Third Down Gamble

Steve Daniel was an integral member of the team looking at the CFL game and possible changes.  Steve's expertise helped inform some of the proposed major changes to the game that were presented by CFL Commissioner Stewart Johnson on September 22 in Toronto.  (CFL on CBC theme music is used with express written permission, podcast recorded September 24, 2025). 

CFL Commissioner Stewart Johnston announces sweeping changes to the game: benches opposite, standard timing, smaller endzones, goalposts on the endline, a shorter field, and a modified 'rouge'.  Changes will be phased in over two years.  Where does this leave U-Sports, amateur football, and other stakeholders that operate and maintain playing fields?  Edmonton loses, again, on a last play field goal.  Calgary almost ran out of quarterbacks versus BC.  (CFL on TSN 2019 game audio, CFL on CBC theme music used with express written permission; podcast recorded September 23, 2025).

Argos' Head Coach Ryan Dinwiddie is upset with a couple members of the Elks at games' end and lets them know his feelings.  Winnipeg Head Coach Mike O'Shea defends the play of quarterback Chris Steveler.  Argonauts win a stunner over Edmonton, Montreal stuns the Roughriders,  Three teams have 6W-7L records, while two teams more are at 5W-8L in a very close crossover CFL playoff race.  (CFL on CBC theme music used with express written permission; podcast recorded September 17, 2025).

Roughriders win in Winnipeg, Ottawa enjoys another 'Crumback' victory, and Edmonton wins their rematch.  Can Montreal win without Davis Alexander?  Zach Collaros is sidelined, what's next for him?  (CFL on TSN audio from September 5, CFL on CBC theme music used with express written permission, podcast recorded September 10, 2025).

Unbelieveable finishes in two CFL OK Tire Labour Day games; all three games were played in front of sellout crowds.  What will happen in Toronto with quarterback Chad Kelly announcing his return?  Can the Alouettes win again without quarterback Davis Alexander?  Can the Roughriders win the 'Banjo Bowl' game?  (CFL on TSN audio (2001) courtesy TSN, CFL on CBC theme music used with express written permission; podcast recorded Septmber 2, 2025).

Special Guest Host Andrew Hoskins (Turf District Podcast) joins to discuss the Elks three-game winning streak, the aerial circus that was played at BMO Field between the Argonauts and Lions, how Calgary is surprising the league and whether the Stampeders can maintain their pace.  Three games make up Labour Day "Rivalry" weekend, does Montreal vs Ottawa deserve an inclusion?  (CFL on CBC theme music used with express written permission; podcast recorded August 24, 2025).

Quarterbacks Caleb Evans and Dru Brown are out with knee injuries.  Micah Awe gets flagged for spearing, why not make the penalty an ejection?  West dominates the East over the weekend by taking all four games.  Ottawa's Dustin Crum makes another 'crumback'.  Calgary hosts Saskatchewan in a huge rematch, can the Roughriders win the seasonal series?  (CFL on CBC theme music used with express written permission; podcast recorded August 19, 2025).

An amazing Week 10 of CFL football that provided much drama, intensity, and nailbiting finishes.  Montreal quarterback McCleod Bethel-Thompson struggles again, is placed on the six game injured list; can Caleb Evans right the offence?  What does Edmonton's win in Montreal, BC's in Hamilton mean for each team?  Argonauts' Head Coach Ryan Dinwiddie still wants answers for his team's performance.  (CFL on CBC theme music used with express written permission; podcast recorded August 12, 2025).

A gut-wrenching loss to Hamilton leaves the Elks with more questions than answers.  Hamilton wins their six-in-a-row, is that offence unstoppable when Bo Levi Mitchell is running the show?  Montreal is hammered at home, are they in trouble?  Troonto and Ottawa play in a consequential game this week? Can Winnipeg avenge their two losses to Calgary?  (CFL on CBC theme music used with express written permission; podcast recorded August 5, 2025).

