Quote from: Waffler on May 16, 2025, 09:32:18 PMDunigan not going to be on TSN?
https://3downnation.com/2025/05/16/matt-dunigan-not-returning-to-cfl-on-tsn-sources/
Dunigan, being one of "ours" in the past, deserves his own thread. Assuming 3down has this right.
Could be TSN wants to go "younger" and so is using the almost-65 thing as an excuse to pull the trigger (or plug!) on him.
I think this is a bigger loss than it may seem because he would do colour on 5-10 games a season. Probably to give the regulars a few breaks/vacations. I thought he was great on colour, always spitting out edgy stuff the others wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole.
I still remember one time director was yelling in his ear as he was ranting about something (probably slightly controversial) and he said to the unheard earpiece guy "no I won't drop it!". LOL. Good for him. Hehe, maybe that's why he is the first to be canned at super-PC TSN/CTV/Disney.
Says it like it is. Was a nice run. Will be missed. Had the passion.
Talk about a cold business. Been on TSN for 25 years and dropped like a hot potato. Classless. The was genuine and legit and did nothing but support the CFL for 25 years and now h'es out on the street for somebody younger?? What frigging ever!!
Couldn't care less who they're bringing in and am disgusted with TSN on this move
Are you just assuming he's being fired and not retiring? The 3down article says nothing either way.
In any case, I'll miss Matty. He's the last remaining member of the original panel I started watch in the early 2000s.
They did give Climie a big on-air send-off, so hopefully they do that with Dunigan too. Surely he deserves it.
And ya, we don't know the "why", yet.
That said, I have no doubt TSN wants to keep getting younger. Kate. Dustin. Ferguson. All much younger. They are very keen to reach the young'ns. It could be us oldsters are more wiling to watch young panelists than young'ns are to watch the old panelists.
However, young Dustin/Ferguson, and even Kate, aren't exactly my faves. But I'll watch CFL even if whoever is sitting on the panel. So I guess TSN is right!
I to will greatly miss Matty D. Tremendous presence and knowledge. It would be a mistake to let him go. I still need him to sign my jersey! :-\
I will definitely miss Matt. He is a link to the great days of the CFL. And is fun to watch, listen to.
I would like them to cut the very irritating Glenn "Saskatchewan" Suitor.
As far as the panel, you could always count on Dunigan for straight football talk. The others you don't know if it's gonna be clown show or analysis. Some joking is good and that's part of the gig but Kate over encourages the clowning sometimes at the expense of insight and play breakdowns. I hope this does not signal that this is the direction they want to go in.
Agree with MarkF that if someone has to go it should have been Suitor. Not sure how he is still their top color guy. He's painful to listen to.
Quote from: Waffler on May 17, 2025, 02:26:43 PMAs far as the panel, you could always count on Dunigan for straight football talk. The others you don't know if it's gonna be clown show or analysis. Some joking is good and that's part of the gig but Kate over encourages the clowning sometimes at the expense of insight and play breakdowns. I hope this does not signal that this is the direction they want to go in.
Agree with MarkF that if someone has to go it should have been Suitor. Not sure how he is still their top color guy. He's painful to listen to.
Totally agree on the clowning around part. It's good to crack a joke for some levity, but some of the antics were gong showish and really compromised the integrity of the 'football' show. I realize they are trying to attrack younger fans, but while you're trying to attract some fans you are alienating others.
Quote from: GOLDMEMBER on May 17, 2025, 10:56:47 AMI to will greatly miss Matty D. Tremendous presence and knowledge. It would be a mistake to let him go. I still need him to sign my jersey! :-\
Could not agree more. I will definitely miss Matty if this is true.
Always a warrior and an inspiration for battling through some of his personal struggles. The man didn't know the meaning of the word quit. He'll be greatly missed by many of his fans. Hell, his perfectly chiselled white beard alone was simply classic CFL and 100% Dunigan. Gonna miss you, Matty. Keep on being you, partner. We love ya!
Quote from: J5V on May 17, 2025, 05:06:14 PMAlways a warrior and an inspiration for battling through some of his personal struggles. The man didn't know the meaning of the word quit. He'll be greatly missed by many of his fans. Hell, his perfectly chiselled white beard alone was simply classic CFL and 100% Dunigan. Gonna miss you, Matty. Keep on being you, partner. We love ya!
Always wondered how much his concussion issues took their toll on his ability to express himself, especially as he's gotten older. Don't know if being a commentator was easy or hard work for him, it seems it would be a mentally stressful job if you have cognitive issues.
Too bad it wasn't Barker, Kelly apologist and about as entertaining as watching paint dry.
Quote from: markf on May 17, 2025, 01:56:02 PMI would like them to cut the very irritating Glenn "Saskatchewan" Suitor.
