Care Team as necessary. Response plans are formed, ideally, with the student's input into who else might be helpful and supportive of their needs.
6. If I submit a report, will I receive a response?
You will receive a notice within 48 hours acknowledging that we received your report and are acting upon it. You may not receive details or confidential information about the nature of the individual or the Care Team's response in order to respect the privacy of the individual and their information. If you report in an anonymous fashion without leaving your name, we will not be able to contact you or update you.
7. Are there behaviors that the Care Team will not address?
The Care Team will form a plan of response for every concern reported, even if that response is to simply monitor the situation. The Care Team also values partnerships with other experts and resources, both on campus in our community. For example, in the event of a threat to the health and safety of our campus community, we would engage with our local authorities.
8. What happens if a student is non-responsive to outreach?
We find that most students generally have a positive response to offers of assistance and support; however, some students may not be responsive. From a place of care, we will continue to outreach to the student and at the very least, monitor their behavior. In the event that a student's behavior may be disruptive or dangerous to the campus community, the Care Team will intervene whether or not the student is open to help or not.
Any UAS Student facing food insecurity is welcome to come to the Student Food Pantry and pick up food items they need.
Food insecurity occurs when someone doesn't have reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. The UAS Student Food Pantry is an on-campus resource for students facing food insecurity.


There are plenty of stories that get mailed to me everyday that I know I shouldn't post for various reasons and so I don't post them. The following story is one of them. I know I shouldn't post it because I'm doing nothing but providing this 'man' with attention he doesn't need. But since we constantly are seeing signs that say "I want my country back' I thought it fitting to post the article. I guess this is what some people want their country to go back to.
A sign excluding black people from a future business is enraging some people in a small town. Now, the man who put it up is speaking out.
It's a sign generations of people may have never seen. Yet a Clark County business man says it's his right to discriminate.
Federal and State law says if the business is open to the public, prohibiting people based on race is illegal. If the man's proposed gentlemen's club was going to be a private club, then an African American historian says he could discriminate. Legalities aside, his is a sign that many say is appalling.
"If I've got a problem with you it's going to be on the front of my store," says Mark Prior.
Prior posted his 'No Negros Allowed' sign after he says he had some problems with black people in the past and needed to make a policy against them.
"I'm going to stick to my guns because I think I have the right as a business owner to reject service to anyone. It's not all the black people there are just a few bad ones," Prior says of his problems in the past.
Prior wants to open a gentlemen's club in a building next to the Abbotsford city hall and library. He says he moved his sign inside after someone with the city asked him to remove it.
"Our mistake is sometimes we look for logic in something that is just plain stupid," says Dr. Selika Ducksworth-Lawton, an African American historian at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Ducksworth-Lawton says she feels Prior is out to get attention. She says the second he opens his business, he'll be in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
"It's insulting to think that someone automatically sees your skin color and thinks that you're inferior and that you're not fit to be around. On the other hand, if they're of this kind of intelligence, I'm not going to worry about it too much," says Ducksworth-Lawton.
"It does bother me a lot that he has something like that up. My whole family lives here. All my kids, and what if my kids see it?" says a woman named Ashley who lives in Abbotsford.
But, Prior says it's his right as an American and as a business owner to decide who's welcome; a right he says he'll take all the way to court if he has to.
"That's the policy. I'm going to stick to my guns," Prior says.
Prior told WEAU he feels people are making too big of a deal out of his sign. He says this is America and he's entitled to his opinions.
He also said it's not just black people he's going to ban from his future establishment. He says he has a problem with certain white people as well, but he couldn't just put a lengthy list of names on his building so he felt 'No Negros Allowed' was the best policy.
Prior says he hopes to have his gentlemen's club open to the public by Friday. His previous plans to open a grocery store and his own sheriff's department haven't worked out.
Our phone call to the mayor of Abbotsford was not immediately returned.


Here's a little whimsy to start your day.
The undated articles tells of Ginger the Cat who started each day with a visit to the local chapel. Every morning, Ginger made his way to St. Ethelreda's Church. He took up a place in his own special pew and, with the sunlight shining on him through the beautiful stained glass windows, enjoyed the mass. When the final organ notes faded into the morning air, he headed off to breakfast.
Somehow, I think Ginger was one happy cat.
This entry was posted in Inspiration on October 14, 2014 by Arlene Somerton Smith.


