My earlier post got me thinking, which is always dangerous. I wondered two things. First, I wondered what the longest streak of missing the playoffs was. Second, I wondered what the longest streak for each team was.
Here's what I found out, using the creation of the CFL in 1958 as my start point.
BC 4 (1965-1968)
Calgary 6 (1972-1977)
Edmonton 4 (1962-1965)
Saskatchewan 11 (1977-1987)
Winnipeg 4 (1967-1970)
Hamilton 4 (2005-2008)
Toronto 5 (1962-1966)
Montreal 3 (1967-1969)
Ottawa 4 (Rough Riders 1986-1989 & Renegades (2002-2005)
I noticed a few things, besides the obvious. If there was a crossover in 1981, the longest streak would have been 6, as Saskatchewan was 6 wins better than Montreal, who made the playoffs that year. Second, the futility of Montreal and Ottawa in the 80's offset each other a bit, and both teams also had long absences that, had they continued to exist past the point they disappeared for a while, may have been more seasons of futility in a row.
I find it very interesting that 5 teams had their longest streak be 4, and 3 others had their longest streak right around there as well. If we lived in a fairer CFL universe, all teams would be around 3-6 seasons for their longest streaks.
My curiosity has led me down some interesting paths lately. Anything you're curious about? Let ,e know, and I'll see what I can dig up!
Monday, October 26, 2015
4 in a Row: Missing the playoffs
You'd think in a league with only 9 teams, with 6 making the playoffs, that long streaks of missing the playoffs would be non-existent. Unfortunately for my Bombers, that's not the case. Barring a miracle, they will have missed the playoffs this year for the 4th time in a row. I did some quick research this afternoon, and that would be the third streak of 4 in a row since 2000.
Hamilton went 5-13 in 2005, followed by a 4-14 season in 2006, as well as back to back 3-15 seasons in 2007 and 2008.
The Ottawa Renegades existed for 4 years and missed the playoffs each year, finishing 4-14, 7-11, 5-13, and 7-11 again. They were crossed over on during their 7-11 seasons, adding a bit of bad luck to the equation.
If we go back just a bit further, Saskatchewan missed the playoffs every season from 1998-2001.
When I have more time, I will see if I can find longer streaks, but the good news for Bombers fans is that there haven been longer streaks for the past few decades. Maybe they're due next year? Here's hoping!
Hamilton went 5-13 in 2005, followed by a 4-14 season in 2006, as well as back to back 3-15 seasons in 2007 and 2008.
The Ottawa Renegades existed for 4 years and missed the playoffs each year, finishing 4-14, 7-11, 5-13, and 7-11 again. They were crossed over on during their 7-11 seasons, adding a bit of bad luck to the equation.
If we go back just a bit further, Saskatchewan missed the playoffs every season from 1998-2001.
When I have more time, I will see if I can find longer streaks, but the good news for Bombers fans is that there haven been longer streaks for the past few decades. Maybe they're due next year? Here's hoping!
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Worst to First?
I was listening to a great CFL podcast (there's a shocker for you) called the 2 and Out CFL Podcast today, and there was a brief discussion of Ottawa possibly going from worst team in the league to first place in their division. I've been looking for something interesting to blog about for some time now, although time hasn't been my friend lately, and figured that'd make a heck of a post.
I took a quick run through all the yearly standings from 1958 (the first year the league was officially the CFL) to the present, and what I found was actually a bit shocking to me. For all those seasons, for how few teams are in the league, and how fast the league can change, I found that only three teams had the worst record in the league one year and won their division (as in hosting the division final, a few teams lost tiebreakers for first, I did not count these teams) the next season. Of those, all three made it to the Grey Cup, but all three lost. Of them, only one ended up with the best record in the league after finishing with the worst record the year before.
The teams in question are the 1982 Toronto Argonauts (2-14 finish in 1981, 9-6-1 in 1982), the 1998 Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-16 in 1997, 12-5-1 in 1998, best in the league), and the 2011 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-14 in 2010, 10-8 in 2011).
There you have it. I feel a little smarter now, and hopefully you do too.
I took a quick run through all the yearly standings from 1958 (the first year the league was officially the CFL) to the present, and what I found was actually a bit shocking to me. For all those seasons, for how few teams are in the league, and how fast the league can change, I found that only three teams had the worst record in the league one year and won their division (as in hosting the division final, a few teams lost tiebreakers for first, I did not count these teams) the next season. Of those, all three made it to the Grey Cup, but all three lost. Of them, only one ended up with the best record in the league after finishing with the worst record the year before.
The teams in question are the 1982 Toronto Argonauts (2-14 finish in 1981, 9-6-1 in 1982), the 1998 Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-16 in 1997, 12-5-1 in 1998, best in the league), and the 2011 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-14 in 2010, 10-8 in 2011).
There you have it. I feel a little smarter now, and hopefully you do too.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Meet an American CFL Fan #3
Yes, yes, I know, I've been slacking at updating my blog. I have an excuse, but not a very good one. Now that that's out of the way, let's meet our next American CFL Fan! It's @CFLAmericanFan!
1. Thanks for agreeing to answer some questions for us today. To start off, tell us a bit about yourself!
I am a welder born and raised in Ohio. Mid 30's, married, one 11 year old son.
