CFL announces changes to the game - merged topics

[TrueBlue4]

These changes are garbage - yes echoing what Rourke said.
If I want to watch the No Fun League I can do so. I want to watch the CFL and these changes add nothing to our unique exciting game that has been around for over a century

[dd]

I believe the thinking is that a 35 second play clock will work out to generally the same amount of time it takes to spot the ball plus the 20 seconds. It will just make it a consistent maximum amount of time between plays. I'm also thinking the game clock will be run the same as it is now, with the same stoppage rules. So, if the team with the ball in the last 3 minutes is leading and trying to drain the clock, the game clock will still start on the refs signal. Now, I do not know this, I am thinking that is the case. If that's not the case and the game clock continues to run, then that absolutely stinks. 

American rules don't stop the clock until the snap of the ball in the last 3 minutes, teams can and do drain the clock


Our timing rules are far superior to providing an exciting ending to the game, so sure let's change that to make it just like the American version —-boring!!!

[Tehedra]

I've actually been slowly less and less interested in our game as we move closer and closer to the NFL rules.  Hope it works out for the league and they attract more viewership but honestly as we move to be like the NFL the more it makes the argument to just watch the NFL.  I'm not interested in the NFL so just drives me more towards other sports and activities I'll enjoy more.  I get it though, that I'm not the target audience they are hoping to acquire.

[TrueBlue75]

Spoiler alert: they didn't consult the electorate. Oh no!

I mean, the CFL execs not bothering to put the feelers out there to two of the most important stakeholders- fans and players is ignorant. Look at the comments and reactions to all the CFL posts if you're on social media. Most of them are 2:1 against the changes and sometimes 3:1. If fans are this upset with the league taking on a more NFL look this could massively blow up in their faces. I hate the changes but am committed to 3 more years of season tickets. I'll give the changes a chance, but if it's as terrible as I think it will be, I'll cancel my tickets and take the financial penalty. I HATE the NFL so why would I watch something that is shifting into exactly that? Time will tell but I think the commish made a big mistake today.

[TrueBlue4]

The CFL used to have 25 yard end zones in most of our lifetimes. Are there people who are still mad they changed it to 20 in 1986?

25 yard end zones used to be so Canadian...

Someone? Anyone? No?

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
So to be clear - you don't think that Vaval should have been able to return the missed field goal for a TD? It's not an exciting play?

Can you tell me which game or games were decided by a QB hitting the goal post? You can't because even if the post wasn't there you can't 100% say what would have happened.

The Rougue - is definitely unique to the CFL and I can't think of any game that was decided by a rougu.  If a missed FG wins the game so does a made FG.

So the only positive thing that was announced was that teams will be on opposite sides of the field. 

[Austin85]

If you haven't heard his comments you should take the time. He spoke it like a true Canadian CFL fan and great player. His statements are so true. The CFL game is unique it's special. He brought a tear to my eye about how he feels and his passion for Canadian football. I love our rules our field and I like our endzone. The 20 second play clock makes it exciting for finishes. Not like down south. I'll stick up for the CFL game against anyone.
Please do not ruin our great game!! Thanks Nathan I hope more players , coaches , managers , and most importantly, the fans  speak up. I love our game!!

[Sir Blue and Gold]

The problem with all of these "keep everything the same" comments is if any of things were actually drivers of new fans we'd have seen new fans.

The results are the results.

They don't work in that context and the status quo, as the commissioner bluntly told you today, is not an option.

Are missed field goals exciting? Yep. Was it effective at growing the game? Nope.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Sure enough they did not consult with U-Sports or any of the universities they share stadiums with.  How is that even possible?  By my count there are 23 U-Sports football teams in Canada, some share stadiums with CFL teams, most do not, but all must now alter their facilities if they wish to retain homogeneous fields.

[Tecno]

Ya, I've always been a bit downbeat on Rourke after his first season starting.  Not that I hate him or anything, he just gives off that whiny, entitled vibe.

However, his comments show he's a true Canadian fan, basically just like us, and he really does "get it".  Unlike our clown show new Commish.  Rourke's now OK in my books.

Told y'all to be careful what you wish for when many wanted ol' Unca Brosie gone.

These Johnston changes make the whole GLOB nonsense boondoggle look like a nothingburger.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Worst case scenario they just line the field differently? Best case u sports aligns?

