Banjo Bowl
Encyclopedia
{| class="toccolours" style="float: right; clear: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; width: 23em;"
|- style="text-align:Left;"
! colspan="2" style="text-align: center; background-color: ;" | Saskatchewan Roughriders
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center" |
|-
{| style="background: none; width: 20em; margin: 0 auto;"
|-
! style="background: #E0E7EF;" colspan="2" | Banjo Bowl series history
|-
| First meeting || September 12, 2004
|-
| First result || WPG
27, SSK
24
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" | Last Meeting || September 11, 2011
|-
| Last Result || SSK
45, WPG
23
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" | Next Meeting || @Blue Bombers
September, 2012 Date TBA when 2012 CFL schedule is released
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" | Largest Victory || SSK 55, WPG 10 (2009
)
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" | Smallest Victory || SSK 19, WPG 17 (2005
)
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" | Largest Point Total || SSK 55 (2009
)
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" | Smallest Point Total || SSK 2 (2010
)
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" | Current streak || SSK W1 (2011—present)
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" | All-time series || TIE 4-4
|-<| colspan="2"|
|}
The Banjo Bowl is the annual rematch game between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
and Saskatchewan Roughriders
of the Canadian Football League
(CFL) after the Labour Day Classic
.
While the traditional Labour Day Classic game is always played on the Sunday before Labour Day
at Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field
in Regina, Saskatchewan
, there is usually a rematch on the following weekend between these two rival prairie
teams at Canad Inns Stadium
in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The "Banjo Bowl" moniker was coined by Blue Bombers board member David Asper
in early 2004, inspired by an infamous comment made by Bombers placekicker
Troy Westwood
in the week prior to a 2003
Western Division Semi-final game between the two teams. Westwood was quoted in the media as saying that people from Regina were "a bunch of banjo
-pickin' inbreds." He later apologized half-heartedly for those comments, saying that "the vast majority of the people in Saskatchewan have no idea how to play the banjo." This further fueled the Winnipeg–Saskatchewan football rivalry and has made the rematch game even more of an event. The game is sponsored by the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation
. The game has been sold out every year since 2005. As of the 2011 season, the series is tied 4-4.
As on Labour Day weekend when many Winnipeg fans visit Regina to support the Bombers
, many Saskatchewan fans visit Winnipeg the following weekend to support the 'Riders
. Many come, tongue-in-cheek, with banjos.
|- style="text-align:Left;"
! colspan="2" style="text-align: center; background-color: ;" | Saskatchewan Roughriders
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center" |
{| style="background: none; width: 20em; margin: 0 auto;"
|-
! style="background: #E0E7EF;" colspan="2" | Banjo Bowl series history
|-
| First meeting || September 12, 2004
|-
| First result || WPG
2004 Winnipeg Blue Bombers season
The 2004 Winnipeg Blue Bombers finished in 4th place in the West division with a 7–11 record and failed to make the playoffs.-CFL Draft:-Season schedule:-Awards and records:*CFL's Most Outstanding Special Teams Award – Keith Stokes...
27, SSK
2004 Saskatchewan Roughriders season
The 2004 Saskatchewan Roughriders finished in 3rd place in the West division with a 9–9–0 record. They defeated the Edmonton Eskimos in the West Semi-Final, but lost the West Final to the BC Lions in overtime.-CFL Draft:-Preseason:-Season schedule:...
24
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" | Last Meeting || September 11, 2011
|-
| Last Result || SSK
2011 Saskatchewan Roughriders season
The 2011 Saskatchewan Roughriders season is the 54th season for the team in the Canadian Football League. The Roughriders finished 4th place in the West division with a 5–13 record and were eliminated from the playoffs after a loss to the BC Lions on October 16, 2011...
45, WPG
2011 Winnipeg Blue Bombers season
The 2011 Winnipeg Blue Bombers season will be the 54th season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 79th overall. The Blue Bombers finished in 1st place in the East division with a 10–8 record. The team clinched their first playoff berth since 2008 on October 7th, 2011 after a...
23
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" | Next Meeting || @Blue Bombers
2011 Winnipeg Blue Bombers season
The 2011 Winnipeg Blue Bombers season will be the 54th season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 79th overall. The Blue Bombers finished in 1st place in the East division with a 10–8 record. The team clinched their first playoff berth since 2008 on October 7th, 2011 after a...
