Labour Day Rematch - Elks vs Stamps - Green & Gold Kickoff Show - 09-07-24

e [Music] dou dou over everything they do this in Prim Time under the bright lights for you on the sidelines of fans in the stand keeping dou Le Pride high like I Fly Guys comes next to bring back the Gip and add another break to the Legacy cuz it's dou eou e over everything dou eou e is a legacy double e dou e over everything a hot day a hot ticket a hot team a hot new intro the Edmonton Elks Come Back Home winners of four of their last five games looking to do something they haven't done since 2002 and that's sweep the Labor Day series a chance to begin their climb up the west division pushed on by The Double E faithful it's the Battle of ALB bur Lounge right here on emont Sports Talk thanks to those tuning in on TuneIn iHeart Radio Emon Sports talk.com and for those fully produced I think his son was the one producing it based on the way Maddie oh uh we've got two different horses I got two horses got come up here oh the six is moving man we'll get into that right away here but this is uh you keep an eye on that I'll get going through on some of these other things uh but one thanks to Josh Clawson cuz that's a that's a great start to the Grand and gold kickoff show couldn't think of anything better especially with uh a lot of buzz in town right now in the city of Edmonton when it comes to oh internet's a little laggy hope s apologies to everyone that if it's a little leg hopefully we get back going here we need to get to Green here and then we will be good ah we I think we're good now I think we're good now well let's just jump right into the starting lineups of the Edmonton Elks MCL bethl Thompson the starting quarterback for your Elks iy Fuko Cy Richards boo are the men protect him from left to right leak is the starting running back the receiving Court Lewis Gittens Jr Mitchell Jones and myala defensively on the dline Curtis P Oakman Brown Morgan Anderson and moncre for the linebacking cor pure for Breton Jackson gray and bham that is the secondary Bey back to being the kicker of the Edmonton Elks and Julian will punt injury report Mr mil uh not much action on the injury report I mean the kicking move is is really the only thing but there was no injuries involved Boris Bey is back in to the lineup Dean Faithful is out uh so we'll see you know if that means anything at all today uh having Boris Speedy in but I must say uh and Rico Brown Mark in the nasty chat yes um I got here before Maddie today and then he showed up and I said oh God we are wearing like the exact same color shirt uh no we did not call each other in advance and uh plan this it was just uh just happened I don't think your four came in MD no I think your six came in I know but I needed the two as well I had an exactor wake up oh get with the times I was double check my horse well we're right there at the edge we yeah you were there you were close but uh and seven finished fourth I got two of the top four they just didn't come in the right spot uh yeah no I I came prepared with the Edmonton Elks or not the Edmonton Elks the Edmonton Sports Talk Polo yes and it's a fast fine looking shirt nobody can say that we're we're underdressed or we look like slobs you want to know something what we did here is we wanted to be impartial key is not to be a fan of any teams and the ad last I saw was green and gold the Stampeders are white black and red they're red and white okay and we're a light blue yes this is the mostal we're impartial because that's what you have to do is be impartial sorry I had to say that uh I want to get to the calary stamp Peters lineup uh the big change we will get to this in the show Logan B the new starting quarterback you heard it here first on the postgame show not from me I said that's not going to happen I said Jake Mayer is going to be starting this week but do you know who said we might be seeing a new quarterback for the Calgary San Peters this week the guy to my right that is glue guy J Mill and uh Dave Dickson was listening he makes that change in a must-win game for the Calgary stamp Peters if they're looking to salvage their season uh weather for today it's going to be a beautiful night down at Conwell Stadium 30° by the time kickoff happens uh air quality is a little bit of a concern air quality 8 to 9 to 10 depending on which station you're looking at uh by the end of the game they will be 26° but a beautiful day outside uh and what makes this even better is ticket wise commonweal Stadium wise 315 is the lower bow we will hear the attendance after today's game being over 30,000 yes it's a matter of how high is it going to now get I'm just opening up Ticket Master right now and so they're they're down to the final few rows what would you say is left there like they're as these get sold they're releasing these ones above them still aren't for sale just yet awesome say if I had a guess how many are in a row here this row starts on seat one and goes to seat 26 so there's probably I would say there's probably between 500 and 750 seats left yeah from the Edmonton alks having a sold out lower bowl for this game I can't imagine what the tailgate looks like right now buzzing I can't imagine how nice that con course is going to look I'll say this it's it we Metallica pink we hear it's too busy this will footp perfectly yes inside commonw stadium if you have 31,000 people at Commonwealth that's designed for 44 it's not going to be too busy but it's going to be full and I'm very excited to see the reports that come from this game because last year on the Labor Day rematch was over 31,000 that's what they announced but it was split between the upper bowl and the lower bow having everyone crammed into the lower bow are we going to see a better atmosphere plus 10,000 cowbells being handed out in today's game just stealing all my stuff again man you know we have a segment of our show called the three stories that we usually get to now presented by James H Brown and Associates thank you for that um and we usually talk about these things but no go ahead we'll just we'll just start the show with it no big deal why I didn't go into the rest of it we'll discuss that then I guess uh to come on the show we hear from T Jones uh receiver from last week that had he's had an okay game yeah maybe could have done a little bit more yeah we could used the you know over 200 yard two touchdowns why couldn't he go over 250 I don't know like and I did asked him that question on the Reed Wilkin show I asked him Point Blank you gave the pie sign usually that means I'm scoring and you got tackled on the one yard line how much ribbing did you get from your teammates and it was unanimously you do not do that again unless you're scoring so on the on the long bomb on the uh Corner route where he uh he scored his second touch down immediately put up the pie sign he was in but he had to run a little harder at the end of that so well he said to you guys uh NBT told him if you're ever going to do that again make sure you're you are going to score and that's so he did it the second time he laughed about it it was it was good it