For the first time in their 103-year history, the Saskatchewan Roughriders boast a record of 8-1.
This means two things: first, this year's team is pretty damn good; and second, that being around for over a century doesn't mean you've got an illustrious history.
Putting aside the past, the Roughriders' future is looking as rosy as it ever has after a 48-25 win over the hapless Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the annual Labour Day Classic on Sept. 1.
Despite trailing 18-14 at halftime, the Riders turned it on in the second half, outscoring Winnipeg 34-7 and running away with the game before a home crowd of 44,910, the second largest ever at Mosaic Stadium.
The team's dominance through nine games brings up an obvious question: is this the best Riders team ever?
That is a question that can't be definitively answered until after the season is over, but let's take a stab at it with some educated prognosticating.
Since joining the CFL prior to the 1958 season, the Riders' best regular season record came in 1970, when they went 14-2. Alas, that team lost in a best-of-three playoff series to the Stampeders in the West finals. Kudos for the regular season, but in my mind no team can claim the title of best ever if they didn't win it all.
With that rule laid out, there are three candidates: 1966, 1989 and 2007, the three Grey Cup-winning teams in Rider history.
Both the '66 and '89 teams posted mediocre regular season records: 9-6-1 and 9-9, respectively. In '66 Saskatchewan finished first in a weak Western Conference before defeating Ottawa 29-14 in the Grey Cup Final, an all-Roughriders game that must have been tough on confused sportswriters and readers alike.
The '89 team finished third in the Western Conference that year and even suffered through a four-game winning streak in the middle of the season. However, this team gets bonus points for a stunning playoff run, highlighted by a 32-21 win in the West final over a juggernaut Edmonton Eskimos team that had gone 16-2 during the regular season. They capped it off with a thrilling 43-40 shootout win in the Grey Cup over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
A strong resume, to be sure, but that 9-9 regular season record doesn't scream "all-time team". A playoff run for the ages, but I'm not ready to hand over any titles yet.
That leaves 2007. A 12-6 regular season record, best since 1988. A strong run through the playoffs that included a win in the West finals over the 14-3-1 BC Lions and a 23-19 win over the hated Blue Bombers in the Grey Cup. James Johnson's interception with 54 seconds left (his third of the game) clinched the win for the Riders and cemented his place in team history.
Based on a combination of regular season and playoff results I'm handing the title of Best Rider Team Ever to the 2007 outfit, though it's a title that's ripe for the taking.
This year's team can be the one to take that title. If they can finish with a regular season record of, say, 13-3 or better (meaning they'd only need to go 5-2 the rest of the way), combined with a Grey Cup win on home soilwell, how could that be topped?
Of course, it all depends on the playoffs. A 15-1 romp through the regular season that ends in defeat in the Grey Cup or earlier? I don't want to hear about it. The point of sports is to win, and if you don't win you can't lay claim to the title of best anything.
The 2013 Riders aren't just playing for this year; they're playing for 103 years of history.
