It was a lonely looking Troy Westwood on the sidelines last week in Winnipeg, the 17 year veteran of the CFL was banished to the fringes of the Big Blue last Thursday night, not quite a punishment but certainly not a reward as Bomber head coach Doug Berry weighed his options in the kicking game. It’s an option that apparently might include ending Westwood’s long association with Bombers.
Last weeks kicking duties were handled by the new arrival, kicker Rob Pikula, who compiled a 39.5 yard punting average and went 1 for 2 in field goal attempts, not enough to force Westwood out, but apparently good enough to warrant a second look this week in practice. The third wheel of the kicking roulette session, Clinton Greathouse was let go over the last few days.
Doug Berry isn’t tipping his hand, but both Westwood and Pikula are being put through their paces during the week leading up the Friday night’s game against the Eskimos. If Pikula proves to Berry that he can handle both punting and place kicking duties then Westwood may once again be found in the coffin corner of the end zone watching the proceedings perhaps for the final time in the blue and gold. It's of interest to note that decision day may fall on Friday the 13th, an ominous theme if ever there was one.
Should that historic moment come to pass, it will bring to an end one of the most unusual rivalries that the CFL has ever seen. It was back in 2003 that Westwood in apparently a playful mood made disparaging remarks about the followers of the hated rivals the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Winnipeg Sun archives reported on the fateful words from Westwood this way: Before last season's Labour Day Classic, Winnipeg Blue Bomber place kicker Troy Westwood referred to Saskatchewan fans as "banjo-pickin' inbreds." He followed that up with a feigned apology before last year's western semifinal versus the Roughriders, saying they could not even play the banjo.
And with that a war was on and Westwood became about as tolerable in Saskatchewan as a prairie dog at harvest time.
Last weeks kicking duties were handled by the new arrival, kicker Rob Pikula, who compiled a 39.5 yard punting average and went 1 for 2 in field goal attempts, not enough to force Westwood out, but apparently good enough to warrant a second look this week in practice. The third wheel of the kicking roulette session, Clinton Greathouse was let go over the last few days.
Doug Berry isn’t tipping his hand, but both Westwood and Pikula are being put through their paces during the week leading up the Friday night’s game against the Eskimos. If Pikula proves to Berry that he can handle both punting and place kicking duties then Westwood may once again be found in the coffin corner of the end zone watching the proceedings perhaps for the final time in the blue and gold. It's of interest to note that decision day may fall on Friday the 13th, an ominous theme if ever there was one.
Should that historic moment come to pass, it will bring to an end one of the most unusual rivalries that the CFL has ever seen. It was back in 2003 that Westwood in apparently a playful mood made disparaging remarks about the followers of the hated rivals the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Winnipeg Sun archives reported on the fateful words from Westwood this way: Before last season's Labour Day Classic, Winnipeg Blue Bomber place kicker Troy Westwood referred to Saskatchewan fans as "banjo-pickin' inbreds." He followed that up with a feigned apology before last year's western semifinal versus the Roughriders, saying they could not even play the banjo.
And with that a war was on and Westwood became about as tolerable in Saskatchewan as a prairie dog at harvest time.
The back and forth between the provinces went on through that season and into 2004 when the whole Banjo Bowl thing took life thanks to the National Post newspaper which sponsored the event in a light hearted way with the traditional Labour Day classic as the pivotal moment in Banjo Bowl history, The Post donated $10,000 to the United Way campaign of the winning team's city. The winner also received something called the Banjo Bowl Trophy. And Westwood himself added $100 for each field goal he kicked during that match.
The Banjo Bowl has become one of the touchstones of the CFL, part of the lore of the game as they say. It’s almost melancholy to think that it all that history may come to an end by Friday.
As all kickers know, the day will come when the boot doesn’t send the ball where its supposed to go anymore. A younger new hired gun will walk into camp, boot a fifty yard shot into the wind and through the uprights and a new legend will be born and maybe even a new song will be sung.
But alas, the writing may be on the wall as these stories will suggest:
The Banjo Bowl has become one of the touchstones of the CFL, part of the lore of the game as they say. It’s almost melancholy to think that it all that history may come to an end by Friday.
As all kickers know, the day will come when the boot doesn’t send the ball where its supposed to go anymore. A younger new hired gun will walk into camp, boot a fifty yard shot into the wind and through the uprights and a new legend will be born and maybe even a new song will be sung.
But alas, the writing may be on the wall as these stories will suggest:
July 5-Blue Punt Westwood
July 5-Controversy trumps history
July 5-Out of Troy's control
July 4-Westwood on way out
July 3-Convincing Berry
July 1-Kicker sent to Bombers
However, many of the CFL’s traditionalists must be hoping that Westwood has one or two more kicks in his boot, that this report from Winnipeg is true. A chance for one more year of Labour Day Banjo hits and along with them one or two more tunes on a Saskatchewan banjo!
However, many of the CFL’s traditionalists must be hoping that Westwood has one or two more kicks in his boot, that this report from Winnipeg is true. A chance for one more year of Labour Day Banjo hits and along with them one or two more tunes on a Saskatchewan banjo!
(above picture of Troy Westwood from the Winnipeg Free Press website)
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