was uh I didn't know if that would go over well but he took it all and stride we will get to our cool bet props of the game our keys to the game and prediction from Mr Jame mil see I won't steal that one from you yeah well you can't cuz you don't predict anything Mr lean uh let's get to our question of the night you don't know it I don't know it uh um why can't I open up Twitter properly why am I putting an S when I type in Twitter uh here's the question of the night I will read my four resp uh options that I have on Twitter has your interest in the Edmonton Elks increased since they've won four of their last five games here are the four answers that I threw up there on Twitter yes I'm following them more it's the same I was already very interested it's the same I'm not interested or no I've stopped watching because of this wow that's just a it's got 5% of the votes yeah yeah of course it does I would uh maybe some people just really love losing maybe they really has read the question again Maddie it's and for you it's not it it it should be the same I would think yeah it's the same has your interest in the Elks increased since they won four of their last five games I would say a lot of a lot of people would vote that yes I am more interested and I am following it because I mean look when you're it's people want to support winners so they're they've won four of their last five that's going to bring people out that wrote this team off after the 0 and7 start so I would say that the number one uh or the highest voting would go to the people that say yes you know like I'm I'm more involved now or I'm I'm watching more now that they have become you know a recent success well and and the thing for me was where does it's the same I'm just not interested fall into this and it comes in third it comes actually a distant third over 55% of people saying yes they're fing this team more 25% are saying it's the same I'm already invested in this team and and that's it's not going to get higher and then it's 15% saying I'm just not interested and then there's the 5% that no I stopped watching so those are just there's J you might want to just include those in the same not interested but it's one of those where I the fact that that's not higher goes b bs well for this franchise and they try to turn it around we've had a lot of discussions over the number last three four seasons of why isn't this team getting fans to come and everyone has valid reasons and there's a reason for it the losing the losing specifically at home the name change um The Lost of a season in general where people just found other things to do in their life all of that does play into this but I I one thing I've said for a long time it just if they get back to winning none of that matter the most of that doesn't matter 100% people will show people want to show up and it becomes a hot ticket again and the fact that over 75% of the votes are either no I'm interested or I'm more interested now shows that this team still matters this team's not going Larry Thompson's not didn't just waste his money buying this franchise that's a heartwarming response right it is it's good to see that you know Edmonton still cherishes their beloved football team uh but yeah obviously when you're winning and things are going your way it's it's going to be the fans that are maybe a little bit more casual or Jaded by the team's lack of success maybe they come out and I mean we're seeing it in the numbers today Maddie oh this is already less this one section yeah they're going tickets are going I like this I I really hope this sells out one way or another and you were suggesting a a a way to get this done if you were in the Elks organization it's h I know it's happened in the past in other organizations you buy the remaining tickets if there's 250 tickets left as an organization you just purchase those ticket tickets and you announced that you sold out the lower bowl and and you we'll have to add the lower bow you can't say we sold out I think you have to say the we sold out the lower bowl no because for the top I know but they're not even in availability they're not even an option Evan Dom was on with you and Reed this week and he mentioned that it was they couldn't go do it they can't just do it because you need to staff and they weren't prepared to staff that or anything it just the numbers weren't there two weeks ago to plan for that do you know what Booth the guys are at on the the tailgate 31 safety boss is in trying to find um what it is is if you go by the spirit of Edmonton and the stage um I think they're on the North like to the east of it just a couple spots okay they've got the new Cornhole game that we haveon Sports no tent though I heard they're saying that they're sweating out there the boys are sweating yeah there's no tent because Trev had to bring the stuff and he had his car it's just Trev right well Zach should be there oh Zach as long as he had no delays he was going to be there um no one's text me today so I'm I'm figuring that it's all good everything's been good there but uh I don't know if anything's coming on the nasty chat with that um but it it is it is nice to just see though in the end that people are getting back into this because well this team's winning and and that's what it comes down to and and they're climbing up it it's wild to think you know they are fifth in the CFL West a chance to climb up to Fourth we will get to that in a little bit and got some help today they got some help today but in the end they are the third best team right now in in the Canadian football league in my mind over the last month and a half be hard to deny that I mean behind Montreal obviously and BC or Ottawa or who are you saying would be the second team who's monreal Winnipeg Winnipeg yeah sry I could maybe drop Montreal below Winnipeg now based on what happened this weekend but those are the top two team BC BC's won two in a row awesome they lost five in a row prior to that and if we're looking over the last month and a half that's six games or so the Elks are four and of four wins two losses in their last six and including that one against Montreal very close you're explaining this to a guy that's went 3 and0 against the spread thus far in the CFL picks this weekend you might pull the hus so hus went 4-0 last week I'm I'm looking to go 4-0 however I am nervously optimistic about today's game this is the Labor Day rematch this is a series that has happened 40 or 38 times 34 times I'll pull it up uh Calgary Calgary leads the series 18 to 16 they have 18 wins to Edmonton 16 Edmonton has only swept this series five times so this would be you know pretty interesting to see if they can get the sweep in the in the Labor Day classic and the Labor Day rematch Calgary is looking to avoid a 4game losing streak for the first time since 2004 that 331 games yes um and little fun fact here that uh you know I'm Mr Run game run the ball run the ball run the ball when the Edmonton Elks started out the season 0 and7 they did have they had zero 100 plus yard rushing games zero in all five games that they are now 4- one in since