HAMILTON

The CFL is no closer to getting a 10th team in Halifax than it was a week ago.

According to reports out of Nova Scotia, Halifax city council on Wednesday voted against a proposal to purchase land that would then be used to build a 20,000-seat stadium.

The motion didn't miss by much, as council voted it down by only a 9-7 vote after much debate. Mayor Mike Savage, who had at least one exploratory meeting with former CFL commissioner Mark Cohon and wants a CFL team in his city, agreed the price tag was too much for the land.

In other words, Halifax isn't shooting down plans to ever build a stadium. It just won't happen on this particular piece of land.

WOE IS US

Trying to keep track of which teams are the underdogs in the CFL playoffs is a tough job, because it seems like every team gets no respect.

Calgary isn't getting respect even though they win too much. Hamilton is the underdog even though it is actually the favourite against Toronto.

Lions running back Andrew Harris went off earlier this week after TSN analyst Jock Climie said all the Stampeders had to do was show up and they'd advance to the West final. But it's true. If the Stampeders play like they can, which is usually winning football, then that's going to be the result. They're the better team. The Lions were 7-11 and should be thankful they're even in the playoffs.

It's a tired motivational tool that pops up every November, and it's so transparent. Enough already.

Next week you'll hear someone from the Eskimos and RedBlacks say no one thinks they can win. Book it.

HERE'S THE PLAN

Roughriders president and CEO Craig Reynolds met with the media in Regina earlier this week and laid out his itinerary for hiring a new general manager.

Reynolds told a news conference he plans to have a short list of three or four candidates, including interim GM Jeremy O'Day, and the goal is to have someone in place by mid-December. He has already begun the interviewing process, and some teams have even denied him permission to speak to potential candidates.

GM Brendan Taman and head coach Corey Chamblin were fired Aug. 31 after a road loss in Ottawa that dropped the team's record to 0-9.

MOM KNOWS BEST

In case you missed it Thursday, Eskimos head coach Chris Jones, who was named the West Division coach of the year, told a great story about how he got into the football coaching business.

“When I was 19 years old I was an engineering major at UT-Chattanooga and I had about a 1.75 GPA, and I was about ready to flunk out of school because I hated school and hated what I was doing,” Jones said. “I sat down with my mom, and I was about to take a banking job in my hometown for $24,000 a year, and she said, 'What do you like?' I said well, I like football. I really like football. I enjoy football. So she said, 'Well, go be a coach.'

“So from that point on I got into education and I started becoming a coach. I can't drive a nail, I can't paint, I can't work on cars. I can't do much of anything other than be involved in football. So I'm thankful that happened.”

Jones is up against Ottawa RedBlacks boss Rick Campbell for the CFL coach of the year award.

LATE HITS

The Eskimos returned to the practice field on Friday in an attempt to shake off any rust that might have built up. The Esks had the bye last week, and they have the bye this week thanks to their first place finish in the West Division ... The RedBlacks announced Friday the East final, which will be played next Sunday at TD Place, is sold out. Neither the Ticats nor the Stampeders have announced that this weekend's semifinals are standing room only ... Players who are on the rosters or injured lists of the six playoff teams will each receive $3,400 of post-season money this weekend.

kirk.penton@sunmedia.ca

twitter.com/PentonKirk