September, 2012 Date TBA when 2012 CFL schedule is released
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" | Largest Victory || SSK 55, WPG 10 (2009
2009 CFL season
The 2009 CFL season was the 56th season of modern professional Canadian football. Officially, it was the 52nd season of the Canadian Football League. The Montreal Alouettes won the 97th Grey Cup on November 29 with a last second 28–27 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders...
)
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" | Smallest Victory || SSK 19, WPG 17 (2005
2005 CFL season
The 2005 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 52nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 48th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2005:...
)
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" | Largest Point Total || SSK 55 (2009
2009 CFL season
The 2009 CFL season was the 56th season of modern professional Canadian football. Officially, it was the 52nd season of the Canadian Football League. The Montreal Alouettes won the 97th Grey Cup on November 29 with a last second 28–27 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders...
)
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" | Smallest Point Total || SSK 2 (2010
2010 CFL season
The 2010 CFL season is the 57th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it is the 53rd season of the league. Edmonton is scheduled to host the 98th Grey Cup on November 28...
)
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" | Current streak || SSK W1 (2011—present)
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" | All-time series || TIE 4-4
|-<| colspan="2"|
|}
The Banjo Bowl is the annual rematch game between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
and Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
(CFL) after the Labour Day Classic
Labour Day Classic
The Labour Day Classic is a particular week of the Canadian Football League schedule that is played over the Labour Day weekend. This particular weekend, typically the tenth or eleventh week in the season, is known for its matchups that do not change from year to year, unlike other weeks of the...
.
While the traditional Labour Day Classic game is always played on the Sunday before Labour Day
Labour Day
Labour Day or Labor Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for...
at Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field
Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field
Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field is a sports stadium located in Regina, Saskatchewan which is used primarily to play Canadian football. It has been the home of the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders in rudimentary form since 1910 and as a complete stadium since 1936...
in Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
, there is usually a rematch on the following weekend between these two rival prairie
Canadian Prairies
The Canadian Prairies is a region of Canada, specifically in western Canada, which may correspond to several different definitions, natural or political. Notably, the Prairie provinces or simply the Prairies comprise the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, as they are largely covered...
teams at Canad Inns Stadium
Canad Inns Stadium
Canad Inns Stadium is a Canadian football stadium located north of Polo Park Shopping Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Stadium, named for hotel chain Canad Inns, and originally completed in 1953, seats 29,533 for football...
in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The "Banjo Bowl" moniker was coined by Blue Bombers board member David Asper
David Asper
David Asper is a Canadian businessman and lawyer. He is the former Executive Vice President of the Canadian media company CanWest Global Communications Corp. He is also a Professor at the Robson Hall Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba.Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Asper is the eldest son...
in early 2004, inspired by an infamous comment made by Bombers placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
Troy Westwood
Troy Westwood
Troy Westwood is a Canadian Football League place kicker and punter who played 17 years for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers....
in the week prior to a 2003
2003 CFL season
The 2003 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 50th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 46th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2003:...
Western Division Semi-final game between the two teams. Westwood was quoted in the media as saying that people from Regina were "a bunch of banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
-pickin' inbreds." He later apologized half-heartedly for those comments, saying that "the vast majority of the people in Saskatchewan have no idea how to play the banjo." This further fueled the Winnipeg–Saskatchewan football rivalry and has made the rematch game even more of an event. The game is sponsored by the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation
Manitoba Lotteries Corporation
The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation is a Crown Corporation that operates and manages two casino properties: McPhillips Station Casino and Club Regent Casino in Winnipeg, Manitoba...
. The game has been sold out every year since 2005. As of the 2011 season, the series is tied 4-4.
As on Labour Day weekend when many Winnipeg fans visit Regina to support the Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
, many Saskatchewan fans visit Winnipeg the following weekend to support the 'Riders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
. Many come, tongue-in-cheek, with banjos.
Results
- September 12, 2004: Winnipeg 27 – Saskatchewan 24
- September 10, 2005: Winnipeg 17 – Saskatchewan 19
- September 10, 2006: Winnipeg 27 – Saskatchewan 23
- September 9, 2007: Winnipeg 34 – Saskatchewan 15
- September 7, 2008: Winnipeg 31 - Saskatchewan 34
- September 13, 2009 Winnipeg 10 - Saskatchewan 55
- September 12, 2010 Winnipeg 31 - Saskatchewan 2
- September 11, 2011 Winnipeg 23 - Saskatchewan 45