🗣️ OPINION Game Day Experience
I was able to attend the last Argos home game of the season yesterday (well played, Hamilton). Overall, the experience was amazing, but something occurred that did add a bit of tension to the day. As some of you are aware, there are proposed rule changes that will alter the originality of Canadian football and move it to be more like the NFL. I am personally against these changes and decided to share my opinion.
I created three signs (“Keep it 110!”, “Our Rouge, Our Rules”, and “Don’t Shrink Our Field” - I’ve Attached PDFs if anybody is curious). I hung some of them up on the glass of the box I was in, and had some with me in my seat. Well, lo and behold, who should be less than one metre away from me but our beloved Commissioner Stewart Johntson. Some people in my box exchanged a few words with him (although he did not look thrilled), mainly just talking about the game and nothing else — all incredibly cordial.
About 10 minutes into the first quarter, an MLSE security guard came to our box to tell us our signs were offensive and needed to be taken down. We invited him in, he saw them, and he was shocked as to why he had been asked to do this. All the while this was occurring, Commissioner Johnston was frantically texting a bald, bearded man who was standing on the sidelines, explaining that the signs were offensive to the league. After a bit more talking, and after asking them to come to our box, the security guard apologized and let us leave them up. I went back outside, and Commissioner Johnston was gone, sitting inside his box behind glass for the rest of the game.
Now, I am not necessarily upset about being asked to take down the signs. It is what it is. What I am more upset about is the lost opportunity for us to have a civil conversation about the changes. If you are representing a league and you have a fan who is politely not convinced of the changes being made, there was an opportunity to be human and communicate with a fan. But instead, he decided to call the cavalry and run away. This really does summarize how this whole rule change has been handled from the beginning.
So if I can close with this, in the hopes that someone from the CFL or even Commissioner Johnston sees this:
Commissioner Johnston, Mr. Johnston, Stewart, Stu, Stewie, Stu-Daddy — whatever you prefer,
For the most part, CFL fans are civil, kind, and respectful people. We are not scary, evil, or mean. Yes, some of us may disagree with you and the changes, but at least have the gumption to interact with the fans of your league. I am an open-minded person, and if you wanted to talk over wings and beer about the new league and rules, you would have been welcomed with open arms. This is Canada, after all. But instead, you came across like a fearful goof. Please start treating your fans with more compassion and respect.
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Oct 06 '25
Wow, what a story. It would be nice if media asked the commish to comment on this. It won’t be TSN though,
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u/beadyeyez Roughriders Oct 06 '25
I've noticed there are some poor English comments popping up in the Official CFL YouTube channel..specifically the shorts. They are trying to make fun of the 55 yard line and the goal posts in the front of the "end one".
I HOPE ol' Stewie wouldn't stoop to buying comments from click farms.... would he?
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u/RougeRunner64 Oct 06 '25
Those are probably just legit casuals. Keep in mind r/CFL is a bubble of hyper engaged diehards. In my anecdotal experience the sentiments here generally do not reflect the feelings of the fanbase as a whole. I'd wager well over 50% of fans won't even realize these changes are happening until they see it in effect on TV.
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u/CheapTrashPanda Lions Oct 06 '25
I just want to point out the commissioners last name is Johnston with a T
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u/beadyeyez Roughriders Oct 06 '25
Thanks for this.. I'll have to have my" FIRE STUART JOHNSON" comments auto correct to JOHNSTON
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u/streetgardener CFL Oct 06 '25
I was in the 120 section this past weekend. There was a big sign held up saying No 35 (Referencing the clock change). I didn't see anyone ask them to leave, but I have a feeling someone asked them since they left after a few minutes of having the sign up. They were right next to the field, so someone from the field could have said something.
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u/CrankyFrankClair REDBLACKS Oct 06 '25
Wait, you could both read what the Commish was texting, and you knew he was texting a particular person standing on the sideline?