then they have had 100 yard rusher or 100 yard rushing in all five games combined rushing tells you something right pretty self-explanatory there run the football this is the 35th consecutive set of Labor games dating back to 1989 only the 1992 year was the second game still in Calgary seems weird yeah reversed GH that'd be so weird uh this is only probably the ninth or 10th year maybe that it's on the Saturday too cuz it used to be the Monday Friday um but Ed hervey that was something he got in place for player safety which I always like the Friday night game but I fully understand why it's on the Saturday um and I am totally okay with that funny that this only started in 1989 the rematch the Labor Day you know the rematch game yeah but like you know the yeah I guess the whole thing cuz the labor day has been around right but years whatever but the the the the back to back yeah they never better never touch it how could you you'd be stupid to but maybe they will then you you just never know like you just never know well part of it is look okay so this is pulled his hammy this is an Edmonton Calgary thing that has happened first and it's been around for a long time yes but they're now doing it with Winnipeg Saskatchewan I can't remember how long the banjo bow has been going under way but it's not as long as this series they could be doing this with Toronto and Hamilton and they choose not to yeah now they they stuck with a battle of Ontario still today with Toronto and Ottawa but the fact that they don't just make it a backto back across the board it's a little weird because you you still have you have the other three teams Ottawa Montreal BC One team gets a buy last week and another team gets a buy this week you just play them yeah it would be great to see why not that's why I say like I wouldn't I I don't think the CFL would ever touch it but there's a part of me that goes one day the CFL is going to screw with this no they they I don't think they really can I hope not I there there would be an uproar there would be an absolute uo uh by the way we're at Central Casino Sports Bar and Lounge on for road where every day is game day uh Jay and I are both already 0 for one in the ponies uh but it's going to be a beautiful night and this unired unconfirmed I haven't checked my ticket yet but by all accounts it was six it was 64 strange things are strange what if the four got docked the four got scratched then it was a three and a seven I don't know that for fact uh it's a great spot to be because uh as I look behind me um I see college football and I see some CFL will be on there later when this game gets going and I am going to be very much excited for the college football and the CFL and then at the ponies it's it's all happening here at Cent Casino prime rib sandwich uh is the daily special you could also get on the game day special which is the cheese and jalapeno Smokey with the waffle fries that yes we confirm works with vinegar let me ask you a question do you think Texas is really that real this year or do you think Michigan's just having an off year I think Texas Is that real and Michigan is too early in this building of this new team of the offense especially okay fair that's what I will say with that one cuz Texas dominated that game well they're veterans like they I don't think they lost a lot of players they ran all over Michigan yeah and so it's one of those things where I just look at it and think it's possibly in Michigan in the big house hard to do they've won a lot of straight games that was the fifth worst loss to have uh at your home opener or for a defending Champion a defending national CH title Champion Sabal Lanka wins the US Open Women's Title by the way just got the notification on that for anyone oh personal injury lawyers The Heavy Hitters of injury law book of free consultation James H brown.com the first story of this game we're going to look at the quarterbacks because it's a tale of two different spectrums on one side you got MBT coming in feeling pretty good about himself throwing for almost 500 yards and three touchdowns on the other side you got Logan Bonner making his first career start a 20 26y old for the Calgary Stampers as they try to salvage their season with a big win here today um let's start with the stamp Peters this is a bold move by Dave Dickinson I think maybe not you don't have a choice if you went to your fans and said hey we're going to we're going to roll with Jake Meyer after he threw four interceptions last game looked very uncomfortable in the pocket a a very laxidasical offense you you'd get blasted it's it's the same thing that Jerry s Jackson had to remove Bey from the lineup for one you know albe it was one game but it made it made sense honor coming in very little tape on him uh so control what they can control which is MBT controlling that offense jarus Jackson putting together a complete offensive uh system run the ball pass the ball it opens each other up but as far as NBT is concerned uh because you know there's not much to talk about about boner really U there's not no book on him no tape on among some of the Legends in the CFL as he has made it into the top 50 all-time CFL passers with 16,144 president of the Trey Ford fan club here sitting to my left but how could you you can't just say well we're you know we're going to go back to Trey for because he's healthy again after Suffering The Rib injury against BC you just can't you can't remove him as MBT has a hot hand now I did say to you in the pregame that as you know as one of the top quarterback's playing he's probably active playing and week over week he's probably the hottest quarterback in the CFL he'll have the shortest leas I I believe you know if he comes out and lays a stinker uh in the first quarter I don't think Jerry Jackson would wait as long as he did to get Trey Ford in in that Hamilton game I was texting with M mccort yesterday V golf show um big Elks fan himself big sponsor of the team he threw out some info to me that he got from his sources and uh he actually told me this hey just for your show tomorrow I love it thanks Murray thanks for the scoop I was surprised by this but this is what I was told by Murray from his source and and look Murray was like one of the first people on he broke the ownership news the ownership news yeah he's in the no he's in the no Trey Ford is still not fully healthy will be 100% after bye and will start plan is for him to be the guy moving forward and into playoffs he could play in a pinch if MBT gets hurt but they don't want to play him until he's fully healthy so no setbacks wow so Trey Ford's still not 100% they don't want to play Trey for till he's 100% but when he is 100% he will be the starter so you were wrong this team completely wrong if this is the case right because your premise was that do I didn't think going to start again you thought the the Elks had a you know real liking for NBT and and forget Trey so that I'm going to ask you how do you feel about that you must be ecstatic about it I'm pleasantly surprised that that is what is we he Murray told me pleasantly surprised I didn't