Get timely, comprehensive, and easy-to-share performance insights that help you make the best decisions on time.
Cascade strategies across your organization and ensure that your entire team works in unison towards the same goal.
Encourage team collaboration on a strategic level through active discussions on strategy performance results.
ONTRACK Mobile allows leaders to monitor the team's live performance on-premises and on-the-run.


The Easter holidays are a great time to head off in search of some late-winter sun; the kids get a longer break from school, tourism begins to start up again with destinations getting livelier, and it's a great excuse to take the family on a well-needed spring break. There are numerous destinations which offer hot weather, great cuisine and a fantastic selections of activities this time of year – it can sometimes be a struggle knowing where to pick. Luckily the destination experts over at Bookajet have given their rundown of the 5 best getaways for some Easter sun.
The Greek island of Crete is a great choice for families and couples alike, as it offers fabulous weather, authentic Greek cuisine and a chilled-out atmosphere. Whether you choose to relax on the sandy beaches, explore historic ruins or send your taste buds wild with the wide selection of fresh cuisine, you will be truly spoilt for choice in this fantastically diverse destination.
With white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and warm temperatures all year round, it's easy to see why so many travellers flock to this Central American hotspot this time of year. If it's a bit of sightseeing you're after, why not visit the Rio Celeste in the Tenorio Volcanic National Park or explore the Monteverde cloud forest which is home to many different species of exotic birds? With Costa Rica famously known for its fantastic coffee, it may also be worth taking an authentic Costa Rican coffee tasting tour.
Marrakesh is a fantastic destination to visit in the spring. The landscape remains green and lush and the daily temperatures are perfect for both sunbathing on the beach and browsing the markets. With plenty of things to do and see in both the ancient and modern parts of town, Marrakech is a captivating city for families, couples and independent travellers alike.
Located a little closer to home, and making up one of Spain's Canary Islands, this sunny destination is known for its black lava and white sandy beaches. In the south its best beaches are the vibrant Playa del Ingles and Puerto Rico, whilst its vibrant capitol, Las Palmas offers tasty cuisine, extravagant cocktails and some savvy shopping.
This Indonesian island is always at the top of the travel radar for getaways this time of year because of its tropical year-round climate, fantastic beaches, snorkelling, island hopping and vibrant nightlife. If it's lively nightlife you're after, head to the south city of Kuta where you can be sure to create some stories to tell, or if it's relaxation you seek, head down to Seminyak which boasts some really divine beach bars which are lit up of a night by a vast amount of colourful lanterns.


Tools engineered and manufactured by Stamfag guarantee effective, high-performance and cost-effective cutting operations.
However, utilizing the right instruments is not enough. The tools also require expert sharpening and diligent storage. High quality and performance levels cannot be achieved unless the tools are properly maintained. We therefore offer our customers sharpening courses which your staff members can attend either at our premises or, if more convenient, at your company. Covering several days, our sharpening courses guarantee that you will achieve top cutting results. Let Stamfag offer you a multi-day sharpening course.
There are materials or punching tools that vary substantially in dimension during the punching process and get outside the common branch tolerance. We therefore offer a special optical measuring service, testing the measurements and contour accuracy of tools and materials up to a size of 400x220 mm and a maximum tool height of 250 mm. Having measured the tools and materials, the optical measuring appliance device then digitally superimposes tool and material. We send you the results in the form of a test protocol or use them to manufacture a new tool. All newly manufactured Stamfag punching tools undergo this measurement process before leaving the factory.
On your request, we train your staff in handling punching tools, either at your company or at Stamfag in Switzerland. We offer two- or multi-day sharpening courses on our Cargrind sharpening machines. Don't hesitate to contact us if you are interested in our training courses or Cargrind sharpening machine.
Stamfag offers top professional tool sharpening services. We precisely adjust the cut to the test material you deliver to Stamfag. If no test material is available, we follow our enormous sharpening experience. On request, we offer you a pick up and return service within 2 or 4 days.
Within Europe, we provide EU customs clearance at no additional cost!
Partner companies all over the world use our Cargrind sharpening machines to provide swift sharpening services. Their competent staff members were trained by Stamfag experts, either here in Switzerland or in their home countries.
Pick-up order for sharpening service.
Being able to use the same tools on different punching machines enhances efficiency and flexibility. In many cases, punch through and counter-pressure tools can be combined. Please describe your punching machines and we will offer you polyvalent tools.
Have you faced any quality problems, such as defective labels, labels with bonded cut faces, size deviations, color chipping or problems with special materials? Send us test material and corresponding punching tool and let our experts test the product. They will find solutions and if necessary, prepare a complete test report with punch pressure diagrams, photos, video recordings and measurement protocols. A new tool would then be produced based on this test results or an existing tool sharpened accordingly.
Material tests can also be performed on existing Stamfag test dies before a tool is definitely ordered.


