Rod Pedersen
CFL.ca
More than just the coaching staff has changed for the Saskatchewan Roughriders as we forge ahead into the 2012 Canadian Football League season.
With the late February retirement of 17-year offensive lineman Gene Makowsky, a changing-of-the-guard has truly been signaled. Big Geno wasn’t the only one with a lump in his throat when he tearfully called it a career at that news conference at a snow-covered Mosaic Stadium.
For those of us who’ve followed the Riders closely over the Makowsky era, it was truly cause to reflect. I’m sure that includes you.
Over the past calendar year, many of the mainstays from Canada’s most notorious football franchise have ridden off into the sunset.
Jeremy O’Day, Chris Szarka, Andy Fantuz, Marcus Adams, Tad Kornegay, Luc Mullinder, Eddie Davis, Wes Cates, Sean Lucas and Luca Congi are all names we’ve associated closely, and loved, with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Some left on their own terms, while others were shown the door. Such is the nature of the business.
This is not to say the good times are over. Not by a long shot. However the 5-13 record of 2011 served notice that this franchise was in need of an overhaul.
The period from 2007-2010 when the Riders appeared in three Grey Cups (winning one) matches the late 1960’s as the greatest era in 100 years of Roughrider football. Here’s hoping you took the time to enjoy them. I know I certainly did.
And now it’s up to the next generation of Roughrider stars to carry the franchise back to glory. Although many of the fan favourites are gone, there are still plenty of household names left to rally behind. They include Darian Durant, Weston Dressler, Chris Getzlaf, Lance Frazier and Keith Shologan, to name a few.
Throw newcomer Brendon Labatte in there too, the prize of CFL free agency who came home to roost.
The most-asked question this off-season seems to be “So how will the Riders do in 2012?”
Is it okay to say I don’t know? Sometimes I wish weather forecasters would say this rather than predicting a completely false forecast. Truthfully at this time last year, I was predicting a first-place finish in the CFL West for Canada’s Team but we all know how that turned out.
The Riders endured one of the worst seasons in franchise history and a coaching change was made mid-season for the first time since 1991. Although Greg Marshall was singled out at the time, the franchise was forced to take a good, long look at how it approached things.
The hiring of Corey Chamblin as head coach just before Christmas meant the Riders went from the oldest coach (Ken Miller) to the youngest coach in the CFL. Either way you slice it, the Riders are going into a season with a new sideline boss who’s never coached a game just like they did in 2011.
Different results are expected.
The other popular question is “How do you think Chamblin will fare?”
Well that’s a tough call as well. One thing is for certain however, Chamblin brings a fresh new energy and will certainly relate well to his players. And, so far, the players seem on board with the new coach.
That’s a good place to start.
