Pedersen: Riders’ Hopson hoping to go out on top

While the Rider Nation anxiously awaits Sunday’s 2014 CFL Western Semi-Final between its beloved Roughriders and the Edmonton Eskimos at Commonwealth Stadium, there’s one person who’s particularly on pins and needles.

Saskatchewan Roughriders President and CEO Jim Hopson announced last spring that the 2014 season would be his last, and now it’s all come down to this: do or die.

Will Sunday’s “no tomorrow” game be his last?

“I sure hope not!” Hopson smiled on Friday. “I don’t want to end it yet under any circumstances, but especially to Edmonton! We’ve had so much history over the years, although the recent history is pretty good. But you go back to my time, we ran into some pretty good teams up here.”

Hopson’s first tenure with the Roughriders was as an offensive lineman between 1973 and 1976, and that’s around the time when the teeth of this historic rivalry were cut. For anyone aged 40-and-under, they don’t realize what this rivalry means. However for anyone 40-plus, they know exactly what it’s all about and it still stirs up emotions.

“That’s very true, and I was thinking about that this week,” Hopson reflected. “Calgary and BC have been our archrivals in my time as President, particularly Calgary for whatever reason. But I still get very cranked about Edmonton because I go back to the 70’s and they stopped us in ’73, ’74 and ’75 and of course had the great teams all through the 80’s.”

“Maybe I’m living in the past, but they’re good a franchise and they’re getting back to where they want to be.”

Hopson returned to the Roughriders in a full-time role on Feb. 2, 2005, and under his watch the franchise has appeared in four Grey Cups, winning two (2007 and 2013). Now, with the sun setting on his remarkable reign, the club limps into the playoffs without its franchise quarterback and with its fortunes in the hands of recent call-up Kerry Joseph.

“It’s interesting,” Hopson explained. “I was very hopeful Darian Durant would be 100 per cent by now. He’s close, but Corey Chamblin made the right decision to go with the guy in this game who’s ready and able. I think Kerry’s gotta be very keyed up about this opportunity, but as an old veteran he knows he can’t get too excited. He knows he can’t win it by himself.”

“And if we need him, Darian’s there. Edmonton has to prepare wondering what happens if we put Darian in, and what he can do running the ball.”

So the Riders set sail into the playoffs with perhaps the element of surprise on their side, and hoping to become the first Saskatchewan team to repeat as Grey Cup Champions. For Hopson, that’s clearly the goal; as a team and individually.

“Would it beat last year (When the Riders beat Hamilton 45-23 in the Grey Cup game in Regina)?,” Hopson questioned. “For the Rider Nation probably not because last year was so special. But for me, to be able to go out on top would mean a lot. On the other hand, I’m pragmatic enough to know that it’s a funny game. The ball can bounce some funny ways. But without a doubt we’re capable of winning this game. We still have to go out there and do it.”

The Riders did just that in their Week 20 game, beating Edmonton 24-17 in Hopson’s last home game as President last Saturday. Has he allowed himself to get nostalgic as his tenure comes to an end?

“I haven’t too much,” Hopson admitted. “I got a little bit last week because of some of the things that were done. Our equipment manager Gordy Gilroy had a 52 HOPSON jersey waiting for me in a stall in the locker room before the game and that got to me. And winning that game was big too. I always wanted to go through the West and although some won’t agree, I think our chances are better.”

And now, as the clock ticks down closer to kickoff (3:30 pm Sask time on Sunday), Hopson can be forgiven if his nerves are getting a little frayed.

“The fact that this could be my last game – I don’t think it is, but it could be – it weighs on you a bit,” Hopson concluded. “We’ll see where it goes.”

Indeed we will.