Published Aug 29, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 3\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n He\u2019s been in the CFL for two decades now, a product of New Jersey who\u2019s played pro ball in Europe and the U.S. but found a football home north of the border.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive columns by Ryan Stelter, Paul Friesen, Ted Wyman, Scott Billeck, Lorrie Goldstein, Warren Kinsella and others. Plus newsletters: Gimme Stelter for your beat on the city, The Exit Row for all your Jets news and On the Rocks for curling.Unlimited online access to Winnipeg Sun and 15 news sites with one account.Winnipeg Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive columns by Ryan Stelter, Paul Friesen, Ted Wyman, Scott Billeck, Lorrie Goldstein, Warren Kinsella and others. Plus newsletters: Gimme Stelter for your beat on the city, The Exit Row for all your Jets news and On the Rocks for curling.Unlimited online access to Winnipeg Sun and 15 news sites with one account.Winnipeg Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n For anyone wondering what the three-down game is all about, Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive coordinator Jordan Younger points them to this weekend, and specifically Regina, Sask..<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cIf there was anybody outside the United States or anybody who didn\u2019t know about the CFL, if we had to show them one regular season game to define how special a CFL game can be, it would probably be Labour Day between the Riders and Bombers,\u201d Younger said. \u201cIt\u2019s fun, all-around.\u201d<\/p>\n For coaches, too, apparently, even if it tends to carry swings in momentum that\u2019ll leave even the most even-keeled personality pulling their hair out.<\/p>\n The effect of a big play in the Labour Day Classic seems to get magnified.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause it\u2019s usually a packed house, or close to it, the momentum of the game, those big plays, they carry a different feeling because the crowd gets so into it,\u201d Younger said. \u201cThey get a big play, that charges the crowd up and now you\u2019ve got to fight back against that momentum. That\u2019s the 13th man.\u201d<\/p>\n The Winnipeg Sun’s Daily Headline News<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n It can work in reverse, too.<\/p>\n The Riders are expecting a record crowd for the 60th edition of this matchup.<\/p>\n For the Bombers, hearing a hush come over it would be seventh heaven.<\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely,\u201d Younger said. \u201cForce fumbles. Interceptions. Big hits on the quarterback. In those situations, it definitely can quiet the crowd and then shift that momentum back in our favour.\u201d<\/p>\n The last three of these have been two-point games, Winnipeg winning 35-33 last year, dropping a 32-30 decision the year before that and winning 20-18 in 2022.<\/p>\n The line is so fine, one mistake can be the difference.<\/p>\n \u201cAnytime a momentum shift like that happens it\u2019s big,\u201d Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros said. \u201cBut certainly on Labour Day with the crowd like that it\u2019s magnified. That being said, it\u2019s a three-phase football game. If I make a mistake, special teams and defence gotta get out there and do what they do.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Not done, yet It\u2019s a feeling running back Brady Oliveira felt the need to slam-dunk in a recent TSN interview and again one day this week.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you want to count us out, sure,\u201d Oliveira said. \u201cBut I\u2019m warning you guys, don\u2019t count us out. There\u2019s also something to be said for playing your best football at the right time. Not getting hot too soon\u2026 it is a long season. I think we\u2019re going to heat up at the right time.\u201d<\/p>\n Riders head coach Corey Mace told reporters in Regina it\u2019s too early to count the Bombers out.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re the top dog right now, until they\u2019ve proven otherwise,\u201d Mace said. \u201cPeople need to prove in November that you can beat Winnipeg.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Sellout streak continues That will make it a record dozen consecutive full houses for Winnipeg, dating back to last season.<\/p>\n Next weekend\u2019s Banjo Bowl against rival Saskatchewan was No. 11 on the sellout list.<\/p>\n It leaves just two home games with tickets available: another against the Riders in October and Montreal eight days later.<\/p>\n The last word \u201cIt\u2019s a great environment,\u201d O\u2019Shea said. \u201cYou want to be playing in a packed house with fans that are into it. We get the luxury of doing that 10 times a year. At least.\u201d<\/p>\n paul.friesen@kleinmedia.ca<\/p>\n X: @friesensunmedia<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Share this article in your social network<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Breadcrumb Trail Links SportsFootballCFLWinnipeg Blue Bombers Get the latest from Paul Friesen straight to your inbox Sign Up…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":106540,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[437],"tags":[49,48,521,522,520,82],"class_list":["post-106539","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cfl","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-canadian-football-league","tag-canadianfootballleague","tag-cfl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106539","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=106539"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106539\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/106540"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=106539"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=106539"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=106539"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Blue](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/blue-bombers-fans-e1756500061899.jpg\")
CFL Winnipeg Blue Bombers fans cheer at a football game in Winnipeg. File Image. Photo by Chris Procaylo \/Winnipeg SunArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Winnipeg](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.4.3\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-wsun-new.svg\"){kind=logo}
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The narrative swirling around the five-time defending West Division champion Bombers goes something like, Their time is up.<\/p>\n
The Bombers on Friday announced yet another sellout crowd, this time for a visit by Hamilton on Sept. 27.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s give it to Bombers boss Mike O\u2019Shea today, who had this to say when asked for his take on the atmosphere around this game (note the subtle nod to a home playoff game).<\/p>\n