Quarterbacks: only Bo Levi Mitchell has played every game up-to-now.  BC's Robert Carter Jr. defies gravity in one of the most amazing interceptions you will ever see. Alouettes win in the final seconds, again.  Hamilton and BC claw back and forth in an amazing football game, highlighted by two Hamilton touchdowns in the last three minutes to win.  Has Winnipeg been knocked down from elite-team status?  Who will play quarterback his week in Ottawa: RedBlacks' Dru Brown and/or Stampders' Vernon Adams Jr.?  (CFL on CBC theme music used with express written permission;  podcast recorded July 29, 2025).

Special guest Steve Daniel joins to discuss quarterbacking in the CFL, how touchdowns off turnovers and kick returns impact the game, why lead fewer lead change equate to fewer games decided in the last three minutes, the depth of analysis now found in CFL Statistics, and how statistical presentations and understandings have evolved over the last 20 years.  (CFL on CBC theme music used with express written permission, podcast recorded July 24, 2025).

Guest-host Andrew Hoskins (The Turf District Podcast) joins to discuss the recent spate of hard hits on CFL quarterbacks and whether sanctions may follow with Hamilton's DaShaun Amos hit on Ottawa's Dru Brown.  The Tiger-Cats and Stampeders are making believers of many.  Ottawa Head Coach Bob Dyce, is his job in trouble?  Who will start at quarterback for Montreal and Edmonton this weekend?  (CFL on CBC theme music used with express written permission; podcast recorded July 21, 2025).

You could see and smell the air in Regina, an AQHI of 10+ refused to leave the area Friday night.  Calgary takes down another top CFL  opponent, making their case that the Stampeders are for real.  What happened to Edmonton vs BC, Tre Ford throws for 34 yards?  To gamble or not, Roughriders try it twice and do not succeed.  (CFL on CBC theme music used with express written permission, podcast reced July 15, 2025).

Tempers flare and suspensions/fines follow as the summer heat intensifies, what can be done?  What could Noel Thorpe have changed defensively in the final seconds versus the Lions?  Did both Hamilton and Edmonton turn the corner?  Three-game weekend with so much pressure on all six teams playing in the CFL, who will come away winners?  (CFL on CBC theme music used with express written permission, podcast recorded July 9, 2025).

Panic buttons are being punched over early-season attendance, is there really a concern?  If so, what can be done?  Discipline causes concern for the Roughriders. Toronto's Derek Slywka has a game for the ages in Ottawa.  Which injured quarterback will be available this weekend?  Will the Elks win their first game Sunday?  (CFL on CBC theme music used with express written permission; podcast recorded July 2, 2025).

TSN's Luke Willson takes shots at the CFL product, was his take 'hot garbage'?  Chop blocks, why are they still in the game?  Quarterback injuries mount, again.  Roughrirders escape from Toronto with a 'Mario Miracle'... a moment for the ages.  Argonauts' Coach Ryan Dinwiddie fumes over third straight lost to start the 2025 CFL season.  (Mario Alford touchdown audio courtesy of 620 CKRM Cooperators Rider Broadcast Network; CFL on CBC theme music is used with express written permission; podcast recorded June 25, 2025).

Two weeks into the season and injuries to key players are impacting teams.  Is it panic-time in Ontario with no wins in six games?  Montreal's defence looks like its on a mission.  If your defence scores... you win!  (CFL on CBC theme music used with express written permission; podcast recorded June 17. 2025).

Hamilton General Manager Ted Goveia reveals he has cancer.  CFL.ca may get an overhaul.  Ottawa makes a lot of mistakes in their loss to Saskatchewan; Bo Levi Mitchell still can not lead the Tiger-Cats to a win in Calgary; the battle of Canadian quarterbacks goes to Nathan Rourke.  (CFL on CBC theme music used with express written permission; podcast recorded June 10, 2025).

The 2025 CFL season is set to unfold.  Some surprising roster moves by the Argoanuts and Alouettes left veterans off the team.  Is the East too impossible to predict, is the West really a two-tier division?  (CFL on CBC theme music used with express written permission; podcast recorded June 3, 2025).

Special Guests Dave Thomas (voice of the Saskatchewan Roughriders) and Derek Taylor (voice of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers) join in to discuss the upcoming CFL 2025 season and conjuecture as to what may happen in both the East and west Division and which teams may find themselves in the playoff hunt or not.  (CFL on CBC theme used express written permission; podcast recorded May 26, 2025).