2. What attracted you to the CFL?
I grew up on the Cleveland Browns. Cried when they left, rejoiced when they returned. Cried most Sundays since. The only thing separating me from Canada is Lake Erie. When I was a boy, Joe Carter stopped being an Indian and became a Blue Jay. The infatuation was kindled. I went to Toronto in 7th grade on a field trip. I fell in love. Slowly, through baseball and hockey I became more and more aware of Canadian sports. Watched the World Junior hockey tournament every christmastime with my uncle, then the Brier. Love curling too. CHL came with the territory. (Go Spitfires!) Eventually, we found ourselves watching the Grey Cup every Thanksgiving weekend. Casually at first, but it became tradition. We are now so fully involved in the CFL, that I couldn't tell you the Browns record. I think they won once.
3. What do you like about the CFL? Anything you dislike?
Open field, fast paced, and as a wannabe running back, the fact that 4 yard runs up the gut aren't gonna get you anything. Now, as I've become an addict, I love the league having 9 teams. I can learn the story lines, who is hot? Who is cold? Who is injured. It is 9 soap operas worth of story, and each is better than Luke and Laura in General Hospital. Having that familiarity helps me cheer for most any team in any game.
The only thing I dislike? The geographically closest team is Hamilton. 4 hours or so drive away. I really hope Windsor Ontario can be the tenth team.
4. Do you have a favorite team? How about favorite players?
I am very partial to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Why? I have no clue. They feel like they can be a Cleveland team, and I mean that in all the best ways.
Since I started my Twitter account (@CFLAmericanFan, follow me. Please?) I have tweeted about most of the games. The one team that has responded and encouraged me is the BC Lions. Because of their response, and maybe a genetic predilection to orange football teams, I find myself cheering louder for them.
For players, I admit, I'm still learning. However, it seems impossible to hate Henry Burris. I hated to see Zach Collaros go down, he was so fun to watch, similarly Travis Lulay and Drew Willy. I never blink when Brandon Banks is ready for a kick.
To be honest, even after his footwork faux pas last week, I really like Lirim Harall... Yeah. Spelling is hard. Bombers #70.
5. Ever made a trip to a game? If so, how was the experience?
Not yet. But I'll be damned if I don't take my monkey child to Tim Horton's Field next year. The Ticats are the only sports team he truly loves. He cried his 11 year old eyes out when Zach went down.
6. What kind of reaction do you get from fellow Americans when you tell them you follow the CFL?
"They have Canadian football?"
"Is it like rugby?"
"You mean soccer?"
"What college jersey is that?"
I've gotten all of the above just this week, even though I won the Bombers "#RockYourBomberGear" promotion. It gets tiring, but I can preach all day.
7. Anything else you'd like to share?
Go Bombers. Go Lions.
8. How can others get in touch with you to talk CFL?
On Twitter @CFLAmericanFan.
1. Thanks for agreeing to answer some questions for us today. To start off, tell us a bit about yourself!
I am a welder born and raised in Ohio. Mid 30's, married, one 11 year old son.
2. What attracted you to the CFL?
I grew up on the Cleveland Browns. Cried when they left, rejoiced when they returned. Cried most Sundays since. The only thing separating me from Canada is Lake Erie. When I was a boy, Joe Carter stopped being an Indian and became a Blue Jay. The infatuation was kindled. I went to Toronto in 7th grade on a field trip. I fell in love. Slowly, through baseball and hockey I became more and more aware of Canadian sports. Watched the World Junior hockey tournament every christmastime with my uncle, then the Brier. Love curling too. CHL came with the territory. (Go Spitfires!) Eventually, we found ourselves watching the Grey Cup every Thanksgiving weekend. Casually at first, but it became tradition. We are now so fully involved in the CFL, that I couldn't tell you the Browns record. I think they won once.
3. What do you like about the CFL? Anything you dislike?
Open field, fast paced, and as a wannabe running back, the fact that 4 yard runs up the gut aren't gonna get you anything. Now, as I've become an addict, I love the league having 9 teams. I can learn the story lines, who is hot? Who is cold? Who is injured. It is 9 soap operas worth of story, and each is better than Luke and Laura in General Hospital. Having that familiarity helps me cheer for most any team in any game.
The only thing I dislike? The geographically closest team is Hamilton. 4 hours or so drive away. I really hope Windsor Ontario can be the tenth team.
4. Do you have a favorite team? How about favorite players?
I am very partial to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Why? I have no clue. They feel like they can be a Cleveland team, and I mean that in all the best ways.
Since I started my Twitter account (@CFLAmericanFan, follow me. Please?) I have tweeted about most of the games. The one team that has responded and encouraged me is the BC Lions. Because of their response, and maybe a genetic predilection to orange football teams, I find myself cheering louder for them.
For players, I admit, I'm still learning. However, it seems impossible to hate Henry Burris. I hated to see Zach Collaros go down, he was so fun to watch, similarly Travis Lulay and Drew Willy. I never blink when Brandon Banks is ready for a kick.
To be honest, even after his footwork faux pas last week, I really like Lirim Harall... Yeah. Spelling is hard. Bombers #70.
5. Ever made a trip to a game? If so, how was the experience?
Not yet. But I'll be damned if I don't take my monkey child to Tim Horton's Field next year. The Ticats are the only sports team he truly loves. He cried his 11 year old eyes out when Zach went down.
6. What kind of reaction do you get from fellow Americans when you tell them you follow the CFL?
"They have Canadian football?"
"Is it like rugby?"
"You mean soccer?"
"What college jersey is that?"
I've gotten all of the above just this week, even though I won the Bombers "#RockYourBomberGear" promotion. It gets tiring, but I can preach all day.
7. Anything else you'd like to share?
Go Bombers. Go Lions.
8. How can others get in touch with you to talk CFL?
On Twitter @CFLAmericanFan.
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