By Rob Vanstone, Leader-PostNovember 20, 2009 7:02 PM
REGINA — The last time the stakes were this high, the steaks were considerably lower — at least in terms of cost.
In the Leader-Post on Nov. 20, 1976 — the day the Saskatchewan Roughriders played host to the Edmonton Eskimos in the CFL's Western Conference final — Venice House advertised steak and lobster for an easily digestible $8.95.
Bennett-Dunlop Ford was selling a Gran Torino two-door hardtop for $5,306. Not only that, a "sporty and spiffy'' Granada four-door sedan was $5,032.
Our pages also included a cigarette ad, for (cough!) Dumont Select Mild, which "satisfies the demands of the modern smoker for a sensibly filtered cigarette that delivers the rich tobacco flavour that smoking is all about.''
When the smoke cleared that day, the Roughriders emerged with a 23-13 victory. Who could have imagined that a West final would not be played in Regina for another 33 years? The protracted drought is to conclude Sunday, when Saskatchewan and the Calgary Stampeders are to collide.
Many of the 30,945 fans in attendance will be witnessing a division final on home soil for the first time. After all, you have to be at least 40 years of age to have any vivid recollection of 1976.
"It's just amazing — especially in a four-team division,'' Riders quarterback Darian Durant marvelled. "You never think that it would be that long. I'm just happy for the fans that they get a chance to be here and experience it with us.
"It's a big accomplishment for myself and for this team. The thing about it is, we're not happy with just having a Western final game. It's all about getting to the Grey Cup, which I'm sure we haven't done much here either. Like I've told you before, I want to be part of history. I want to be part of changing the tradition around here. I want to be able to make it so that Western final games occur often, not just once every 30 years.''
How long has it been? Cornerback Omarr Morgan is one of the Riders' elder statesmen, and even he wasn't born when the team previously staged a West final. Morgan arrived Dec. 4, 1976 — two weeks after Steve Molnar rushed for 144 yards, Molly McGee added 100 along the ground, and Bob Richardson made a one-handed catch of a Ron Lancaster pass for a touchdown against Edmonton.
"It hasn't happened in 33 years,'' said Morgan, a 10th-year CFLer. "For me personally, and most of the players, we're used to being second and third in the West or even crossing over and just grinding it out. I've never had a chance to just watch the other two teams play (in the division semifinal) and see who you're playing the following week.
"Last weekend, when I was watching the game, I was sitting at my house eating chips and having a burger, thinking, 'Man, that's usually us out there trying to play to see who's going to play next week.' Just to sit there and watch those two teams puts things in perspective that we've got a chance to do this.''
Morgan offered perspective without being reflective. Although he appreciates the organization's rich history, his only concern is to extend the 2009 season. Durant is of a similar mindset.
"This is a new era,'' Durant said before paying homage to Lancaster. "The guy who led the team in '76 is basically a god around here. I will never able to walk in his footsteps, but I just want to make a name for myself. I want this team to go down in history, and I'll do everything in my power to make sure that happens.''
A very small part of history will be made Sunday when Gainer The Gopher steps on to Taylor Field. Gainer, who was born in 1977, is preparing for his very first West final. For the 1976 playoff game, the Riders imported the Stampeders' mascot, Ralph The Dog.
Another canine flashback: Mad Dog Morgan was showing at the Broadway Theatre on Nov. 20, 1976, when Bowser Moon was on stage at the Sahara Nights.
More food for thought: On the day of the 1976 Western final, Oriental Gardens was offering a dinner for four for $9.75.
"Oh, wow. I want to go back to those days,'' said Durant, referring strictly to the prices. "It's just a great place to be. Right now, I don't think anyone's worried about what they did before. Everyone's worried about this 2009 team. What can we do Sunday? What can we do in the future? I'm here to say that this is the beginning of something special.''
rvanstone@leaderpost.canwest.com
REGINA — The last time the stakes were this high, the steaks were considerably lower — at least in terms of cost.
In the Leader-Post on Nov. 20, 1976 — the day the Saskatchewan Roughriders played host to the Edmonton Eskimos in the CFL's Western Conference final — Venice House advertised steak and lobster for an easily digestible $8.95.
Bennett-Dunlop Ford was selling a Gran Torino two-door hardtop for $5,306. Not only that, a "sporty and spiffy'' Granada four-door sedan was $5,032.
Our pages also included a cigarette ad, for (cough!) Dumont Select Mild, which "satisfies the demands of the modern smoker for a sensibly filtered cigarette that delivers the rich tobacco flavour that smoking is all about.''
When the smoke cleared that day, the Roughriders emerged with a 23-13 victory. Who could have imagined that a West final would not be played in Regina for another 33 years? The protracted drought is to conclude Sunday, when Saskatchewan and the Calgary Stampeders are to collide.
Many of the 30,945 fans in attendance will be witnessing a division final on home soil for the first time. After all, you have to be at least 40 years of age to have any vivid recollection of 1976.
"It's just amazing — especially in a four-team division,'' Riders quarterback Darian Durant marvelled. "You never think that it would be that long. I'm just happy for the fans that they get a chance to be here and experience it with us.
"It's a big accomplishment for myself and for this team. The thing about it is, we're not happy with just having a Western final game. It's all about getting to the Grey Cup, which I'm sure we haven't done much here either. Like I've told you before, I want to be part of history. I want to be part of changing the tradition around here. I want to be able to make it so that Western final games occur often, not just once every 30 years.''
How long has it been? Cornerback Omarr Morgan is one of the Riders' elder statesmen, and even he wasn't born when the team previously staged a West final. Morgan arrived Dec. 4, 1976 — two weeks after Steve Molnar rushed for 144 yards, Molly McGee added 100 along the ground, and Bob Richardson made a one-handed catch of a Ron Lancaster pass for a touchdown against Edmonton.
"It hasn't happened in 33 years,'' said Morgan, a 10th-year CFLer. "For me personally, and most of the players, we're used to being second and third in the West or even crossing over and just grinding it out. I've never had a chance to just watch the other two teams play (in the division semifinal) and see who you're playing the following week.
"Last weekend, when I was watching the game, I was sitting at my house eating chips and having a burger, thinking, 'Man, that's usually us out there trying to play to see who's going to play next week.' Just to sit there and watch those two teams puts things in perspective that we've got a chance to do this.''
Morgan offered perspective without being reflective. Although he appreciates the organization's rich history, his only concern is to extend the 2009 season. Durant is of a similar mindset.
"This is a new era,'' Durant said before paying homage to Lancaster. "The guy who led the team in '76 is basically a god around here. I will never able to walk in his footsteps, but I just want to make a name for myself. I want this team to go down in history, and I'll do everything in my power to make sure that happens.''
A very small part of history will be made Sunday when Gainer The Gopher steps on to Taylor Field. Gainer, who was born in 1977, is preparing for his very first West final. For the 1976 playoff game, the Riders imported the Stampeders' mascot, Ralph The Dog.
Another canine flashback: Mad Dog Morgan was showing at the Broadway Theatre on Nov. 20, 1976, when Bowser Moon was on stage at the Sahara Nights.
More food for thought: On the day of the 1976 Western final, Oriental Gardens was offering a dinner for four for $9.75.
"Oh, wow. I want to go back to those days,'' said Durant, referring strictly to the prices. "It's just a great place to be. Right now, I don't think anyone's worried about what they did before. Everyone's worried about this 2009 team. What can we do Sunday? What can we do in the future? I'm here to say that this is the beginning of something special.''
rvanstone@leaderpost.canwest.com
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