think this coaching staff would do that I didn't think this coaching staff went that way they didn't show me any signs that this is what they believed and in the end like last week though I did say with him dressing why he's not starting I said well maybe it's a case of he's just not 100% and it was in a pinch he could come in and and I guess that is indeed the case um but I I thought it would be mvt and if he falter somewhere they wouldn't go to trefor but it sounds like the plan is no it's going to be when the Elks come back from their bye cuz after today they they go on a byee once they come back they take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers that's going to be with Trey forward as a starting quarterback so would you like to take this opportunity to apologize to the Elks Organization for blasting them about uh things that obviously you didn't know about but you were assuming I will apologize that day if it happens there's always a chance it doesn't there's always a chance it still doesn't there's always so I will wait I I think that's fair if we get to that Winnipeg game and he's starting and MBT plays well today or actually it doesn't even matter how MBT plays today and they go to Trey Ford I will admit I was wrong and I'll give Jer Jackson as and that coaching staff full credit you know what I agree with you that it doesn't really matter how MBT plays because MBT seems to be a very confident quarterback right now and they are as we know they are really relying heavily on that run game they've got all three of their horses back in the stable they've got Javon Lee Kevin Brown and Justin Ranken that takes a lot of pressure off of your starting quarterback and we had Mark Cordy starting center for uh for your e on the Reed wilin show yesterday and I asked him about you know blocking for Kevin Brown as opposed to a Javon leak I mean they're totally different running Styles and he says you know what Jay in in in Prior offenses or prior organizations that I've been involved with yes you would have different schemes for these guys but not here they expect them to run and hit the holes the same way uh obviously Javon leak has that home run speed and boy wouldn't it be nice to see him hit that crease for for you know one of those runs that just takes off oh it'd be amazing this guy's trying to get on screen come on up uh come on up and no and just this is two weeks in a row without Sandy uh but Renee was here and did she know anything has she seen him no ah I'm worried about Sandy yeah it was nice to see Renee it was great to see Renee she said you're her favorite over Eric that's what she says why would she say it if she didn't believe it these seats are dwindling bro well I know I'm watching on T master and it kind of is live as as it goes they are going to they added a few more seats uh behind the Nova cocktails party deck I've noticed that these other ones I'm excited to see which more come from I'm I'm a nerd for these things I love watching tickets sell when H the Canada soccer games came here I was very much like following it and tweeting oh they released some tickets in section J see Deacon St John he's got a good read on the added a few more tickets in section Jay get them now he's got a pretty good read on the Calgary football ball situation and he's in his opinion Logan boner won't even last a half before he is pulled he is saying that Jake May will finish this game for the STS which would be a good thing for for double e fans because that means that they're they're stinking it up well that's the it means the defense has come out to play it's and that's it's going to be interesting to also see like this guy started as a fourth string this season and Matt Shield's injured reserve so then he goes to the third and now he's worked his way into now being the starting quarterback I don't think anyone in Calgary was expecting Logan boner to be something that they were going to be watching this season and now we will find out who Logan Bonner is he came in at the very end of last game in true garbage time it was the last series of the game I believe it was so there's nothing to go for yeah zero now we'll see what happens where there's going to be a big crowd you're going against your provincial rival up here in Edmonton with your season on the line and we will get to this in a bit but if you lose this game if you're Calgary it's kind of done like you're you're you're kind of finished when it comes for this season I do need to throw out a quick love uh to our Canadian men soccer team too today as they had a friendly against the US and the US Men's National Team suffers its first home loss to Canada in 67 years Canada up 2-n schafberg and David with the goals for Canada our manager who's American Jesse Marsh taking it to his former country saying he wasn't going to sing the American Anthem he only one is going to sing the Canadian anthem because he's feeling more and more Canadian as everyday passes great love Jesse Marsh a he was in town a couple weeks ago I saw it on Reddit just at a soccer camp or something that was happening so I just need that is Jesse he's the manager of the Canadian Men's National Team right I was just testing from America good he was supposed to take the American job but they didn't give it to him uh who's the guy behind us uh Rose or Ro I I don't know if he comes closer I'm going to ask him if I was to guess his name I've seen him peeking in here I'd say he looks like a Pete I'd say Pete you love guessing names I love guessing you really do I've learned that about you yeah um he looks like a Pete 7 028 9999 that is the Paris Jewelers inbox oh my God nasty chat as well I'm just following on it's going to sell out if you don't have you want to go to the game I would get it now there's these little spattering so they added a couple tickets here in section J is that I think it is but the North End zones they're going to have to release more right away here whatever's left cuz there's nothing this is this is really I'm I'm jealous I'm jealous I don't have I'm jealous they don't have a ticket and sitting there in the seats to watch this game um but that takes us quite nicely I think that's my second story of the game and it is and what are you going to point to well Deacon St John makes a good point who is listed as Calgary uh third quarterback St Tommy Stevens he's their short yardage um you don't go to him for passing so he's our prup and more Chris strer I would trust brop to throw a football yeah I wouldn't trust Tommy stevens or uh Chris strer that much to throw a football personally gotta uh our second story of the game is a pack crowd at conell state we're watching it on Ticket Master see tickets are going um one there's a lot that goes into playing in front of a pack Stadium one you've got um how is this going to impact the Edmonton Elks how are they going to get I'll let you get to the cowboyss part to this um also how does this impact players does it put extra pressure on the players to show up for their crowd I will say this yesterday I was at foot fields Bears dinos it was packed it was packed it was sold out