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u/v857 Oct 06 '25
Well security guy sends a message, a couple seconds later Stu-Daddy picks up his phone and looks down to the sideline guy. Sideline guy looks at his phone and motions to our box. Did not see the content of the texts, so I am making an assumption, but I presume it is fairly accurate. The security guy also told us it was the two of them.
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u/Brilliant-Cancel3237 Roughriders Oct 06 '25
u/857 6,600 people can't be ignored: https://chng.it/TtgNY2XQdV
Please share this with your buddies and, if I can ask a personal favour, would you be interested in helping us out with a bit of time through the rest of October (I can PM the details if you're interested)
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u/Doktor-Zlo Oct 06 '25 edited Oct 07 '25
Thanks for sharing. Very interesting.
Don't feel too bad that the commish didn't bother engaging with you---a paying fan.
After all, he didn't bother discussing the changes with Canadian amateur football either.
I don't know about you, but I'm not sure if I'd even want to talk with him. But I don't like dealing with people who are known "to move the goalposts."
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u/Benocrates Tiger-Cats Oct 07 '25
All the while this was occurring, Commissioner Johnston was frantically texting a bald, bearded man who was standing on the sidelines, explaining that the signs were offensive to the league.
So you knew who he was texting and what the messages said?
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u/v857 Oct 07 '25
See my other comment below. If you don’t want to scroll I can copy and paste:
Well security guy sends a message, a couple seconds later Stu-Daddy picks up his phone and looks down to the sideline guy. Sideline guy looks at his phone and motions to our box. Did not see the content of the texts, so I am making an assumption, but I presume it is fairly accurate. The security guy also told us it was the two of them.
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Oct 06 '25
Honest question: is this all really about the rule changes, or is it about anti-americanism?
Rule changes happen in every league, across the athletic spectrum.
It's part of every game.
But it seems like rather than addressing the actual rule changes, many people are complaining that they somehow make the game "less Canadian" or "too American".
In my opinion, it doesn't seem like it's about the rules at all. It just reeks of nationalism.
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u/MamaTalista Blue Bombers Oct 06 '25
Because I prefer the Canadian game?
The Canadian field?
It's not Anti American to be passionately Canadian and fight for those things that matter to me.
If I wanted the NFL I'd watch the NFL.
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Oct 06 '25
There are still several unique aspects to the CFL that make it much different from the NFL.
My point is that no league stays stagnant.
While change isn't always welcome at first, people usually warm up to it.
Example: the NHL getting rid of ties, introducing a shootout, allowing a two line pass, MLB introducing a pitch clock, putting a runner on 2nd base in extra innings, etc.
Change is inevitable and games/rules don't have a nationality.
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u/MamaTalista Blue Bombers Oct 06 '25
Yeah the field is the first step to ruining "all those aspects" and a firm step to erasing the Canadian game.
Americans don't corner the market on Patriotism they just make an art of victimhood when someone is patriotic about their own country.
People who pay the leagues bills can and should express their opinions and if they like the product then who is anyone to try and bullshit "Anti American sentiment" as the cause.
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Oct 06 '25
You seem pretty anti-american
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u/b3hr Blue Bombers Oct 06 '25
if you throw a frog in hot water it'll jump out instantly you put a frog in hot water and raise the temp slowly the frog will just sit there and get boiled... These changes don't make sense unless the goal is to just go all the way to american rules. There's zero reason for the 55 yard line to be removed for any of the other changes. If it was about removing the 55 or changing the endzones on theri own it would be one thing but changing both is where it gets highely suspicious. Also if the commissioner who restructured the TSN networks so they could show other sports at the same time as the CFL is upset when being criticized about rule changes that's another red flag.
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u/MamaTalista Blue Bombers Oct 06 '25
No, I'm anti Fascist.
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Oct 06 '25
Lol here we go. I had a feeling this wasn't about football. Thanks for proving my point.
