Oh, how quickly the mighty have fallen.
From three Grey Cup appearances in four years to the bottom of the league, tied with the hapless Argos.
What happened? Where did we go wrong? And do we really deserve it?
I mean, come on, there’s gotta be something mystical working against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Sure, we won the 2007 Grey Cup, but that was after a 17-year drought with only one Grey Cup appearance in between.
Shortly after winning our third Grey Cup in history, we lose arguably the best coach in Riders history. This is followed by a season with six broken fibulas and two broken quarterbacks. In 2009, well, I don’t have to tell that story. Let’s just say it started with a baby-sitter and ended with too many men. In each case, the story was a sad one.
In 2010, we lost not one, but two of the best defensive ends we’ve had in decades. In 2011, we lost the best Canadian receiver in the league.
What did we do to offend the Canadian football gods? What horrendous crime did Gainer the Gopher commit to bring this upon us? He must’ve done something mighty awful, because our losing ways began in the late 1970s, as soon as this fury rodent was introduced!
We’ve come to the point yet again where something needs to change. Now I’m not one of those fans who jumps off the bandwagon every time we enter into a losing streak. I don’t see the sky falling when we lose a couple games. But like most fans, I’m not gonna put up with another lost decade. We’re not going to settle for another bout of telethons and free-ticket promos. That’s over. We’ll take one year. And then change must happen.
Change must come from the top. Greg Marshall got thrown into the lion’s den. I’m not ready to place the blame on him, at least not yet. As stoic (or statuesque?) as Ken Miller looked on the sideline as head coach, he was not the reason for the Riders’ success. He was a player’s coach who had trouble making game-time decisions. Marshall appears to be, at the very least, no worse. The biggest difference is that Miller had the personnel to succeed.
Some coaches can make gold from straw (Kent Austin comes to mind), but most live and die by the talent of their players. This year the Argos and Lions arguably have two great coaches, Jim Barker and Wally Buono, the CFL’s all-time winningest coach. Yet their records are as awful as the Riders. Both teams lack personnel, including the elusive all-star quarterback, although Lulay could become one.
We do have an all-star quarterback, but as the Eskimo’s record will tell you last year, it takes more than that. It takes talent at all levels. It takes scouting. It’s the life-blood of the CFL. It’s about finding those cast-offs from colleges across the United States who are somehow not NFL worthy, but are willing to bear the cold and isolation of the Great White North and unheard of places like Regina, Saskatchewan.
Every year they come. They pack their bags and make the great migration up north, where they settle, maybe for one season, maybe for an entire career. If they’re lucky, they find good Canadian wives who feed them and keep them warm. Then they play. They play like they’ve never played before. They become idols in this NFL parallel universe. They have cereal and chips named after them. And they tell their family about it, and their families cannot believe that their sons have become so great in such a far off land.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but in the last couple of years these men are becoming rare in Riderville. There have been no new all-stars since 2009. Every other team can find some 6 foot plus wonder receiver, but we certainly have found Nunn (no pun intended). Every other team can find at least one all-star defensive end, but we’re apparently waiting for John Chick to return from his holidays (I mean, practice roster) in Indianapolis. Running backs are a dime a dozen, yet we refuse to find some real competition for Wes Cates.
What have we found? In 2010, we found a washed up receiver and returner who each lasted half the season. In turn, we released an Eric Tillman gem named Marcus Thigpen who now performs acrobatic feats for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Most astute fans have seen what a difference good scouting will do in the CFL. It can turn around a horrible team in one season (see Tillman and the Eskimos). If this cannot be done, then the fall from the top will be great and, I would hope, the repercussions in upper management will be swift and severe.
A cosmetic change of coaching will not do.
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