The ironic part is the Rider forum seems to dislike Suits more than we do!! And he's their guy! LOL
Watching the TSN halftime from last week and the TSN-panelist-coached teen game was Chez vs Stegall this year. Isn't it usually Chez vs Dunigan, or am I going back more than 1 year in my memory? Could be further indication Dunigan might be having a health issue? Or did they just disappear him?
Weird.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on May 31, 2025, 01:20:02 AMWatching the TSN halftime from last week and the TSN-panelist-coached teen game was Chez vs Stegall this year. Isn't it usually Chez vs Dunigan, or am I going back more than 1 year in my memory? Could be further indication Dunigan might be having a health issue? Or did they just disappear him?
Weird.
What do you mean? We seem to already know that Dunigan isn't here this year, why would you expect him at a event?
Quote from: Jesse on May 31, 2025, 01:28:39 AMWhat do you mean? We seem to already know that Dunigan isn't here this year, why would you expect him at a event?
Cause I thought this was semi-separate from TSN, something the "coaches" were involved with regardless.
If it's 100% just a TSN PR stunt, then ya, no reason Matt would be there. In any event, fine howdoyoudo if Matt had coached it for charity or something for 10 years then got dumped from it too!
One day we'll get the whole story. I guess what I'm saying is: I miss him already. Looks like Lapo might be the one getting extra reps to make up for Matt's absence.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on May 31, 2025, 01:33:38 AMCause I thought this was semi-separate from TSN, something the "coaches" were involved with regardless.
If it's 100% just a TSN PR stunt, then ya, no reason Matt would be there. In any event, fine howdoyoudo if Matt had coached it for charity or something for 10 years then got dumped from it too!
One day we'll get the whole story. I guess what I'm saying is: I miss him already. Looks like Lapo might be the one getting extra reps to make up for Matt's absence.
I don't know if Matt got dumped from anything is all I'm saying.
The man is 65 years old and might have some grandkids starting to be run around. I think the most likely situation is that he walked away of his own accord to spend more time at home with family.
Quote from: Jesse on May 31, 2025, 01:37:15 AMI don't know if Matt got dumped from anything is all I'm saying.
The man is 65 years old and might have some grandkids starting to be run around. I think the most likely situation is that he walked away of his own accord to spend more time at home with family.
I am hoping that is the case, but if it is, surely there would be some sort of farewell given to him in person thanking him for being such a good CFL ambassador for all these years. He surely deserves that
I don't know what happened at TSN with Dunigan. I do wonder whether he's interested in a spot as a QB coach? Probably doesn't pay much compared to TSN but that gig is gone one way or another.
Quote from: Blue In BC on May 31, 2025, 05:37:10 PMI don't know what happened at TSN with Dunigan. I do wonder whether he's interested in a spot as a QB coach? Probably doesn't pay much compared to TSN but that gig is gone one way or another.
Doubt it that's a bottom rung job, why would he leave his family for 6 months to endure that for low pay?
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on May 31, 2025, 05:46:21 PMDoubt it that's a bottom rung job, why would he leave his family for 6 months to endure that for low pay?
He probably doesn't need the money but he lives for football. He could move his family to Winnipeg.
Quote from: Blue In BC on May 31, 2025, 05:37:10 PMI don't know what happened at TSN with Dunigan. I do wonder whether he's interested in a spot as a QB coach? Probably doesn't pay much compared to TSN but that gig is gone one way or another.
He got his opportunity to coach when he was made HC and GM for Calgary one year. He clearly never wanted to do an entry coaching job or he would have done it 20 years ago.
Definitely will be watching to see what the story was behind Matty no longer being a part of TSN and, seemingly, the CFL.
As a huge fan I am disappointed and will miss him. So for that reason I sure hope it is his choice to be with family and enjoy life.
If that is the case, one would hope he would be brought in on occasion to TSN (like LaPo was initially - to give some insight here and there), and to Wpg as he is royalty here to me like Milt, Walby, Battle, Ken Ploen (way before my time but so much respect for him), and many others.
If he is being let go to bring in others, I can only shake my head that he would go before Suitor (so painful to listen to him) or Barker (as one put it above - like listening to paint dry - he is that bad).
I am really sorry to hear Matty won't be back. I always looked back from my seats behind the Bomber bench to see if we would be lucky enough to have him doing color for the game - definitely didn't fast forward the replay of the game on TV when I would get home from watching live if he was there.
Panel members should do more than offer an opinion of what's going on, as a fan, I want to know what was the offensive scheme the offense was running and how was the play supposed to be executed--Lapo and Dunnigan do a good job of that. Tony Romo and Troy Aikmen do a good job when they provide colour to a game as they explain what is going on. We need that from this panel, badly.
