The Elephant In The Room

There's a subject posted around social media, fan forums and Facebook groups.  Rider Nation is easy to get emotional and irrational on the subject and there are a very wide difference in opinions and views.  It's okay, that's how we are and that's what makes us one of the most passionate fan bases in the CFL.  The comments range on a scale of "Jones got rid of our favourite players" to "Jones is a genius."  This one subject though gets debated in circles every week and Week 13 in the CFL was no different.

What do you think of Darian Durant now.

Before you click away you need to know a few things about me. I LOVED Darian Durant.  I got in family arguments defending him.  I got in social media arguments defending him. I met the man several times at training camp and other engagements. I did this for his entire career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Stu Gooden had me gaze lovingly at Doubles picture in last years CTV story.  I was All In.  But let me also tell you this - It was Exhausting.

There is an idea out there that when Rider fans or CFL fans place criticism on a player that they don't respect that player.  That is simply not true.  Darian Durant was a true warrior and leader for the Roughriders through several seasons and no one else but him carried the team on his back like he did in 2013. I appreciate everything he did and bringing us that Grey Cup in our home stadium was momentous.  The fact is - Darian Durant is no longer a Saskatchewan Roughrider.  He made the decision to not be a part of this team and we can debate the how's and why's until the cows come home but it doesn't change that fact that in the end DD did not choose us.  He chose money, his own ego and other emotions over loyalty to being a Roughrider.  That's my bottom line. If anyone else did that, that player would be ridiculed and haunted by Rider Nation the rest of his career.  Instead, members of Rider Nation still have him on that pedestal and will choose to cheer for him over our entire team. I don't get it.

My comment moments after Durant was traded January 13th.

Watching Darian Durant as a Montreal Alouette is odd. First of all given what transpired in the 2009 Grey Cup one has to wonder how exactly one arrives at the desire to make that transition. I never wished ill on Durant but my opinion of him has certainly changed.  In Week 1, I saw the man who I had idolized taunt and jeer my Head Coach, the man who apparently didn't like Darian Durant because he 'wasn't his guy.'  Could it be that it was Durant himself who didn't like Jones?  Could it be that Jones didn't coddle Durant like he was used to and expected him to be able to do his job?  Could it be that Jones wanted to build a team so that our QB no matter who that was had support and protection around him instead of having an aging, injury prone, highly paid player weighing the team down and holding them back?  In that instance when Durant shouted "How do you like me now" in French I lost all respect for the person and player who I thought he was and it made me question if he ever was the person I had built him up to be in my own mind. 

Meanwhile, Kevin Glenn is on his third stint as a Roughrider. When Glenn was a Rider in 2015 I had thought prior to Durant's injury that we'd end up with a QB controversy on our hands.  That didn't happen and KG ended up being traded away.  This season KG stepped in as starting quarterback. He didn't try to carry the team.  Instead I see him as part of the team.  Kevin Glenn is always with team members, providing support, friendship, brotherhood and leading the celebration conga line.  He's been having a terrific year and even while sidelined he is being the example and mentoring Brandon Bridge, Vernon Adams Jr and Marquise Williams.  All of these quarterbacks for what Montreal is paying Darian Durant.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have evolved.  I've often asked that Riders fans get on board and learn players names because they are future legends.  How about that receiving corps? How about that secondary? How about that offensive line? How about that defense?  There are so many names to know!  It's looking more and more like the Chris Jones regime not only knows what they're doing in rebuilding/building our beloved team but always had a plan.  The team is 6-5. The team is above .500 for the first time since 2015.

The Montreal Alouettes are in disarray.  Kavis Reed is the General Manager for a reason that is not known to me since he has no experience in that area at all.  Last week the head coach Jacques Chapdelaine and defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe were fired. Kavis named himself HC.  Anthony Calvillo was added to the CFL Hall of Fame Friday but was named offensive coordinator in the Alouettes shuffle.  The play calls are baffling.  They have good players who they don't seem to implement like RB Sutton or WR Jackson.  Even Nik Lewis seems to be absent since breaking the all time reception record.  Then Darian Durant got pulled in last weekends game for back up Drew Willy.  The Montreal Alouettes are 3-9.

This week everyone is wondering what's wrong with Darian Durant.  They've brought in Ken Miller to help out and I sincerely hope he can.  It feels to me that the Alouettes have tried to recreate a previous Roughrider team and if we can learn from history you simply cannot hold on to the past.  Players change and age and become injured.  You can't go back again.  Fans and media are questioning if this is the end for Durant.  I searched his name on social media and waded through the vitriol of "retire" comments.  There's no way I'm going to shoot a man while he's down but I can't help but put the question out there...

"Darian...how do you like US now?"

Unfortunately, I cannot be at the October 27th rematch between the Roughriders and Alouettes at incredible Mosaic Stadium but I will be at this Sunday's game where we host the Calgary Stampeders.  Bo Levi Mitchell is already trying to stir things up and I wish he'd just keep his mouth closed.  Those things have a way of biting you in the butt.  This will be a huge test for our Riders who sustained 9 injuries in the win against the Hamilton TigerCats.  Can we emerge victorious? I guess that's why we play the games.

I'll be there Sunday in my section 126 seat with cowbell in hand.  I am first and foremost a fan of the team who's name is across the front of my jersey not the back. A Saskatchewan Roughriders fan I remain.

Go Riders!

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?