the Bears were minus 14 favorites or whatever it was and they laid an egg and it was one like ah with this crowd like there was no real excitement at all in that game I wonder if the crowd and the pressure of the situation got to the Bears a little bit what do you think about this Pat crowd that we were going to see at colwall Stadium I I it shouldn't affect the players all these players are coming from programs that uh would have upwards of 880,000 you know 60,000 fans for the most case so if anything this might just give them a little bit of encouragement to say wow you know like let's go let's ball out this is fun this is what this is what you live for as a professional athlete is to have your hometown Stadium packed out there's going to be 10,000 cowbells given out to the first 10,000 fans that show up there today uh they also did the the the Labor Day rematch uh tradition and uh we both spoke about it last week where one adult ticket allows you to bring two kids with you for free to the game I just want to say this Evan Dawn was on our show the Reed Wilkins show with J Mill Vice presidenting of marketing and fan engagement for the O 3 to six every weekday tune in if you haven't heard it is uh it is a peak and a glimpse into the odd and strange brain of Reed Wilkins I've said this to him before he said you said I have a strange brain and I said that's a very high compliment because he goes into off into tangents that one would never expect and that's why he is who he is and that's what makes him so great I I got to say this round of clicks for Evan Dom right now and that and that entire Elks organization because they have embraced this they are doing the right things and to top it off this week to start the week they announced that they are giving away not giving away but they have donated $500,000 to local amateur football so that supports the Wildcats the huskys the Golden Bears football Alberta and the Capital District Minor Football Association uh so everybody every reach of football in the Edmonton area has been directly affected this was uh $500,000 that was uh raised during the 2018 gray cup that was held here in Edmonton so all in all like an outstanding week for that organization uh and they need to be you know they've been through a lot as an organization in the last you know 5 years let's say uh but they got this right they did a lot of good things here and uh you know I I very happy about that Nat showing me yeah well they've got to a truck and they painted it the stamp Peter's truck in there people could go and smash it at the tailgate right now on the very top it said it was like Jake mayor's ride or something like that in four interceptions um can I just say something about last night's Bears game I know this is the green and gold kickoff show but it is green and gold Calgary came into the foot field and took Alberta's lunch yeah 3622 was the final score okay MADD here's the thing 36 points scored by Calgary they did not have one offensive touchdown I know not one I know they had 15 points come they had five field goals and three interceptions returned for touchdowns that's got to be some sort of a record and I'm not even just talking in Canada West or USU Sports I mean in football amateur to have 36 points put up and not score one offensive touchdown it's got to be three pick sixes I got to get his name it's what's your name sir uh this is the greenle kickoff show Mattan J Mill uh with if you're here live on Edmonton Sports Talk your Clear Choice for Edmonton Sports thanks to those listening on tune in iHeart Radio sport.com as well as on YouTube uh what's his name Johnny Johnny uh I thought Pete but Johnny's close we're live at cental casino sports bar and lounger every day is game day uh come join there's almost no tickets left if you want to go to this game you almost can't uh so come join us at centr casino and watch it with us uh they've released another two rows worth of tickets um but it's going they're going and it's going maybe W announce a full sellout of the lower I'm going to guess they're announcing over 31,000 though today and look we we look at this team and 35 points I think we had it last week on average over the pre prior five games they scored defensively only giving up 22 like on average of 3522 record like that's a great that's an ex win it's but it's also exciting of football it's not like people the Elks have won four or five but they're doing so like and I love defense I'm a defensive guy I understand that that's not everybody it's not like they're winning football games 15 to 10 right and it's boring a lot of field goals good point Y this is also an exciting brand of football and it's not just Trey Ford it's the entire offense and last that includes mlau bethl Thompson and that's what just makes tonight with a pack Stadium this could be very special it could be but they could also lay a Giant Egg absolutely like yesterday what we saw the the bears but but they are also second in the CFL in the turnover ratio and I've harped on this since day one this is a great uh stat if you want to look at a stat as how your team is playing and and the overall game they are second in the CFL and turnover ratio behind Saskatchewan they are plus 15 which means they've taken the ball away 15 more times than McLoud bethl Thompson or the offense has given the ball up so that is a that is a huge factor in in winning games uh so yeah they are definitely trending the right way I said to my wife before I left we were talking about the game this morning and I said I'm I'm nervously optimistic about it because if if the double e go out and have a resounding win if they put the foot down and do their business and come out with a you know I'm just going to say it I'm predicting a 3821 we win today okay and that might even give be giving Calgary too much credit but I just went with the the points that the defense is currently giving up if they do that I think I think then folks we've got something to talk about here and some and something's happening big and I mean uh great cup big well Farhan L said that they're a great cup Contender and and he's not wrong by watching it this isn't just they're hot because they won football games it's they're hot cuz they're playing good football but it's a it's game like this that you should win everybody's expecting the win the team's feeling good every everything's trending up but you have that one let down that lay an egg one one game and do I think Edmonton has the people in place to not let that happen but I very interested to see how the game progresses and also um well I'll wait I'll wait I'll wait till the keys to the game but I have something that is it's going to be something to for you guys to watch in the first half that I think will make or break a win or a loss today for for the uh they released about another six rows worth of tickets so I'll be watching those ones very closely I wish you could live stream this Maddie it is entertaining actually we could have we could put it on here a little bit and just have the The Ticket Master going but I don't want to mess we've had a little bit of