Origin Story

This week - week nine in the CFL, was the Roughriders second bye week of the 2017 season. It got me to thinking about how I became a fan and how that has shaped how I cheer for the team and show my Rider Pride.  We all have stories.  This is mine.

My first Roughrider memory was from the early 1980's when a player came to my elementary school in Prince Albert,

Saskatchewan. I have no idea what he spoke about or if other players were with him and until a few years ago I had his trading card.  He wasn't a big name Roughrider (Lawrie Skolrood) but was a Rider for several years. Interesting enough, none of my classmates remember this happening and all recall the yo-yo guy instead.  I wonder what it was that left an impression on me and no one else.  In 1980 the Roughriders went 2-15 and yet these Roughrider players were out interacting with the communities in the province like my class at Arthur Pechey Elementry School.



My Dad (2nd from right) with his 3 brothers @ Taylor Field

Being a Roughrider fan back then wasn't popular. There weren't Roughrider stores and of course no internet so next to zero fan interaction except for "guy on the street" contact.  Tickets were easy to get and didn't cost a lot.  As a teenager, the last thing I'd ever do was profess my love for the Roughriders.  I remember my Dad being excited in 1989 and saying how he thought the Riders were good that year.  So when I was in Regina in about 1991 I bought him a Roughrider tee shirt from the hotel gift shop. Even then and only a couple years removed from being Grey Cup champions, the cashier thought I was crazy.  Why on earth would I want to spend $20 on that?

Then I was busy getting married and starting a career and football wasn't even on the radar.  Hubby and I moved to Saskatoon and while our lives evolved changes were happening in Riderville too. The Shivers/Barrett era was over and in came Jim Hopson, Eric Tillman and Kent Austin. Everything changed.  Everything.  Suddenly it was cool to be a Saskatchewan Roughriders football fan.  The team was winning and everyone far and wide was clamouring for Rider gear.  One time on game day we were at the Co-Op and another fan stopped us in the isle to ask where we got our cool Rider shirts.  People started to take game day very seriously and would dress up even if staying home, fly flags from their cars and merchandise flew off the racks.  We ate Fantuz Flakes, Dario's and All Dressler Chips.  Rider Nation went nuts.

My favourite chips

The life we lived then was different from now. It wasn't even a thought that we'd attend a game never mind purchase season tickets. Hubby had been to Rider games having grown up farther south, but me...I had never been to Taylor Field for a football game until 2014 when the Ottawa Redblacks came for their preseason game.  We sat in the first row of section 25 and Hubby told everyone it was my first time...which was so embarrassing!  I mean here I was a HUGE fan and had never been to a game there before. (I had been there in 2013 for the Paul McCartney concert) What I've realized since is that it doesn't matter how big your fandom is - it's always someone's first.  That game the Roughriders were the visitors while the Redblacks were the home team. Bizarre right?  When the Redblacks came on the field Hubby shouted "Welcome to the league boys!" and the experience grew greater from there.

Now why wasn't I at the 2013 Grey Cup? I still don't know what I was thinking. I tried to make up for by being at several important Farewell Season games last year.  I saw the 1966 team, the 1989 kick re-inacted, and I saw Darian Durant send off the ol' lady in a storm of fireworks.  It still bothers me that I wasn't at the biggest game in the Roughriders organization history.

This year, the Inaugural Season of Mosaic Stadium, we do have season tickets.  On August 13th we had pregame on field passes.  For one hour prior to kick off we got to stand in the end zone of this magnificent new stadium and talk to other fans, players who came out to shake hands and create more memories.  Duron Carter chatted with players and signed the football of a young fan.  He went along the railing and greeted all the kids.  Rob Bagg came over as did Cameron Marshall and Willie Jefferson. It was awesome.  It was military appreciation day and I watched as players thanked all the personal who came out onto the field.

My photos from pre-game August 13th

Waiting in line at the Gate 2 entrance I met a woman from Weyburn who told me she was so glad she had family to stay with so she could attend games.  We stood in the shade and talked about how great the facilities are.  I met a man who travelled from Ottawa just to see his team, our Saskatchewan Roughriders play in person.  I asked him if he attends Redblacks games and he said, "No, I'm a Roughriders fan."  We met another couple who lectured my Hubby on Rider Pride when he said the Lions were going to beat us by 15 points. * smile * If you know who you are...I'm pretty sure my husband owes you twenty bucks!

Hubby & I @ Taylor Field 2016

Seeing Taylor Field being slowly dismantled makes me wish I had more memories there but right next door I'm creating amazing new ones.  Lawrie Skolrood's playing days may be in the rear view mirror but I am so thankful I have that connection because it's shaped who @smilingsandra is today.  Rider Nation is a terrific (crazy) fan base and I'd not want to be a part of any other no matter how much you make me shake my head and roll my eyes.  How and when we became fans changes our perspective on every issue.  Were you a fan in the aching 80's? 70's? 00's? It's been awfully easy being a fan over the last 10 years and I think sometimes we need to reflect to appreciate just how far the Saskatchewan Roughriders have come.

