1997 Saskatchewan Roughriders season
Encyclopedia
The 1997
Saskatchewan Roughriders
finished in 3rd place in the West division with a 8–10 record and lost in the 85th Grey Cup
game to the Doug Flutie
-led Toronto Argonauts
. Despite finishing the season tied with the BC Lions
, the Roughriders were placed above the Lions after winning the season series three games to one. The 'Riders proceeded to upset the Calgary Stampeders
by a score of 33–30 in the West-Semi Final and then defeated the favoured Edmonton Eskimos
31–30 to proceed to the Grey Cup
game.
1997 CFL season
The 1997 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 44th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 40th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1997:...
Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
finished in 3rd place in the West division with a 8–10 record and lost in the 85th Grey Cup
85th Grey Cup
The 85th Grey Cup was held in 1997 in Edmonton before 60,431 fans. The heavily favoured Toronto Argonauts won the game over the Saskatchewan Roughriders with a score of 47-23.-Game summary:...
game to the Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
-led Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
. Despite finishing the season tied with the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
, the Roughriders were placed above the Lions after winning the season series three games to one. The 'Riders proceeded to upset the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
by a score of 33–30 in the West-Semi Final and then defeated the favoured Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
31–30 to proceed to the Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
game.
CFL Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | School/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Ben Fairbrother | Offensive Lineman | Calgary University of Calgary The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently... |
| 2 | 13 | Chris Szarka | Fullback Fullback (American football) A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback... |
Eastern Illinois Eastern Illinois University Eastern Illinois University is a state university located in Charleston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1895 as the Eastern Illinois State Normal School, a teacher's college offering a two-year degree, Eastern Illinois University gradually expanded into a comprehensive university with a... |
| 4 | 26 | Mark Raphael | Cornerback Cornerback A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position... |
Ottawa University of Ottawa The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate... |
| 5 | 34 | Andre Batson | Wide Receiver Wide receiver A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... |
York York University York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university.... |
| 6 | 42 | Dan Comiskey Dan Comiskey Dan Comiskey is a retired Canadian football offensive lineman who played 13 seasons for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Edmonton Eskimos and Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 1997 CFL Draft by the Roughriders... |
Offensive Lineman | Windsor University of Windsor The University of Windsor is a public comprehensive and research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has a student population of approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and over 1000 graduate students... |
Preseason
| Week | Date | Opponent | Score | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | Fri, June 13 | vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Winnipeg Blue Bombers The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded... |
39–21 | Win | 19,681 |
| C | Thurs, June 19 | at Edmonton Eskimos Edmonton Eskimos The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895... |
24–18 | Loss | 32,291 |
Season standings
| Team | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmonton Eskimos Edmonton Eskimos The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895... |
18 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 479 | 400 | 24 | Details |
| Calgary Stampeders Calgary Stampeders The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium... |
18 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 522 | 442 | 20 | Details 1997 Calgary Stampeders season The 1997 Calgary Stampeders finished in 2nd place in the West Division with a 10–8–0 record. They appeared in the West Semi-Final but lost to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Season schedule:... |
| Saskatchewan Roughriders Saskatchewan Roughriders The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor... |
18 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 413 | 479 | 16 | Details |
| BC Lions BC Lions The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954... |
18 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 429 | 536 | 16 | Details 1997 BC Lions season The 1997 BC Lions finished in 4th place in the West Division with a 8–10 record. Because of the "crossover" rule, they appeared in the East Semi-Final... |
Season schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Score | Result | Attendance | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thurs, June 26 | at BC Lions 1997 BC Lions season The 1997 BC Lions finished in 4th place in the West Division with a 8–10 record. Because of the "crossover" rule, they appeared in the East Semi-Final... |
24–23 | Win | 18,881 | 1–0 |
| 2 | Fri, July 4 | vs. Edmonton Eskimos | 24–18 | Loss | 25,751 | 1–1 |
| 3 | Sat, July 12 | vs. Toronto Argonauts 1997 Toronto Argonauts season The 1997 Toronto Argonauts finished in 1st place in the East Division of the 1997 CFL season with a 15–3–0 record and won the Grey Cup.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Regular season:-Postseason:-Grey Cup:-Awards and records:... |
27–23 | Win | 22,956 | 2–1 |
| 4 | Fri, July 18 | at Calgary Stampeders 1997 Calgary Stampeders season The 1997 Calgary Stampeders finished in 2nd place in the West Division with a 10–8–0 record. They appeared in the West Semi-Final but lost to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Season schedule:... |
22–13 | Loss | 30,366 | 2–2 |
| 5 | Sat, July 26 | vs. Calgary Stampeders | 21–19 | Win | 26,483 | 3–2 |
| 6 | Thurs, July 31 | at Edmonton Eskimos | 37–34 | Loss | 30,917 | 3–3 |
| 7 | Fri, Aug 8 | at Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1997 Hamilton Tiger-Cats season The 1997 Hamilton Tiger-Cats finished in 4th place in the East division with a 2–16–0 record and failed to make the playoffs.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Schedule:-References:... |
30–20 | Win | 12,582 | 4–3 |
| 8 | Fri, Aug 15 | vs. BC Lions | 39–26 | Loss | 28,556 | 4–4 |
| 9 | Thurs, Aug 21 | at Toronto Argonauts | 27–1 | Loss | 17,330 | 4–5 |
| 10 | Sun, Aug 31 | vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1997 Winnipeg Blue Bombers season The 1997 Winnipeg Blue Bombers finished in 3rd place in the East division with a 4–14 record and failed to make the playoffs.-CFL Draft:-Season standings:-Season schedule:-References:... |
43–12 | Loss | 29,788 | 4–6 |
| 11 | Sun, Sept 7 | vs. BC Lions | 46–12 | Win | 22,966 | 5–6 |
| 12 | Sun, Sept 14 | at Calgary Stampeders | 28–24 | Loss | 28,414 | 5–7 |
| 13 | Sun, Sept 21 | vs. Montreal Alouettes 1997 Montreal Alouettes season The 1997 Montreal Alouettes finished in 2nd place in the East Division with a 13–5 record. Their season came to a close as the Doug Flutie-led Toronto Argonauts defeated the Alouettes in the Eastern Final... |
24–22 | Loss | 25,570 | 5–8 |
| 14 | Sun, Sept 28 | vs. Edmonton Eskimos | 29–5 | Win | 29,361 | 6–8 |
| 15 | Fri, Oct 3 | at Montreal Alouettes | 30–29 | Loss | 12,322 | 6–9 |
| 16 | Fri, Oct 10 | at BC Lions | 26–19 | Win | 22,399 | 7–9 |
| 17 | Sun, Oct 19 | vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 22–19 | Win | 31,909 | 8–9 |
| 18 | Fri, Oct 24 | at Edmonton Eskimos | 55–9 | Loss | 30,222 | 8–10 |
Roster
| Quarterbacks Running Backs Wide Receivers Slotbacks |
Offensive Linemen Defensive Linemen |
Linebackers Defensive Backs Special Teams |
Injured Practice Roster Italics indicate Import player → More rosters |
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Western All-Star Selections
- Bobby Jurasin, Defensive End
- John Terry, Offensive Tackle