Brooks-Range Mountaineering has more than three-decades of experience designing top-quality, reliable outdoor gear and apparel tried-and-tested by some of the world's top mountaineering and backcountry professionals. Spring 2018, Brooks-Range brings their expertise and reputation for the industries best to the tent game with four new outdoor shelters, ranging from four-season protection in the alpine; to lightweight, easy-to-use tents for car camping and backpacking.
In the same family, the Foray 3P has a comfortable 45-square-feet of living space and weighs in at 3lb 14.5oz. The freestanding design and hubbed pole system add stability and make setting up easy, and light colors minimize solar gain and create an enjoyable living space. A full coverage fly and taped seams protect you from the elements, and 20d No-See-Um netting protects you from insects. An 8.5-square-feet vestibule offers additional space for gear.
Brooks-Range Mountaineering Equipment Co. offers an innovative, top-quality selection of backcountry and outdoor equipment, gear, apparel and tools for professional guides, recreational travelers and users alike for a safe and enjoyable mountain experience. Brooks-Range equipment is tested and trusted by their team of ambassadors comprised of the world's top mountaineering, avalanche and outdoor experts. Designed with utility, comfort and safety in mind, Brooks-Range also promotes education and safety in the wilderness by supporting a variety of organizations. Mainly produced in the USA, Brooks-Range can be found at outdoor retail shops nationwide and online at www.brooks-range.com.


text:
Q: jQuery submit form dosen't work I have this code, but the form won't submit.
Any ideas why?
$(document).ready(function(){
$("#login_form").submit(function(e){
    e.preventDefault();
    var password = $("#password").val();
    var p = document.createElement("input");
    $("#login_form").append(p);
    p.name = "p";
    p.type = "hidden";
    p.value = hex_sha512(password);
    $("#password").val('');
    $("#login_form").submit();
});
});

The value of #password does reset to nothing, so the ID's correct.

A: You don't need e.preventDefault();, It prevents form submission so you should remove e.preventDefault();.
$(document).ready(function () {
    $("#login_form").submit(function (e) {
        var password = $("#password").val();
        var p = document.createElement("input");
        $("#login_form").append(p);
        p.name = "p";
        p.type = "hidden";
        p.value = hex_sha512(password);
        $("#password").val('');
    });
});

A: The form doesn't submit because you've got e.preventDefault in there to stop the submission. You're then triggering the submit event again, and getting caught in a recursive cycle.
Remove e.preventDefault.

A: Remove e.preventDefault(); , it will prevent the form submission even trigger submit event
$(document).ready(function(){
    $("#login_form").submit(function(){
        var password = $("#password").val();
        var p = document.createElement("input");
        $("#login_form").append(p);
        p.name = "p";
        p.type = "hidden";
        p.value = hex_sha512(password);
        $("#password").val('');
    });
});

A: Trigger the native submit after you've made the changes
$(document).ready(function(){
    $("#login_form").submit(function(e){
        e.preventDefault();
        var password = $("#password").val();
        var p = document.createElement("input");

        p.name = "p";
        p.type = "hidden";
        p.value = hex_sha512(password);

        $("#login_form").append(p);
        $("#password").val('');

        this.submit(); // native handler
    });
});

Triggering the native submit after the hidden input is inserted makes sure it's there when the form is submitted.


It's different for each person, but generally the active stage of treatment (that is, wearing braces or other appliances) may take from 6-30 months. After that, a retainer is worn for life.
The answer is yes: If you don't wear a retainer, your teeth can rapidly shift out of position — and then all the effort put into your treatment is lost! Your retainer helps you maintain that good-looking smile for a lifetime.