And defensively, we have 2 so called defensive guys on the panel, who don't tell me anything from a defensive standpoint--are they in zone or man and who's responsibility it was on the play to stop it, I don't get that from anyone on the panel right now.
Same goes for special teams, explain the kick and kick coverage, what happened/broke down on the play. But I'd be happy with offense and defense right now.
The panel should be educating CFL fans, not trying to entertain them with some bogus skits, that are ridiculous and embarrassing and an insult to football fans. There's too much dead weight/passengers on the panel right now, cut the chaff from the wheat and TSN's answer is to get rid of the one guy who knows what's going on in a game. What a sad, sad move.
Skits/silliness are/is fine, but maybe only do one a weekend.
Ya, dd, I'd also like to see some breakdowns on ST play, which they NEVER talk about. Did the returner bust it for a TD because the blocking/scheme was perfect or is he just that fast? What went wrong on a dud return? How many guys are "cheating" and not getting caught? How can you "cheat" enough that the refs let it slide, to gain an advantage?
The panel has never had a ST ace on it AFAIK.
Is there any indication Matt wants to be back? Or could this be a planned transition and one for the reasons new voices were brought in over the last few years?
There are always going to be "new voices coming over", new ex-players giving this their post career kick, like Muamba last year.
I would love Matt to continue on, I think he's a great foil on the panel, and isn't afraid to speak his mind.
I get that he does have some limitations, and he is fighting through them to do the job, and I can't imagine how tough that can be. But also, he gets to be around the game he loves, both in the studio and at the games. And get paid for doing it.
If his leaving is not health or family related, TSN is nuts not to have him working for them, even if its every other week, or in limited stints to cover other overlapping situations.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on June 03, 2025, 01:10:43 AMSkits/silliness are/is fine, but maybe only do one a weekend.
Ya, dd, I'd also like to see some breakdowns on ST play, which they NEVER talk about. Did the returner bust it for a TD because the blocking/scheme was perfect or is he just that fast? What went wrong on a dud return? How many guys are "cheating" and not getting caught? How can you "cheat" enough that the refs let it slide, to gain an advantage?
The panel has never had a ST ace on it AFAIK.
I would like them to point out the hold on every big punt return, as guarantee it, it happened. The refs miss a ton of holding at the point of attack and that springs the returner.
Quote from: dd on June 03, 2025, 10:31:03 PMI would like them to point out the hold on every big punt return, as guarantee it, it happened. The refs miss a ton of holding at the point of attack and that springs the returner.
Yup, and like picks and all the other semi-illegal stuff that goes on it leads to big plays and excitement which is what the fans really want. Where it gets extremely annoying is when they pick and choose when, where, and by whom they'll allow/disallow said infractions.
Quote from: J5V on June 04, 2025, 12:12:26 AMYup, and like picks and all the other semi-illegal stuff that goes on it leads to big plays and excitement which is what the fans really want. Where it gets extremely annoying is when they pick and choose when, where, and by whom they'll allow/disallow said infractions.
They do point out the obvious picks on short yardage TD plays, the ST stuff goes unnoticed by the panel.
Dunigan was my favourite on the panel, and I enjoyed when he did colour also. IMO the panel has regressed since the days of Chris Schultz. Schultz had a eye for line play (as does Doug Brown) that is lost now. Dunigan had a unique perspective as a QB that will also be lost. I can predict what Milt says before he says it most of the time (although I often agree with his take) and I don't find Sanchez or Muamba very interesting. LaPolice brings a whole other level of analysis to things that makes his takes worth watching.
Quote from: bunker on June 04, 2025, 02:29:40 AMDunigan was my favourite on the panel, and I enjoyed when he did colour also. IMO the panel has regressed since the days of Chris Schultz. Schultz had a eye for line play (as does Doug Brown) that is lost now. Dunigan had a unique perspective as a QB that will also be lost. I can predict what Milt says before he says it most of the time (although I often agree with his take) and I don't find Sanchez or Muamba very interesting. LaPolice brings a whole other level of analysis to things that makes his takes worth watching.
how about Barker? :D
The panel needs people that have a personality and can relate to people/fans. Muamba, Sanchez and Barker are awkward at best and most of the time straight weird.
3down
"TSN plans to flesh out the panel by rotating in active players, though it doesn't appear as though this will happen every week. Players will generally make panel appearances during bye weeks, though there may also be opportunities for in-studio appearances when players are in town to play the Argonauts or Tiger-Cats."
Lapo doing colour one game per week.
https://3downnation.com/2025/06/04/cfl-on-tsn-to-rotate-active-players-on-panel-no-timeline-for-milt-stegalls-return/