Internet issues here tonight uh I do do want to get into our final story of the game yeah sure um which is the hunt for that playoffs spot that wanting to be in the gr cup to get there you have to first make the playoffs and the M 10 Els do currently say fifth in the CFL West uh that's not a playoff spot last time I checked so they do have to claw their way win today though the emont Elks for the first time since and I would have to go double check this completely I think outside of week one when you start to get week uh or a season the Elks will not be the bottom of the CFL West for the first time since I think early 2021 season um this is a team that has gotten off to really bad starts over a number of years sits at the the bottom but a win today would put them two points up of the Calgary Stampeders they would have the season series with the Calgary Stampeders so in effect they're four points up on the Calgary Stampeders with the bombers beating the Rough Riders they were a they're a point back of the SAS gatan Ru Riders because of that point the tiebreaker doesn't really come into play unless the Elks or the Rough Riders tie another game this season uh but the Elks at this moment have the season series over the saskat and Rough Riders they have the season series over the BC Lions although for that one they sit they would be six points back I believe if they win today they'd go uh they'd be 10 they'd be four points back of the BC lines um if they win today but that and and for the Calgary Stampers the flip side to this is if you win today you are onepoint back of the Saskatchewan Rough Riders you are four points back the BC Lions and a Winnipeg Blue Bombers and you give a twoo separation between yourself and the Edmonton Elks with that game in hand which you could make four points if you take care of business for both these teams if you want to make the playoffs it's a must win last week was a must-win this week's a must-win I I think you know and Reed and I went through it on the show of of finding a path that I think uh realistically the the Elks could find themselves getting to a nine and seven or sorry a 9-9 record uh I think an 8- 10 record gets you in it would satisfy me and a lot of the glue crew who we are now trending up for our over uh wins uh bet that was made at the early uh earlier in the year on cool bet that was over what 6 and A2 or was it yeah I think it was 6 and A2 they needed seven the Elks have right now in this season they have as many wins as they had last year as many wins as they had two years ago and interestingly enough this is now coming into into the view is a possible crossover and maybe not for the dou E but for western conf or Western Division team as Ottawa or sorry Toronto has just hit the skids and the Chad Kelly coming back has been a very much so a failure at this point uh so there is an opportunity if if teams in the west you know it I guess it would be between the dou E and the Rough Riders for a possible team that could also cross over uh to the Eastern uh division so something to keep your eye on uh not as optimistic as that as I am about Edmonton you know in their last uh six games right they've got six games left and I could see them going four- two in those six games Poss Poss even Winnipeg Winnipeg Saskatchewan Toronto Calgary Calgary that's right 1 2 3 4 five and then Calgary today yeah so six six games for some reason four and two possibly even five and one I mean if this team keeps playing the way they are and the how how capable they are who's going to beat them who's going to stop them and that is the rest of the that what you just that is what it just is so beautiful about sports is when teams get on these rolles now are they trending hot too early I don't don't know and I don't care just got to get into the dance and make something of this season that started out 0 and7 um so yeah I'm optimistic about it I obviously Winnipeg is trending in the right direction I've gone ahead and crowned Winnipeg as the team that's going to go ahead and take the Western Division I don't think BC uh you know it'll be close but uh BC has a tougher schedule I will say that in the last six games than win a pig BC has a tougher schedule you said yeah they get Montreal twice in their last six games I mean I well they already played them once and they beat them yeah that's true that's Ian and now Montreal has to come to to Vancouver true true uh they get Toronto they get Hamilton they get Calgary they get Saskatchewan they get alet and over Winnipeg who does Winnipeg have the rest of the way Edmonton Edmonton would be tougher right off the bat Blue Bombers their schedule they get Edmonton Edmonton Hamilton Hamilton Toronto Montreal and that game that last game might not matter for Montreal not yeah true enough uh actually next week's the weird part of the CFL schedule we have three teams on by I think it is uh Catan's on by next week Edmonton's on by next week and Winnipeg's on by next week we only have three games next weekend in the Canadian Football League so um well Winnipeg and emont are both going to be very very refreshed you would think going into that one but uh the the hunt for a playoff spot the Elks need this one otherwise they need to go sweep those Winnipeg we said they needed to sweep one of these two series it had to be Calgary it had to be Winnipeg uh they're in Prime position to go Sweep Calgary and that puts you in a really good spot on that hunt for the playoffs po because the scat ref they continue to keep reeling uh they get the bye like I said next week who do they come back from the bye with they come back with Calgary one of those teams is going to lose which is good for Edmonton right off the bat Saskatchewan then gets Ottawa who I think they're good I don't know anymore hard to say they they look good today yeah they look great we out there they looked good yester last week against the BC Lions so uh we'll see how that all play that'll be a full one because it'll be the rematch from the the tie game that's right um and we'll see how that goes so there was your three story lines which is brought to you by James H Brown Alberta personally injur personal injury lawyers uh let's get to our cool props of the game Jay what are you looking at today well this will lead into my key to the game but I'm looking at the first half spread okay so right now Edmonton is favored to be you know at minus two so I'm on Edmonton first half spread minus two that was -1 15 on cool bet.com um it's important it's very important for Edmonton to have a dominant first half I'll get into it more what was your cool bet Maddie total points for the Emon Elks it's set at 28 oh I like that minus 111 for over 28 points for the em I mean you're just going with stats you're going with the numbers last five weeks they they' put up 35 points um when you look at just last week alone the emont Elks against this very Calgary stamp Peters team put up 35 so all things trending that way but I'm just I'm still like can't get over that thought in my head that they they could possibly I mean that's this franchise though that's that's whenever over