What are my options to pay my First Citizens Credit Card?
Whether you are a student, a career builder, at the family stage or simply enjoying the finer things in life First Citizens has convenient and flexible credit card payment channels just for you.
Click on any one of the links below for further information on the payment options available to you.


text:
The Ordinary Is Coming To Boots, Soon
High street store Boots will be welcome one of skincare's biggest brands, The Ordinary, into their impressive roster from July 31st. From the end of this month, you'll be able to pick-up the cult-favourite products, including the dermatologist-approved Granactive Retinoid and Peeling Solution, without having to wait for them to be shipped.
Joanna Rogers, Commercial Director and Beauty VP for Boots said: "The Ordinary brings brilliant, high-performance and efficacious products to Boots. With highly effective ingredients, the brand will make it easier for our customers to curate a skincare wardrobe at great affordable prices."
Since launching their pocket-friendly arsenal of products with science-driven formulas back in 2013, the brand, which sits under the Deciem umbrella, has launched bestseller after bestseller. The Ordinary's debut foundations garnered a 25,000-strong waiting list before they were released in 2017. The Caffeine Solution, has also become a hero product for combating lines and dark circles, as has their Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 serum which features in many an Instagram #shelfie.
The brand, which places a big focus on efficacy and ease, recently announced the launch of a starter kit for skincare beginners consisting of just three products. The smart kits combat all manner of skin concerns, including pigmentation and congestion.
In June 2017, the brand entered what it called "a family-like partnership" with The Estée Lauder Companies. Then, after a series of personal and professional problems, troubled Deciem founded Brandon Truaxe was found dead at the start of the year. Despite the loss of Truaxe, the brand has continued to flourish.
The Ordinary will be available in Boots from July 31st.
So You (Eek) Got A Sunburn? Here's How To Heal It, Fast
These Are The Most (& Least) Painful Places To Get A Piercing

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


We all know for a certain that there are so many things in life that we consider as important and two of these things are leisure and recreation. Of course, with the way we are living our life wherein we are loaded with lots of things, it is very important that we have something that can divert our attention from it and focus more on what makes us happy, on what makes us have fun and what makes us relax and relieve from stress. Coping with stress and the negativities of life is one thing that we have to learn how to cope up with as we live in this lifetime that is why there are ways on how to do so like having a full-service tailgating, going on a camp or perhaps, choosing an extended vacation. No matter what kind of activity it is that you feel like doing, it will always be styled well if the rv park lake okeechobee you choose is the best one you can ever have.
We are sure that many of you already have tried having a life in an RV at http://taylorcreekrvresort.com/ and surely, some of you may not like what you experienced, well, what we can tell you is that this may be the case because you have not chosen the right RV. It would be best for you to keep in mind all the time that a good RV is something that can give you a homey feeling and a complete sense of belongingness, even though you really are not in your home. Although, the destination where you are headed to matters a lot, still, the quality of life you will have with your chosen RV will greatly influence the kind of experience you have during your trip or your travel.
You should know by now that there are now quite a number of RVs that are for hire or for purchase. You will not have anything that you can worry about provided that the RV you choose corresponds to the budget that you have allocated for it. But then again, you must never allow yourself to stoop so low, you still need to ask yourself about what it is that you really want. Doing this means that you are bound to know the thing or things you really want the most and at the same time, you will be able to evaluate the inner motives that you have. And also, there goes the fact that you have to answer certain questions like who are with you on your trip and how many are you. Read more about RV parks at https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/economics-business-and-labor/businesses-and-occupations/campground.