What's your Origin Story?

Rout the Riders

In Week 6 the Saskatchewan Roughriders beat the Toronto Argonauts 38 - 27 at home under scorching skies.  It was a pretty quiet up week with the only complaint being a lack of water provided at Mosaic Stadium.  That's how happy Ridernation was because no one complained at all about game points or coaching or quarterbacking. In Week 7 though, it's a different story and Ridernation has an insatiable thirst to chase someone out of town and they don't even care who it is or why.


I am well aware that I, too, in fact am a member of Ridernation, but it is times like these where I hang my head in shame as other fan bases...especially the Bombers...point and laugh at us.  Do you know how you sound on the radio? Do you know what your words look like hanging out there on the Facebook pages, Fan forums & Twitter posts?  They're right because we are not the best fans in the CFL.  We are however, the brunt of the jokes of the CFL.


When will they figure out Glenn isn't good anymore.  Well let's see. During the game in BC against the Lions Roughriders starting Veteran Quarterback crossed the milestone of being the 6th All Time in CFL Passing Yards.  It took Roughrider legend Ron Lancaster 19 years to set the record and it took Kevin Glenn 17 to check that box off his career stats list.  It's rather fitting because just as it was known the Little General would inevitably throw a few interceptions so will Kevin Glenn. This doesn't mean he's not good at his job...it just means that he's human.  It means he had a bad day at work.  We all have those!  I've had days where all I can do is laugh because of the messes I've made for myself.  Do I get fired though? Nope. Not even when I single handily broke a piano!  All you can do is get home, regroup, plan and pick yourself up for the next work day.  I have no doubt that once the Riders offence has a chance to watch game film that they will learn and regroup as well.


The most popular guy in the province is the backup quarterback.  Seeing quarterback Brandon Bridge in the dying minutes of the game setting the Riders up to score two touchdowns has created a bit of an uproar.  He played against the Lions 2nd and 3rd stringers and probably executed a set of package plays designed just for him.  For some reason this now means that within Ridernation Bridge should be anointed the starter and march us on to victory.  I could see giving him and Marquise Williams a look if we were at the tail end of the season...which, thankfully we aren't, so at this point unless something were to happen to Kevin Glenn (knock on wood) we stick with the guy who has already won us 2 games.


How long until we shake up the coaching and administration. That statement along with "Jones wears too many hats" or "we need a defensive coordinator" is ludicrous.  Remember!  We just finished Week Seven!  When I look around the league these statements aren't being said by fans of other teams.  Jacques Chapdelaine is the Head Coach of the Montreal Alouettes and their record is 2-4.  Should Jacques be fired?  Rick Campbell is the Head Coach of the Ottawa Redblacks who are coming off a 2016 Grey Cup victory yet seem to find themselves with only 1 win so far in 2017.  Should he be fired?  Lastly, let's look at Kent Austin who has had more than plenty of time to prove himself as Hamilton Tiger-Cats Head Coach.  Fans of the Ticats would have the best case for this argument since they are winless in 2017.  But no, here are the Rider fans trying to march Chris Jones out of town. 


The reason Chris Jones will never be good enough for some fans (not me!) is because of how he came in and made drastic changes and didn't give a rats patootie what Ridernation thought of it.  For that I applaud him!  If it were up to Ridernation all the favourites would be here forever, no one would ever get traded and we'd bankrupt the organization to pay them whatever they wanted.  The fact is this 2017 team is already better and surging but with any growing also comes growing pains.  You win some and you lose some.  By August 4th 2016 the Riders only had 1 win and didn't go on to get another until the end of September and finally finished 5-13.  This same time period in 2017 and we already have 2 wins.  Could the team be better? Of course and they will be the first to admit it, but should anyone lose a job over it? No way.


Where would we be without social media.  It's so easy to post what you think you think.  Then someone "likes" it.  Then someone comments.  It's a conversation and sometimes more often than not, it's piling on.  I have to hold my tongue and restrain myself from commenting at the best of times for fear of 'starting something up.'  It shouldn't be that way.  We are all passionate fans.  Sometimes we are fans of the same team and sometimes we're just fans of teams in the same league.  Twice in the last week I've had the pleasure of being acquainted with new CFL fans through Twitter.  They live in the US and enjoy CFL football.  How amazing is that?!  Lot's of games have been carried on ESPN3.  While after an upsetting loss like Saturday is maddening, bringing new fans into the mix is exciting! 


Is Rider Pride alive and well? I don't know about you but it is in me.  This mornings message in church was about new beginnings.  Let's put this game behind us and start anew.  The BC Lions visit our glorious new home Sunday August 13th 6pm, new CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie will be on hand and I'm full of excitement because I've got pregame sideline passes.  Let's show those Leo's what Ridernation and Rider Pride is really about.  The Rider Store has fabulous new noise makers...you're going to need one.