Jaime Stein
CFL.ca
When the Canadian Football League changed its overtime rules during the offseason there was an expectation that it would create more excitement, but no one could have predicted what took place at Mosaic Field on Thursday night in the RONA Canada Day Kickoff.
Forget the 21 point Rider comeback. Forget the 122-yard Tim Maypray missed field goal return for a touchdown. Forget the near 500-yard performance through the air by Darian Durant or the mastery displayed by Anthony Calvillo. CFL fans are used to that kind of excitement. What we all witnessed on Thursday night was a new kind of excitement brought about by a new kind of rule.
The CFL has its quirks and its differences that create an exciting game. The wider field. The longer field. The unlimited motion on offence. You name it, we’ve got it. And we also have an overtime that has created drama and been the envy of other leagues. See: Grey Cup, 2005.
The newest wrinkle was added in April when the Canadian Football League’s Board of Governors approved a rule change that made teams that scored a touchdown in overtime be required to go for a two-point convert instead of kicking for a single point.
“The Governors have agreed with our committee, and our fans, that the two point convert will make an exciting approach to overtime even more exciting,” said Tom Higgins, the CFL’s Director of Officiating. “With a pass or run with the game potentially on the line replacing a kick that has become relatively routine.”
The rule came into play on the first possession in overtime when Darian Durant hit a streaking Chris Getzlaf in the endzone. The play alone was exciting, but it was so close to not being a convert that the CFL Command Centre had to review the play to ensure that it was good.
Back came the Alouettes. Following a too many men on the field penalty to the Riders (which is a discussion for another column) Calvillo led his team into the endzone. Still down a pair, Montreal was forced to attempt its own two point convert.
Calvillo lobbed a pass to the back of the endzone. The ball was sailing out of bounds. And then the Hail Mary of all Hail Mary’s happened. S.J. Green came out of nowhere to snag the ball out of midair with his right hand. While sailing out the back of the endzone on the miracle catch, Green somehow managed to get his elbow down in bounds to complete the catch and score the deuce.
Another video review. Another two point convert. Pandemonium turned to silence at Mosaic Stadium.
The excitement was not limited to the stadium. Online, Twitter lit up with comments about the new overtime rule:
Said @ElasticJimbo: “As an American watching a CFL game for the 1st time, this was the perfect game to watch.”
Said @Mitchell_in_AB: “I love that new rule!”
Said: @ron_gallo: “round two of overtime … if this doesn’t make you a fan of the CFL … well you can fill in the blank.”
Said: @tim_osbore: “This is why you’ve gotta love CFL football!”
Even the Commissioner tweeted, “I can’t speak… what a game.”
As my adrenaline starts to come back down to a somewhat normal level I can’t help but hope that the first game of 2010 will set the tone for an entire season of outstanding football.