text:
Super League facing calls for increased coronavirus testing as six Hull FC players test positive for Covid-19 after Salford match
The new season has been thrown into jeopardy after outbreak among players and staff with two fxitures postponed this weekend
By John Davidson
Hull FC and Salford Red Devils played at Headingley last weekend – with four other clubs in attendance (Photo: PA)
Calls have been made for increased coronavirus testing in Super League and penalties to players and staff who breach social distancing protocols after the future of the season was put in jeopardy after an outbreak at Hull FC.
Six Hull FC players and two members of the club's coaching staff have tested positive for Covid-19 after facing Salford on Sunday.
Both clubs have put their players and staff into isolation following the results, with Hull FC's match against Castleford and Salford's game against Catalans this weekend both postponed and further fixtures to be rearranged.
But four other clubs were at Headingley with Hull FC and the Red Devils last Sunday, with some understood to have come into contact from individuals from those two clubs, leading to fears that other teams could be forced into quarantine and more fixtures may be called off in the future.
Super League has endured a nightmare return off the field after a four-month hiatus with Toronto Wolfpack withdrawing from the season and controversy surrounding the competition's support of the Black Lives Matter movement and the non-kneeling by some players.
Super League players are tested just once a week for the Coronavirus, compared with what was twice a week in Premier League and Championship football, with Premiership Rugby to start twice a week testing.
Salford CEO Ian Blease believes players and staff should be tested more, and has suggested fines for any who break the rules, if the rest of the season is to be completed while the pandemic rages.
"We either want the game to survive, and we all want to keep earning off it," he told i.
Toronto Wolfpack revealed to have £2.3m debt as two prospective buyers pull out
"I think we need to reenergize the protocols. I do think we need to put some fines in place for people who are breaching it.
"I'm not sure they are doing, there's no evidence of that. But if they are lackadaisical they need a fine hanging over their heads to ensure they don't do it again. There's no repercussions.
"I've suggested we go to twice a week testing, once a week for me is not enough. We need one 24 to 48 hours before a game.
"It's just too important not to do twice a week isn't it, even if we have to pay for it ourselves. We can learn from this.
"We all think we're safe…. but actually you're not. We're not clear of this virus at all, you have to be very careful of what you do outside of the club."
Israel Folau the only starting player not to take a knee at Super League double-header
Hull FC owner Adam Pearson told the BBC that the infection at his club is most likely to have originated from a player who took his sick child to a hospital who needed treatment.
For now Super League is on high alert and Huddersfield fullback Ashton Golding, who will take the field against Warrington this Saturday, admits the situation has scared him.
"I've got a young family who are vulnerable to this virus," Golding told i.
"To hear that it's actually got players and the strict protocols that we adhere to aren't protecting players is quite scary.
"I hope it's not serious for those Hull players because at the end of the day we're all human and we all want to go home and at the end of the working day see our families."
What time PMQs is today, and how to watch Boris Johnson vs Keir Starmer live


text:
Q: Escaping trouble - Blade Template in Laravel 5.1 My view contains the following code
@foreach ($building as $maps)

          {{ $x }}

<?php $x++; ?>
@endforeach

Yet this is resulting in the follwoing HTML

   2

With $maps still being appended to URL instead of the value within $maps. Is it possible to retrieve the value within a blade template?
Thanks,
Otterman

A: Everything between the blade tags is just normal PHP. So you can simple concatenate the string and the variable:
{{ URL::asset('floorPlans/'.$maps) }}


text:
Jess Brittain is a portrait and social documentary photographer based in Cambridge, UK. In the UK today, homelessness is an ongoing national issue, which can be devastating, dangerous and isolating for those affected. Many social causes can develop into homelessness, such as lack of affordable housing, poverty, unemployment and traumatic life events. The many stigmas attached to this experience can negatively influence those affected, reducing their experience to a single stereotype.
Each individual's experience is different, and I felt it was essential to understand their stories and personalise their experiences. Inspired by my own family's struggles with homelessness, both in the past and currently; I thought it was important to highlight this issue to challenge these stereotypes and collaborate with those affected by this social condition. Working alongside a diverse range of individuals who are in different paths of their lives, whether that be street homeless, living in temporary accommodation and much more. I hoped to help communicate their story through photographic means, customising each portrait and encouraging their creative control over the experience. With the hopes that from this, to show different perspectives of homelessness and hope to change the narrative that is enforced upon homeless individuals.
Visit Jess's wesbite
Follow Jess on Twitter
Follow Jess on Facebook
Follow Jess on Instagram
'Judith', Jess Brittain
'Judith' text, Jess Brittain
'Aro', Jess Brittain
'Aro' text, Jess Brittain
'Daniel', Jess Brittain
'Daniel' text, Jess Brittain
'Sandy', Jess Brittain
'Sandy' text, Jess Brittain


He sees CovCast as a way to highlight the many facets of the ECC, from the dynamic ministry happening in local churches and on distant mission fields to the latest resources and initiatives from Covenant Offices.
The first CovCast episode is now available here. Listeners also can subscribe to the feed using Apple Podcasts and other podcast apps, or search for "CovCasts" at the iTunes store, Spotify, and other services.
Such a good idea. Another is to communicate some of the other podcasts being produced by Covenant people, such as 5101 by Lars Stromberg.


