2010 marks the 100th year for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Growing up from the Regina Rowing Club, and the Regina Rugby Club to become the Regina Roughriders, the Riders have been involved in 14 Grey Cup championships. When other Saskatchewan teams folded in the Western Canadian Rugby Union in the 1940’s, the Regina Roughriders changed their name to the Saskatchewan Roughriders to encompass the entire province.
Years later, when the Western Canadian Rugby Union and the Canadian Rugby Union joined to become the Canadian Football League, there was some talk if the Ottawa Rough Riders and Saskatchewan Roughriders would change names. No such move was made, and the years that followed saw the Battle of the Riders in several Grey Cups.
The first would be in 1966.
Ottawa quarterback Russ Jackson would be the last big name Canadian at that position, retiring after the Eastern Riders defeated the Green Riders in 1969. Saskatchewan was lead by Ron Lancaster, who grew up in Pennsylvania, but became a Canadian citizen after playing in Regina. Lancaster was a massive supporter of the CFL, as the Little General finished his career in Regina, then began coaching for a couple of unsuccessful years before taking a seat in the broadcast booth. Lancaster returned to coaching, guiding the Edmonton Eskimos and the Hamilton Tiger-cats to Grey Cups.
After a disappointing loss to the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1976, the Green Riders would not make the playoffs until 1988, and would not make the Grey Cup again until 1989.
Hamilton receiver Tony Champion played that game with two cracked ribs. Before Dave Ridgeway kicked the game winning field goal, he and holder Glenn Suitor talked for a while. Suitor asked Ridgeway “Did you see the blond in the stands?”. Quarterback Kent Austin would play a few more years in Regina before finishing out his career in Toronto, before becoming a coach.
The Riders wouldn’t get to the Grey Cup again until 1997, losing to the Toronto Argonauts.
Ten years later, the Riders would return to the Grey Cup. Fate was on their side, as Kent Austin, who lead the Riders in 1989, was the head coach. The venue was the Rogers Centre in Toronto, where the Riders won in ’89. The opponents, prairie rivals the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Shortly after, Kent Austin retired to take a position with his old school, Ol’ Miss. Ken Miller would take over the reigns as head coach, guding the Riders to a 12-4 record in 2008, and a first place finish in 2009 and a trip to the Grey Cup.
In 2009, it was the first time in the 97 years of the Grey Cup that Saskatchewan faced Montreal.
After that game, offensive lineman Gene Makowsky made the decision to play another year. The 16 year vet said that if they won the Grey Cup, he would have retired. In 2010, the Riders are again with the famed Canadian Air Force of Andy Fantuz, Rob Bagg, Chris Getzlaf, and Jason Clermont. North Dakota native Weston Dressler (who’s parents drive the trip to Regina for each home game) adds to the aerial attack. Darian Durant comes back as quarterback, and joins Ryan Dinwiddy (ironically, who started for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 2007 Grey Cup). Other bits of irony, joining Ken Miller for coaching duties is Doug Berry, who was head coach of the Bombers in 2007. Hopes are high this year.
When you’re born in Saskatchewan, there’s a part of you that always remains. It’s almost like bleeding green. Canada may be a nation of hockey, but Saskatchewan is a province of football. The Ridernation stretches out far, as people across the country, and into the States, follow the ups and downs of this prairie team. A few years ago, a billboard in Toronto outside of the Rogers Centre proclaimed in big green letters on a black background “We Walk Among You”. In smaller white letters at the bottom were “Ridernation. Saskatchewan Roughriders”.
To say I’m excited for this season to start is an understatement. I’ve watched the Riders for over 30 years. I’ve lived through the drought. And I’ve been privileged to see them take the Grey Cup twice. Here’s hoping that the Riders can take a few more, and continue their tradition for another 100 years.
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