Jamie Nye
CFL.ca
Two weeks ago this sad season of the Saskatchewan Roughriders got even more so.
It wasn’t because the amount of losses heavily outnumbered the wins, but more about the apparent apathy among a devoted and rabid fan base.
Although all the tickets were sold for the game against the B.C. Lions two weeks ago, they definitely were not all used.
Some fans even went as far to say that they had an entire row to themselves.
The empty seats didn’t go unnoticed by the players but the Roughriders acknowledge the onus is on them to get them full again in 2012.
“It’s tough (to see empty seats) but you can understand sometimes people get upset with us. I’m not going to blame them. We haven’t provided the results that they wanted and we should have given them,” says veteran linebacker Mike McCullough.
There is a fear that even more fans will stay away from Mosaic Stadium for this week’s final home game, despite a favourable forecast for an afternoon game at the end of October.
But the players want to ensure the fans get one last show before the seats sit silent until next June.
“I think the fans have deserved a show all year and just haven’t gotten many shows.”
“We owe them our best. We owe them a solid effort and going out there and giving our best,” added McCullough.
The talk of winning one for the fans was a common theme all week from the players since they returned from Calgary after their fifth-straight loss.
While quarterback Darian Durant won’t be playing this week, he was the first to acknowledge that the team will come out firing Saturday against Hamilton to get one last win at home before they say goodbye to the crowd at Regina until next year.
The Regina faithful may not believe a lineup sprinkled with inexperienced rookies fighting for a spot at next year’s training came can come out on top, but don’t tell that to those filling in for the likes of Durant, linebacker Barrin Simpson or receiver Andy Fantuz.
“I can just say that I’m going to try and come out here and energize this group,” says rookie middle linebacker Chris Graham.
“I’ve got a lot of bottled up energy built up in me. If I can pump up the offence by making a big play I will do it. If I’m on special teams and give them an opportunity to go out and be pumped about it, I’ll do anything possible. I’ll be a cheerleader and a player all at the same time.”
Back-up quarterback Cole Bergquist described Saturday’s contest as “my Grey Cup”. Bergquist said he’d sell out if gets the chance to come in the game to relieve starter Ryan Dinwiddie.
It’s that type of youthful exuberance these new faces are going to bring to the lineup; an intangible that’s been lacking from the Roughriders for most of the season.
There will be some cagey veterans like McCullough who may be able to feed off that rookie energy.
Although he says all who wear the Green and White on Saturday, rookie or veteran will want to leave Mosaic knowing they left everything they had on it.
“There are no playoffs but these are our livelihoods, these are our jobs, and all of us have pride. Pride in what we do and we want to win and go out on a winning note this year as well.”
