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The Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes the word “rebuild” as the following: “: to build (something) again after it has been damaged or destroyed, : to make important improvements or changes in (something)”
The Saskatchewan Roughriders – two seasons removed from capturing the 2013 Grey Cup – are entering into a massive rebuild after a disastrous 2015 season which led to the firings of the head coach and general manager and left them out of the playoffs looking in with a month to go.
Friday’s 30-15 Roughrider loss at Hamilton signaled the end of the Riders’ playoff hopes and quietly began the painful process of ripping off the bandaids. On Wednesday’s CFL Trade Deadline, veteran quarterback Kevin Glenn and leading rusher Jerome Messam were shipped to Montreal and Calgary respectively which indicated the renovations are now officially underway.
But just don’t call it a “rebuild”. For some reason around here – and I believe everywhere else in professional sports these days – that term is viewed as a swear word. It seems franchises fear what the phrase “rebuild” indicates to its fanbase: likely giving up, and pain is in the immediate forecast.
| Trading places: Deadline day casts major shake-up |
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It was an extremely busy trade deadline as the Riders shipped out two of their star players.
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Jeremy O’Day is the interim General Manager of the Saskatchewan Roughriders right now and even he is hesitant to use the word.
“You can see the changes that are taking place right now,” O’Day surmised on 620 CKRM radio on Wednesday. “We’re in a position where we definitely need a new direction. There’s going to be change. Anytime you go through a season like this, there’s going to be change. At what point do you call it a rebuild? I think that would be disrespectful for me to say that everyone in that locker room needs to go.
“I still feel strongly about a lot of guys in that locker room. I feel we need to make some adjustments and find better ways to do things. I guess I’ll leave that up to you whether you want to call it a ‘rebuild’ or a ‘reload’. I’d call it a ‘refocus’ in how we’re doing everything.”
With three meaningless games remaining, the Roughriders truly will be auditioning players for the future beginning with the quarterback position because the only three healthy arms they have right now are rookies Brett Smith, Keith Price and Hutson Mason. Smith is the only one who’s taken a CFL snap.
O’Day feels this won’t come as a surprise to anyone on the Rider roster.
“It’s part of the process when you have a record like this,” O’Day continued. “Everyone understands that: the players, the coaches and the fans. But it’s an opportunity for us to try and build it the right way and have long-term success. That’s what the plan is and every decision that’s made is in the best interests of the team and keeping the organization in mind.”
Of course, for those of us who follow the team daily, it took only milliseconds after learning of the trades on Wednesday for our minds to scan to “O’Day’s putting his stamp on the team”.
That’s no small statement because O’Day remains the interim General Manager until season’s end and then will throw his name back into the hat and hope to be the successful candidate.
Wednesday’s moves were rather gutsy for someone in such a precarious position, but the Buffalo, NY product doesn’t see it that way.
“I have no problem trying to earn the position. I really don’t,” O’Day admitted. “I’m a competitor. I like to compete and be challenged. I’m not overly worried about that. But being the interim didn’t make any of this more difficult.
“At the end of the day I just want what’s best for the organization. I’ve been part of this Roughrider family for a long, long time and it means a lot to me. Did I think about my own personal situation when doing this? I didn’t at all. I did it because I thought it was the right thing to do.”
The Roughriders have one home game remaining, their next game, Saturday, October 24 against the Edmonton Eskimos.
You should get tickets. It will be the last time you’ll get to see some of your Roughrider heroes suit up for this team.
Nothing personal. Just business.