Do you want to loose weight? Eat Broccoli. You don't like broccoli, like can't stand it, won't eat it? Then eat whatever you do like, that shares the same attributes of Broccoli. Green, Fibrous, Vegetable. No, broccoli doesn't taste as good as nachos or a blizzard, and I think sometimes that's peoples' hang-up on vegetables. "I don't like vegetables." Do you really not like vegetables? Or is it that vegetables aren't as good as doughnuts. Because if we're looking for all of our food to be comfort food worthy, our needing to improve our heath has much less to do with our genetics, or age, or thyroid and everything to do with our expectations. This becomes really clear whenever we get excited about a paleo doughnut or order the gluten free pizza. Like somehow a paleo doughnut isn't a doughnut. We all love doughnuts, eat doughnuts please! Pizza is my favorite, and I plan to eat it until the day I die. In the past 40 years though, more food items are labeled and advertised as healthy, yet obesity is booming. The key word in paleo doughnut is doughnut. There isn't a healthy option of your very favorite foods. Unless of course your favorite food is truly Broccoli, Wild Salmon, Huckleberries and a kale salad with crushed almonds and home-made olive oil vinaigrette. Whoa, that was a serious rant! Sorry if I ruined your day! Hopefully I can regain your trust! There may not be a healthy version of Mac and Cheese, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy Whole Foods.
Start with vegetables and fruit. They're colorful because they have phytonutrients, vitimins, and minerals. Vitimins, minerals and phytonutrients make your body work correctly, and they also make you feel awesome. Too much science to explain. The way they work in your body is already perfect and it can't be replicated in a pill. They're fibrous, filling, and you can't really over eat them. You can fight me until your face is blue, but they taste good, are satisfying, and you like them! If only because it's in your design to like them, yet processed food has been modified to be liked/craved even more. Take your dog for example. Sure they scarf the dog food you feed them, and it is fine, but they know where the good stuff comes from-- the treat jar, or your scraps. They'll always choose your scraps over the bowl. The seagulls on the boardwalk live exclusively on bread crumbs and trash, not the small fish they should be eating. The food we call our favorite is likely engineered to be tasty and irresistible to make money. So of course whole foods don't taste as good as processed foods when you're used to processed foods. A bag of Broccoli is only 5 bucks and lasts a couple of days, nobody is getting rich off that. Maybe you don't like vegetables, but it's likely that you just don't like the way your vegetables are prepared. This is what I recommend.
Choose a green vegetable. It can be one you already tolerate, one you want to like, or one you absolutely hate. Rather than trying to choke it down the same old way, only to hate it even more, try something new. This is how I prepare Broccoli and Cauliflower and I've learned to love it.
- Chop off the stems. Nothing says that you gotta spend all day chewing some hard stems for broccoli to be healthy.
- 4 minutes In the microwave in a bowl with some water. Again, soften them up a little first! And while they cook in the microwave, melt some coconut oil, butter, olive oil, avocado oil etc. in a pan.
- Drain the water from the bowl. Saute the broccoli (or cauliflower, or brussels sprouts, or whatever it is). Add Salt.
- When you eat it, don't get all emotional because it doesn't taste like the Totinos Pizza Roll your kid is eating. It's Broccoli.
When I'm tired, moody, not recovering well, it's often the same time when I'm lazy about getting in the veggies.
Especially for the low carb crowd, you just can't skip the veggies. Go too long without them, and you'll feel like dookie. What derails your eating plan faster than a bad mood? Nothing. Making sure you're eating plenty of veg and fruit can help you stay on track believe it or not. If you're afraid of a cup of cauliflower or an apple spiking your insulin, do you really in your heart think that a diet that frowns on literally the most nutritious foods is really what you want to adhere to?
Good nutrition makes you look your best, perform well, and feel awesome. If one of those things are missing or if you have to choose between any of those, something should change. And the change can be as small as eat broccoli. You don't have to choose between looking good, feeling good, and performing good.