the last many years you get excited for something they fall flat yeah like last year it was an excitement to start the season okay this is the year things are going to get improved and they lose the first game because they can't punch it in from the one on three three cracks at it so may like there's there con the start of this season you're excited okay brand new season let's see how this goes new quarterback people like okay and they fall flat and now it's like okay well it's almost like this this franchise can't have good things so now that a good thing is happening how is Lucy going to pull the football from them well maybe great uh than great great reference there um maybe this is the exact time that this team needed to have this type of crowd at Commonwealth maybe that's just going to help them not lay an egg you know what I mean maybe that's going to motivate them you know to to to to Really Propel and really keep moving forward last year for the mton elex I and an upcoming bye I mean that always gets guys going too because they get to you know go home see their family well but that also could be the the the negative part to that where you're looking at two ahead to the byee yeah it motivates you let's say it motivates you uh last week or last year 32422 people are common Stadium uh they won on a Dean faithful walk-off field goal they won 2523 it was great walking out of the stadium that day it's not going to be the same atmosphere two gat gave me two burgers that day it was wonderful not the same atmosphere and it's not going to be the same spread out you had people up for deck like in the lower bowl you probably had a good 22 23 20 well I'd say probably 25,000 which was great it was actually a really good vibe last year this year you're going to have that 31,000 or whatever it is as I go back to Ticket Master and refresh those four SE or six rows um where we at uh they're down to like none of them they're they're they keep trending everyone's either going to have to be standing on that North Concourse or sitting in their seats and that is going to bring a nice atmosphere and then the cowbells in themselves those 10,000 cowbells just bring that little noise now we're a little we're running a little late for people that are at the game maybe tuning in for us uh the one thing I will say is if you have the cowbell or if you're going to make any noise please this isn't just a wanic being annoying this isn't aonic trying to like dictate how things are this is football when the offense is on the field sh quiet quiet but when the defense is on the field take that cowbell and ring it as loud as you can make as much noise as you can that's how it goes so I really hope to people with the 10,000 that cut the cow bells like kids are going to be excited about it if you're with a kid there you teach them how to do it properly I I just love it I think the cowbell is funny you know it's it's just great it's the the organization knocked this one out of the park I will say I sent a message about that uh to the powers that be but yeah um where are we at here okay so I mean we're we're getting into it a bit here we're up against the clock a bit I'm going to jump into my keys to the game obviously I I've said that this uh I've predicted a 3821 Victory oh you going to that already oh yeah yeah okay we still got to get to te Jones well let's play te Jones let go sure sure sure good point let's hear what te Jones had to say uh is he's coming off a very big performance uh last week for the EM Elks over 200 yards and two touchdowns by the way I I have a beef quickly uh they have the CFL honors list MCL bethl Thompson was named as one well desert round of clicks for MCL thomps uh for receiver was curle G Jr and I don't want to disrespect curle G Jr but how is it not Kevin Jones how is he not on the honors list for this past week how are you not honoring a receiver that caught the ball for over 200 yards and two touchdowns it makes zero sense the honors list what I don't get it it makes no no curle gin Jr was even the second best receiver for the HKS last week it was Eugene Lewis dumb dumb here's te Jones of the EMS how does it feel to have such a big impact on such a big game uh it feels great you know um it's a it's a battle of Alberta so I'm glad to be a part of it I'm glad that things rolled out away and I'm glad to be here in Edmonton uh what else can I ask for uh can you take us through that play when Gino lost the ball and you scooped it up um well yeah they called the play and uh I ran my route and we're supposed to run to the ball or like just like to get a block or just to um if something crazy happens and uh something crazy happened so G made a great move and the ball landed on the ground and I picked it up and then took off running and when I was running I I said yeah I'm out of here so I'm running running running and the CFL field is so big I'm like man this is long got kind of tired and got caught out the war so but I'm glad things rolled our way uh you've been able to come here and make impact immediately how have you done that um patience and I guess hard work you know so uh at the beginning it was tough because I really wanted to play um especially outside looking in cuz before that uh I didn't have a job I was on the couch watching and uh things are looking kind of down for me and honestly I was thinking about not playing anymore but uh I stuck with it uh prayed about it talked to my mom my family and uh and I ended up here and great things are happening and uh you've had quite the journey NFL and CFL what has kept you um uh these guys actually um I come here I make new friends and uh friends come like create bonds and now we're more like family so uh being here every day like you have no choice but to hang out with the guys and uh you want to do like do things great for your for your family for your brother so as far as like that play Gino thanks me all the time hey man thank you so much thank you so much I'm like bro this what I'm supposed to do you know this what I'm here for and uh like connections like that will will eventually like we'll talk about that for years from now and that's a good thing absolutely uh how challenging has it been to move around so much and have you go through the challenges of being signed and unsigned and for a job L yeah so I was in uh in in the NFL for a while you know six teams uh so me being a professional I'm used to it so um everywhere I go I just try to put my best foot forward and try to gel into the system and then uh show what I can do and every everywhere I've been I feel I feel like I made an imprint somehow some way because the teams that I have played for like we play against all the guys come to me and give me a hug you know whether it's upstairs in the office or downstairs all the way down to the equipment people you know they all love me so uh I I must be doing the right things so uh here I'm trying to do the same thing and leave a legacy all and do you feel like you might have found a home here everything uh I hope so I hope so I hope I found more than the home but uh uh I love it here uh so far it's been