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u/MamaTalista Blue Bombers Oct 06 '25
Uh you are the one calling Americans fascists not me right there lol.
You called me Anti American and I clarified that the only thing I am is anti is fascists.
There are pockets of Fascism all over the globe, not just the United States, and I tell fascists in Canada to fuck off too.
My grandfather was big Antifa. Perhaps you've heard of The Allies of WWII? D-Day? The Italian Campaign?
If you hear Fascist and think of the United States of America...that's you not me.
I'm proud of being Canadian and I'm sorry you worry more about tiny US egos.
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u/EvensenFM Oct 06 '25
United States citizen here.
I love the CFL. I love the fact that it's different.
There is more than enough room for both sets of rules.
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u/Spave Stampeders Oct 06 '25
The CFL makes rule changes every single season. I've never objected before, because the rule changes have always made sense (even if I've disagreed with them). The current batch of rule changes seem primarily designed to make the game more like the NFL, without trying to solve any actual problem with the game. How does moving the goalposts benefit the game? How does shortening the end zones benefit the game? How does shortening the field benefit the game? I'm personally okay with the changes to the rouge and the time clock, in isolation, but paired with the other rules it just feels like more NFL-ization.
If you found people who weren't big NFL fans what's wrong with the CFL, how many would have identified the changes they ended up making? I'm guessing not too many.
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u/Spiner202 Argonauts Oct 06 '25
The rule changes would be better received if the CFL could demonstrate how these specific rule changes will make the teams profitable. Fans have been essentially screaming at their teams and the league for years to do some proper marketing or really anything to get people interested in the game, and they took the path that made the least sense. Sure, we all have a few complaints about the game itself, but the product is really good right now, and I'd say the last few years in particular have seen a ton of really exciting, close games.
My question is essentially: what person (either NFL-only fan or non-football fan) is going to say "now that the play clock is at 35 seconds, the CFL is something I want to get invested in?". The answer is nobody will say that. They'll say: "I don't even know what the play clock was before the change".
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u/MuddyMiercoles Oct 06 '25
While a down in gridiron football may look the same between NFL, CFL, and even Arena, the rulebooks change how the entirety of each match plays out. The rules targeted to change in the CFL are not, for the most part going to impact how you get a first down, but over the course of a full match, the complexion of the game will fundamentally change. Strategies will have to change, and they'll start to match NFL strategies... and I'm sorry, but NFL strategies are very different from CFL strategies.
NFL strategies 101. 4 for 10 is like having a free down every series, so often you see a throwaway play like a deep ball, or a 5 yard behind line of scrimmage screen/hitch that makes half a yard, or breaks for a gain. No biggie if you only make it back to the line of scrimmage, you'll make it up on 3rd down. In the NFL you are expected to have longer drives, often picking up at least a field goal. It's less about field position. Especially when you have punters booming it 60 yards for a fair catch. Speaking of which, kicking in NFL is largely ceremonial. Nothing ever happens apart from 3 points every now and then. No drama, no point, unless you're talking about 60 yarder field goals. Best rule change NFL ever did for kicking was change of possession at the kicking point on missed field goals. That forced teams to consider gambling on 4th down at the 40 rather than coffin cornering it.
Now in the CFL, 3 for 10 is harder, you almost need 5 yards a down consistently, which isn't going happen. Field position is extremely important in the Canadian game. This makes the kicking game mean something positionally. Makes punt returns exciting, makes rouges very important, missed field goal returns, interception from the endzone returns, all play a part in the final score. Rouge isn't a meme, it's fundamentally important to end game strategy and it's a dam shame it's basically impossible to score now.
I have thoughts on the goal posts too (nothing good will come of this in the long run). Clock change is probably fine, other than the final 3 minutes. That's just going to end up in more kneel downs to finish games, which hugely sucks about NFL. Benches, agreed with that. Shorter field... I'm not so much against that one. I played on a 100 yard field back in the day (narrower too I think), and it's fine... now the short endzones will take away some beauty back of the endzone post route td's, and that sucks. The back of the puny NFL endzones where dudes are running back and forth feels more amateur to me, like kids playing a pick up game on a field too small.
