Nye: Labour Day a chance for Fajardo to shine brighter

Cody Fajardo is checking all the boxes to become a fan favourite in Saskatchewan.

He’s winning more than he’s losing.

He’s had more than enough big plays.

He’s endeared himself to the fans with his ‘sprinkle of Jesus’ quotes and celebratory corn dogs.

Fans who meet him away from the football stadium are impressed with his kindness and personality.

There are pretty much two boxes left.

Win Labour Day.

Win Grey Cup.

If Cody Fajardo thinks he’s a star in Saskatchewan now, just wait until after Sunday if he leads the Roughriders over the Bombers and draw even with them for first in the West Division.

And if he has a flare for the dramatic, a late game winning touchdown run like he’s had earlier in the season and he could place himself in Rider lore alongside Kerry Joseph and Rocky Butler.

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Cody Fajardo and the Riders look to best the Bombers in the Labour Day Classic on Sunday (The Canadian Press)

It amazes me how much winning Mark’s Labour Day Weekend means and how those big plays, like Joseph’s run in 2007 or an unlikely star like Rocky Butler’s ability to win despite being the third string quarterback, continue to be talked about like they happened yesterday.

Joseph joined the elite in Rider history by being inducted into the team’s Plaza of Honour last week and there is one play in his career he gets asked about the most; ‘The Run’ from the 2007 Labour Day game.

And if Ian ‘Rocky’ Butler ever came back to Saskatchewan, fans would greet him with a “I remember that Labour Day game when you won.” Rocky Butler may have been a one hit wonder in Saskatchewan but what a hit it was with the three touchdown runs in the 2002 victory as the third string quarterback shocked the Bombers.

Recent down seasons for the Riders like 2015 and 2011 saw coaching changes going into Labour Day. The results were both victories and while the season was a down one, winning Labour Day over Winnipeg seemed to make things a little bit better.

Saskatchewan, of course, has dominated the recent history of Labour Day Weekend contests, winning 13 of the last 14 games.

But never before have we seen the scenario that plays out this season.

Since the inception of the annual rivalry game in the late 70s, these two teams have never played head-to-head on Labour Day Weekend at the top of the West Division standings.

NEVER!

The last time these teams even entered Labour Day Weekend at the top of the division standings was 1966. They didn’t play each other that September long weekend, however.

This game is just more than bragging rights or fodder for fan trash talk. This weekend’s classic could help decide who hosts the Western Final and in fact could be a preview of that game.

 

While the Riders are favoured and the loss of both Matt Nichols (injury) and Andrew Harris (suspension) for the Bombers tilt the scales even more in favour of Saskatchewan, there is still a lot of talent on the field for this weekend’s game.

Cody Fajardo has stated he knows about the importance of Labour Day and was brought up to speed about the game and the atmosphere.

On the other side of the ball, the Bombers are hoping that back-up quarterback Chris Streveler might have a Rocky Butler moment in him to walk into Saskatchewan and pull off an upset and possibly live in Bomber lore.

CFL on TSN analyst Glen Suitor tells me often, it doesn’t matter what the records are or where you are in the standings, Labour Day is a different animal entirely to the rest of the season.

Suitor remembers intercepting a pass in a Labour Day game and felt and sounded louder than when he picked one off in the 1989 Grey Cup.

And while Fajardo can’t check both boxes remaining on his 2019 to-do list, a win would go a long way in pushing the Riders toward their other ultimate goal this season.

No, not the Banjo Bowl trophy, the other one that will get handed out in Calgary this November.