Darrell Davis: Riders remain on four-game losing streak heading to Legends Night

Grief, celebrations, debates, victories and losses surround important CFL game

Published Oct 06, 2023 • 3 minute read

A flyover during the Labour Day Classic CFL football game at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Saskatchewan on Sept. 5, 2023. Photo by Michelle Berg

Where were we?

Oh yes, a four-game losing streak, a 6-9 record with three CFL games remaining, playoff aspirations in limbo and numerous discussions about the ineffectiveness of their coaching staff. So many things have been happening — bad and good — we nearly forgot about the uninspired play of the Saskatchewan Roughriders as they prepare for Saturday’s home game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

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It will be played on George Reed Day, according to a provincial government proclamation that honours the exemplary life of the former Riders fullback, who died Sunday at 83. A public memorial service was held Friday in REAL District.

Amid the sadness of our loss, it’s also been wonderful hearing stories of how Reed touched the lives of nearly everyone in the province through his Hall of Fame playing career and off-field work with Special Olympics, the George Reed Foundation, Club 34 and by graciously appearing at hundreds of charity events. As MC Chris Hodges noted Thursday at the Regina Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony when a photo appeared on-screen of Reed posed with people he just met: “I’d imagine there are tens of thousands of pictures just like this across Saskatchewan.”

Upstairs from the RSHOF event the Roughriders were hosting their annual Plaza of Honour dinner inside the Conexus Arts Centre, feting late executive member Wendy Kelly (the Plaza’s first woman enshrined as an individual) and the 2013 Grey Cup-winning team. They will also be honoured at halftime of Saturday’s game; it was already being called Legends Night before the Roughriders scheduled an additional tribute to Reed.

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Without trying to minimize or overstate anything, Saturday’s game at Mosaic Stadium is destined to become memorable, a historical moment comparable to the 2008 contest at Taylor Field that commemorated the passing of Reed’s friend and long-time teammate, Hall of Fame quarterback Ron Lancaster.

It’s also an important game for the 2023 Roughriders against an opponent headed in the opposite direction.

Saskatchewan started this season winning three of its first four games before going 3-8 since. Hamilton lost three of its first four games, won three of its last four and sports a 7-8 record.

The Tiger-Cats are chasing a home playoff game, vying to place second in the East. The Roughriders, tenuously holding the West’s third and final playoff berth, would like some breathing room before visiting the Calgary Stampeders on Oct. 13. Calgary sits fourth in the West at 4-11.

That’s just a reminder for anyone who forgot the Roughriders have looked unprepared, unfit and uninspired while losing 51-6 in Winnipeg, 36-27 to Edmonton, 36-28 in Ottawa and 33-26 in B.C.

Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker Derrick Moncrief (42) tackles BC Lions wide receiver Dominique Rhymes (19) as he completes a pass during second half of CFL football action in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. Photo by ETHAN CAIRNS /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Edmonton and Ottawa are the CFL’s worst teams. And the last two results are deceptive because it looks like the Roughriders were close, but in reality they were being blown out before recovering an onside kickoff and scoring two touchdowns in the closing minutes of each contest.

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As the Roughriders prepared for Saturday’s game with more lacklustre practices, an illness crept through the team’s locker room. That’s a reminder it’s flu season, so the anti-anti-vaxxers can schedule their shots.

Snow fell in the province Thursday.

The NHL starts its regular season Tuesday with the Chicago Blackhawks visiting the Pittsburgh Penguins. That game features Connor Bedard, Chicago’s first overall draft pick from the Regina Pats, against his idol, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby.

MLB playoffs continue without the Toronto Blue Jays — “Can you believe Jays manager John Schneider pulled starting pitcher Jose Berrios after throwing only 47 pitches and not allowing a run?” has become a common refrain.

There’s more tragedy in the sports world, too, with the deaths of former Pats coach Brad Tippett and legendary Chicago Bears linebacker Dick Butkus, one of the NFL’s all-time greatest players.

Though it all — grief, celebrations, debates, victories and losses — there’s still a game to be played. And a reminder that it’s only football.