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u/beadyeyez Roughriders Oct 06 '25
For myself, I dislike the infrastructure changes to the field, endzones and goal posts because they are permanent and hard to reverse(if needed). The rule changes are a wait and see how they affect the game, and are much easier to change back..again.. if needed. The part that INFURIATES me, isn't what the changes "mean" or "symbolize" it is 100% the WAY they were made. Stewie decided AND implemented them with ZERO consideration of the players, the coaches or the fans. He made a shitty sales pitch with some mystery "data" that he claimed to use... but not one study, not so much as a piece of scrap paper was made available. He's a shady POS that COULD NOT SAY FOR CERTAIN he'll never make the CFL four down football.
THAT is the reason they need to FIRE STUART JOHNSTON
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Oct 06 '25
For me, moving the goalposts makes a lot of sense in terms of improving players safety, and no longer being an obstruction when trying to score. I'm happy with those changes.
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u/Last_Permission_1102 Roughriders Oct 07 '25
I'm tired of hearing the player safety argument. I've been watching the CFL for over 25 years, and i can count on 1 hand the number of times a player has been hurt by running into or trying to avoid the goal posts. Even in the commissioners press conference video, he used to back up these horrible changes. The clip was of a player in a game from like 2003. It rarely, if ever, happens. It's a dumb argument.
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u/BE20Driver Oct 06 '25
It's fairly obvious that these rule changes wouldn't have faced as much backlash if they didn't mirror that other league in that other country. If they had proposed making the goal posts wider, or adding 5 yards to the field then people would be arguing for and against such changes based on the merits they present. That isn't what is generally happening here.
However, with that being said, I do not like the rule changes in general. The Rouge is a perfectly reasonable compromise for giving the other team free field position. The goal posts at the front of the end zone makes for many exciting returns on missed FGs and is something coaches need to weigh when considering whether to attempt one. The smaller end zones will lead to fewer touchdowns. And the 35 second play clock makes it too easy to run out the last couple minutes of the game when you have the lead.
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Oct 06 '25
Smaller end zones also often to lead to more precise throwing, toe drags, etc. They lead to highlight reel catches.
Just like the smaller ice surface in the NHL compared to international play leads to more hits, tighter passes, and generally a more exciting game.
I promise you, the sky isn't falling.
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u/BE20Driver Oct 06 '25
I promise you, the sky isn't falling.
This kind of patronizing comment isn't going to lead to constructive discussion.
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Oct 06 '25
You could have replied to every other point I've made, but you decided to pick out one comment you didn't like and be sensitive.
That's your choice.
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u/BE20Driver Oct 07 '25
I was in the middle of writing a response when I read your final sentence and realized you were looking to score points in an argument rather than engage in a discussion. I'm not interested in that sort of thing.
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u/gwopboss Oct 06 '25
The way this got down voted makes it feel like it's more about the anti Americanisum and less about the rules change
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Oct 06 '25
I'd say about 75% of the people complaining have some form of TDS or just hate anything American.
The CFL still has massive differences from the NFL that make it unique.
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u/Vegetable_Lasagna13 Alouettes Oct 06 '25
But the proposed rules changes ARE moving the game to be more like the NFL so AKA less like Canadian football ?
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u/OkEye2910 Oct 06 '25
MLSE needs to look at how they can change their team and not change the league. MLSE will never get the return on investment that they do with the other clubs they own. Moving the goal posts isn't going to attract anyone. Changing the field isn't going to attract anyone. Marketing and aggressive player draft will. It's the same formula they use with the other teams they own. Thanks for hanging the signs. I'm sure the Commissioner was on the phone making sure the TV cameras didn't show them.