I am pretty sure a few dollar of paint in between games fixes the issue if they don't? 

Someone might make a few more dollars?  The horror. Wouldn't u sports welcome a move to more NFL style rules? Doesn't every athlete who has ever played u sports and had the chance to try the NFL done that? Aren't they celebrated and revered figures in their school program? Wouldn't this give them a slightly better shot however remote it was and is?

[TrueBlue75]

The problem with all of these "keep everything the same" comments is if any of things were actually drivers of new fans we'd have seen new fans.

The results are the results.

They don't work in that context and the status quo, as the commissioner bluntly told you today, is not an option.

Are missed field goals exciting? Yep. Was it effective at growing the game? Nope.

I can appreciate this but there are other ways to grow the game in my opinion. For example, game day experience. Make the game experience fun and interactive for fans during the breaks in the game. Market the crap out of the games, send players to schools for some PR, have a women's club like the Bombers do, put some money towards tailgating (maybe do a BBQ competition between tailgaters). If you get fans hooked on the experience maybe that will lead to an interest in the games/teams and put more butts in seats. Look at how that's worked in WPG, SASK and to an extent BC. The league needs to put in the money to help every team with this. Making the game more like the NFL but with a pea sized budget is not the way. I am not against making changes so long as they maintain the uniqueness of the CFL game. This missed the mark.

[Tecno]

Increase touchdowns

They could have just moved the starting point to the 45 or 50 instead of the 40.  They already moved it from the 35.

How does reducing the size of the EZ do anything to "increase TDs"?  It has the opposite effect.  It will be like the NFL where you don't want to get TOO close or there's no room to do anything.  The prime "red zone" will now be like at the 30YL, not the 20.

There's also all the other ideas we've had in past threads.  Tons of ideas besides turning us into the NFL.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

They could have just moved the starting point to the 45 or 50 instead of the 40.  They already moved it from the 35.

How does reducing the size of the EZ do anything to "increase TDs"?  It has the opposite effect.  It will be like the NFL where you don't want to get TOO close or there's no room to do anything.  The prime "red zone" will now be like at the 30YL, not the 20.

There's also all the other ideas we've had in past threads.  Tons of ideas besides turning us into the NFL.

I watch a lot of NFL. I've never heard any team, player or announcer say "oh no we're too close to the end zone"

Where do you guys come up with this stuff?

[Tecno]

This also explains the Luke Willson experience...

Now that's some top thinking connecting the dots.  Luke arrived around the same time the CTV guy becomes Commish.  He instantly starts bashing the game and asking for all the crazy NFL features.  None of this is coincidence and I think we've all been played.  Markf is da man.

This is called the Hegelian Dialectic, BTW.  Posit that there's something terribly wrong with our game ("oh no there are no fans and no money we're doomed!").  The Wilsons come out and say craziness like we need 4 downs, no rouge, no 1 yard off, etc.  Everyone gets upset.  Then Johnston comes in with the compromise where they pass around half the NFL stuff Luke was proposing.  Everyone bends over and takes it because "hey it could have been worse, at least we didn't lose our 3 downs".

Thesis-antithesis-synthesis.  Used against the rube body politic every day by their masters.  We see you... Johston and his masters.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

I can appreciate this but there are other ways to grow the game in my opinion. For example, game day experience. Make the game experience fun and interactive for fans during the breaks in the game. Market the crap out of the games, send players to schools for some PR, have a women's club like the Bombers do, put some money towards tailgating (maybe do a BBQ competition between tailgaters). If you get fans hooked on the experience maybe that will lead to an interest in the games/teams and put more butts in seats. Look at how that's worked in WPG, SASK and to an extent BC. The league needs to put in the money to help every team with this. Making the game more like the NFL but with a pea sized budget is not the way. I am not against making changes so long as they maintain the uniqueness of the CFL game. This missed the mark.

I agree there is also lots they can and should change outside of the actual game especially in some markets. There's a lot the league can learn from Winnipeg. And they are. Every front office has spent time here in the last few years.

I think the calculus is that's not enough and we can be honest with ourselves too: The only reason we're doing as good as we are is because we've historically been to five grey cups in a row. Every team can't go to five Grey cups in a row every year. Obviously.