great and uh I can't wait to for for this game and watch and watch the stands go crazy when we score and we win there's te Jones of the Edmonton El speaking with the media earlier this week Mata wanck J M with here on the green and gold kickoff show live at Central Casino Sports Bar and Lounge elks getting set to take on the stamp Peters just after 5:00 down at commwell Stadium which is in just mere minutes uh as a refresh Ticket Master as we keep in watch on selling this lower bow out uh just where those all all those extra release tickets in the North End Zone they're g under 50 there's G well I there's going to be more seats to be unveiled or like released I don't think they've released everything but we're talking about dozens of tickets left crazy dozens well and it is because this is what this is what you they I think the Elks were also kind of envisioning when they sold out or closed the upper bowl was to build an atmosphere that was part of this too to get people all sitting in the seats together because when you're sitting next to each other it just brings that atmosphere brings that little buzz that riverhawks games one of the things that shot them up this year was the Canada Day game when it was sold out yeah and then more people wanted to go but it was also just a nice buzz and atmosphere um the Oil Kings for a number of years at Rogers Place they struggled with an atmosphere because they sat in a you know that lower balll I forgot what it does in the lower B I think it's 11,000 out of the 18,000 is in the lower bowl but they would get four 5,000 people but they'd be spread out so there was no atmosphere when over 10,000 when the riverhawks sold out they put like a piece of paper on the the doors that's a little Minor Football right there or minor baseball right there great um but this is going to be fun and the Elks people want to cheer for this team people want to go support this team people want to go watch this team they're just tired of a losing product I want to see what it looks like it's been a long time since I've seen it and I'm excited to see it and and a beautiful night what we got temperature- wise right now High 28 29 30° with humidex is 31 like I'm so jealous of that right now my kids were in the pool all day yesterday and today like it shouldn't be open right now that's that's no it's not a fancy pool it's an abovegr pool get off me um but keys to the game M let get keys to an Elks Victory okay here's the deal this season the green and gold are 0 and five when trailing at the first half 0 and five since 2019 they are 6 and 43 when trailing after the first half it is imperative to get off to a good start to put the foot down keep the gas on and do not let up thank you that is why I took the prop of first half spread of Edmonton minus 2 if they are ahead at half if they are ahead by double digits at half this game's over bck it Dan I wish I could I don't know how to do that but maybe I'll maybe I'll make another bed at half time these all great people at sent are they just brought us a big jug of water what would you call that a caraffe uh I look at that that's like a milk bottle uh milk jug milk jug I would go with milk jug milk jug almost but I think glass milk is there a name on this jug I'd say kff hey there's Johnny a square glass jar I guess that's lame okay well that's cool French square glass jars there he goes oh Johnny there we go uh my keys to an El victories feed off this crowd feed off of it this is going to be a solid atmosphere this is going to be an amazing atmosphere um I I I do remember last year's Labor Day rematch it was a great atmosphere but not everyone was sited right together this is going to be again very jealous that we're not sitting in those seats for this one um because going going but we weren't in the seats but it's like there's people already saying like it is a like a Gong Show out there but it's but it's also we would have to go s the media and that that would make me I I would hate that even more jealous well I hate that because it's all quiet the media room is very quiet it's it's not fun I want to be in those seats I want to sit there in those seats and I'm jealous of everyone going but if you're the elx team feed off of that that that that crowd is going to be there that crowd is going to want to support you that crowd wants to see you beat the Calgary stamp Peters win five of six and move into fourth place in the that you keep that climb going for that playoff spot there's a lot of good Buzz around this team as I said in the start this is a hot ticket it's a hot day it's a hot team everything's going and feed off of that crowd and I think it will lead the Emon Elks to their Victory I'm not going to ask you to predict a score but I'm going to ask you a question are the Elks at the uh by 8:00 tonight are the Elks 5 and 8 I'm not jinxing anything I'm not going one way or the other I'm not going one way going one way or the other mush he knows I'm not doing I'm not even going to say I'm not going to make a prediction on that one because I don't do predictions I'm not jinxing it this is a good sign folks this is I'm not jining this I'm not doing anything love it I love the dedication to your craft thank you hello Hi how are you sorry we're doing a show right now that's okay yeah we're on camera so are you well she's not fully she could be um yeah she's right here it no well don't there she is okay right I I feel like you are doing a show we are doing a show that's why the lights are on and and we're live right now we're trying to wrap this up are you are you going to watch the Elks game today okay that's that sounds right sounds about right yeah uh when I look at when I look at conell Stadium right now uh I see I see a row in double A I see a row in double q and that is all I see uh the & 10 Al pardon free tickets no there are not free I do not have free tickets I'm sorry the game sold out the game's about to start in 2 minutes I wouldn't be giving away tickets at this moment they're going to be sold out momentarily uh the Elks they are taking on the St Peters looking to sweep the Labor Day series for the first time since 2002 uh if you don't have the ticket to the game come down to Central Casino Sports Bar and Lounge and maybe you could join us with a post game show as as Johnny has and other people have what was your name uh Frank Frank and Frank's here uh and uh we got the primer of sandwich we got the cheese and jalapenos smokey uh lot we're going to just watch some football here down at centr casino uh you're predicting the Elks I'm not making a prediction but thank you for tuning into the green and gold kickoff show live right here on Edmonton Sports Talk your Clear Choice for Edmonton Sports coming up coming up next uh I think we got to replay the re and wilin show with J mil oh God more we're going to have that on the audio stream uh but we will be back with the postgame show once this end enjoy this football game have a great time watching it enjoy this nice weather on behalf of Jay I'm Matt thanks for tuning in to the green and gold kickoff show we'll talk to you once this game finishes