Frequently Asked Questions about cfldb
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- Why a Canadian Football League database? Why cfldb and not a Canadian football database, encompassing all Canadian football instead of just the professional league?#
There are plenty of sites providing commentary regarding the CFL and a few who are painstakingly archiving much of the history and data of football in Canada with little notice or recognition. In terms of historical stats, facts and information in a complete and organized fashion, with the ability to report and display information in forms beyond the raw results, there is a gap. This database will attempt to fill that gap and help preserve and present Canadian football history. If cfldb accomplishes anything, hopefully it will be lessons on the presentation and arranging of data on the web.
The CFL was selected as the subject of the site as it has the widest interest. While all Canadian football is worthy of support, limiting the site to the CFL (and its predecessors) controlled the scope and the work required.
In retrospect, the site should have been called cfdb, but we believe that covering the predecessors before the 1958 formation of the league called the CFL is appropriate, even for a site called cfldb.
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- Where is all the historical CFL information? Where can I find historical CFL statistics on cfldb?#
cfldb is working on bring what historical information it has on the CFL to the web. It is a slow process, however. Our first major step since launching is the adding of the CFL Rulebook in html format in June, 2009. In June, 2011 schedules, game results, expanded standings, coaching records, owners and more for the past 30+ years were launched with the addition of the stats.cfldb sub-site. March 2012 saw the release of 1970's data, followed by a major update in April 2012 that added data back to 1950, improved data accuracy and launched the razzledazzle.cfldb sister site. In September 2012 full game data back to 1907 for the IRFU, 1936 for the WIFU was added thanks to the CFL and additional corrections and restructuring completed. We will continue to seek out sources and methods to bring additional player and game statistics to the site and welcome private inquiries on information not found on the site.
The best source for general statistical information is the annually published CFL Facts, Figures and Records. The CFL has also released newly compiled team and individual record sections. For the most comprehensive and complete record of CFL games and player statistics from 1946 to present, you can't beat The Canadian Pro Football Encyclopedia: Every Player, Coach and Game, 1946-2011.
For online historical CFL player information and more, try the CFLapedia, which is updated frequently. CFLapedia is the online source for historical CFL player information right now, way beyond what cfldb ever expects to do.
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- Isn't cfldb just repeating data found elsewhere? Can't this information be found on Wikipedia, The Pro Football Archive or other sites or publications? Why not contribute to those or other projects rather than start your own? Doesn't the Canadian Pro Football Encyclopedia make your site obsolete?#
In the sense of the raw data, the information is duplicated. However, the information on Wikipedia nor other sites is complete, consistent or accurate. These sites make great reference sites, however cfldb does not believe their underlying design is ideal for the type of information access we envision.
The Canadian Pro Football Encyclopedia is an exemplary effort, a master record and its authors are to be congratulated and praised for their efforts. However, it is not as accessible (at your fingertips, searchable, etc.) as a website and needs to be republished (and re-purchased) annually (but you should still buy a copy). The data is limited to the raw results due to space limitations. The authors are also professional football researchers, while we at cfldb just do this as amateurs for fun.
Rather than contribute to other sites, cfldb seeks to do something different altogether. An independent, database driven site offers the following desired features:
- data portability, not tied to the markup, allowing it to be provided in raw text format (in our plans for the future)
- just the facts, separated from opinion and commentary
- a consistent approach to the display of data for all teams, years, etc. There is a single way of doing things, not multiple editors working on their home team's pages
- modular and expandable to new data and aggregation, searches and queries
- we are continuing to work on how the data is organized and displayed and will tweak these as we look for the best way to present the data
If successful, cfldb could become the master source that sites like Wikipedia require. Sooner or later we plan to gift the site to the CFL or the community for upkeep.
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- Where can I find galleries of old CFL uniforms and logos? Why doesn't cfldb have any images of player uniforms and team logos?#
Providing images of uniforms and logos has many complications. Instead, cfldb has decided to focus on other areas and let those already providing uniform and logo images focus on that area.
For CFL uniform colour schemes, see:
Images of old uniforms good and bad can be found on Jim Mullin's 16 Greatest CFL Uniforms of All Time and the Oddest CFL Uniforms.
For CFL logos, see:
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