“Today is a very special day for me,” said Wruck, whose 646 career tackles were second only to Willie Pless, during his and Fleming’s iduction to the Wall of Honour at Monday’s game. “This means more to me than you’ll ever know.”
Fleming played 268 games, second-most in team history and was the Esks’ all-time leading scorer with 2,571 points.
“It makes it even more special that I’m inducted on the same day as Larry Wruck,” said Fleming. “He taught me how to be an Eskimo and what this organization expected.”
Good to see the continuing focus of homegrown talent on the Wall of Honour.
In fact, four of the last five former players on the Wall were Canadians.
Former centre Rod Connop got the trend rolling in 2005, followed up by tackle Chris Morris in 2007.
Defender Ron Estay busted up the Canadian domination with his induction in 2010.
Other Canadians on the Wall: Normie Kwong, Dave Fennell, Frank Morris, Dave Cutler and Don Getty.
Hey, didn’t that last guy used to be the premier?
CRANK IT UP
Keeping with the Wall theme, former Eskimos great Pless got the honours of running up the 13th-man flag before opening kickoff.
Looked like Pless was getting right into his role as Eskimos ambassador, an official capacity with the team.
Pless was added to the Wall of Honour back in 2004.
ARMED AND …
Any doubts about how Riders backup Ryan Dinwiddie would handle the call when regular starting quarterback Darian Durant was sidelined with a sore foot were quickly answered.
It was way back on July 24, 2008 that Dinwiddie got his last start … for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Dinwiddie zinged a 13-yard completion to Andy Fantusz in his first attempt.
It took less than nine minutes before Dinwiddie threw his first of three picks when Eskimos safety Donovan Alexander stepped in front of a ball right across the middle.
By the end of the first half, head coach Ken Miller had seen enough. Hobbled or not, Durant started the second half.
CAUGHT ON TWITTER
A girl two rows in front of us has entire turkey on a platter.
Mystery clears a bit early in the second quarter when gal with turkey on a plate shows up on the big screen.
Oh, yeah? Who’s got a can opener for the cranberries?
ANYTHING YOU CAN DO
The Eskimos pass protection seemed what the doctor ordered for the CFL’s most anemic sack attack in the early going.
Gang Green had 20 sacks in their first 13 games, but hit for the troika when Tearrius George, Kenny Rowe and Barrin Simpson all dropped Ricky Ray. That’s a league-leading 38 and counting given up by the Esks.
Edmonton responded with back-to-back sacks late in the second from Julius Williams and Damaso Munoz.
Could have been three in a row had the refs not flagged Jermaine Reed for unnecessary roughness after he ripped Dinwiddie’s helmet clean off.
Hey, this is football, not Shannie’s World.
HE SCOOOOORES
Like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the Saskatchewan Roughriders break a shutout with a single late in the game.
Chris Milo lofts a 50-yard punt into the end zone to give Saskatchewan their eighth point in their last three starts.
Esks 15, Saskatchewan 1 late in the third quarter.
What’s happening in the end zone hot tub?
LOOK OUT!
Esks receiver Fred Stamps is chased out of bounds after a seven-yard reception and has to do a quick dance step to avoid a collision with Durant.
con.griwkowsky@sunmedia.ca
