C’mon, let’s face it…we needed to play another overtime series and settle this thing once and for all.  Everyone I’ve talk to about this past Saturday’s game say the same thing: “It was one of the best game I’ve ever seen!”…but to most of the players it was very unfulfilling and quite disappointing to be honest.  Sure it could have been worst and we could have lost but we don’t play to lose or to tie, we play to win so anything short of that happening and we feel unfulfilled.  We played a pretty good game in all 3 phases and the offense put up some good points, numbers and stats.  Szarka bruised his way into the end zone 3 times, the receivers did a great job getting opened all over the field and Darian put up a great performance.  Although we didn’t win we still get a chance to take 1st place in the West this Saturday against BC who beat us the last two times we’ve played them.  We didn’t do so well upfront in the trenches last time we played them so we’re looking forward to a chance at redemption.  They have an excellent front four on defense but we also have a pretty good group upfront on the Oline so I expect a battle from the first play until the final whistle of the game.  Only a few more days…I can’t wait!
   
  Speaking of our Oline, I want to send out a big congratulations to big Gene on moving into 2nd place all time in games played by a Roughrider.  Geno has the kind of career all young Olinemen want to have: 15 years played, countless All-Star Awards and at age 51 he’s still playing at such an elite level.  During my first year in the CFL (with Ottawa), I actually noticed how good of a player Geno was and asked Mike Sutherland who big #60 was on the opposing team.  Mike told me all about Geno and how he was a perennial All-Star…which I could see because he dominated us that game.  When I joined the Riders in 2007 I got to see up close just what kind of person Geno really was: a student of the game on and off the field, someone who works his technique everyday in practice and leads by example and just how close he always seems to get to the Oline coach.  For the last 3 years I watch how he practices and plays and I love to pick his brain about questions I have on techniques or schemes that we run.  Gene is a shoe-in for future Hall of Famer and I’m just glad I got to play a few years with him (and hopefully a few more).  Congrats big guy!
   
  My fiancée and I were very happy to have her mom and dad come to visit us for the last home game against Toronto.  We showed them what Regina had to offer and they had a fun time at the game even though it was freezing cold outside.  The best part of their visit was that Leslie’s mom cooked us an unbelievable Thanksgiving dinner that feed 25 people.  I picked up the Mike Abou tradition where he invited a bunch of teammates who didn’t have family in town for Thanksgiving dinner, which this year meant about 15 guys…and of course I invited the Abous (who welcomed their 2nd baby last month, congrats!) to come over and join us in the tradition they started.  Linda (Leslie’s mom) made turkey, ham, mac n cheese, potatoes, stuffing, beans, cole slaw and so much more all from scratch…the guys loved it so much because it was a great home cooked meal which they don’t get to have as much since their away from home.  She also made some desserts and the fan favorite was the Mississippi Mud Pie…it was to die for!  Thank you so much again to Linda and Bill for coming out and making our Thanksgiving so special…and I tell you my friends, I’m not making this stuff up…

Marc Parenteau #57