Rough ride for Riders since team’s 2013 Grey Cup victory
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have fallen a long way since winning the 2013 Grey Cup.
The Riders beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 45-23 to win the CFL franchise’s fourth Grey Cup on Nov. 24, 2013. The party was unlike any other at the stadium as fans stayed long into the night to savour the Riders’ first-ever championship at Mosaic Stadium.
The 2013 championship team is be recognized during Saturday’s game (2 p.m., TSN, CKRM) against the Montreal Alouettes at Mosaic Stadium.
That chilly November evening in 2013 is but a distant memory for Rider Nation. The Riders have fallen on hard times with a regular-season record of 18-33-0 and one playoff loss (in the 2014 West Division semifinal) since the Grey Cup victory.
Saskatchewan was riding high early in the 2014 season with seven wins in its first nine games and there was talk of a possible repeat. Then franchise quarterback Darian Durant suffered a torn tendon in his right elbow in a 30-24 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Riders improved to 8-2 with the road win, but stumbled through the remainder of the season without Durant at quarterback.
Receiver Rob Bagg feels the loss of Durant was an event from which the Riders have never recovered.
“I’ve had many discussions about what if Durant doesn’t get hurt in that Winnipeg game and what the next 24 months would have looked like had he been on the field with us,” Bagg said. “It’s up to us to make sure that we are better than that and if one man goes down, we don’t shut it down. That was a flaw which got us to this point. We were doing some really good things even in 2014 before he got injured.’’
This point is where the Riders have a 5-10-0 record heading into Saturday’s game against the Alouettes (4-11-0). The Riders, who have been eliminated from the playoff race for the second consecutive season, are on a four-game winning streak. That streak has the Riders feeling optimistic about the 2017 season.
“I see nothing but great things coming for the team, especially when we move into our new house,’’ said centre Dan Clark. “It’s definitely one of those things where we are starting to jell and everything is starting to come together.’’
Bagg, Durant and Clark are the lone remaining members of the 2013 team on the Riders’ active roster. Guards Chris Best and Brendon LaBatte, fullback Spencer Moore, safety Graig Newman and defensive end Levi Steinhauer shared in the 2013 championship, but are on the six-game injured list.
“It’s the business of football and things turn over fast,’’ Clark said.
Despite the roster turnover, the memories from the championship celebration are still fresh.
“All Grey Cups are a terrific feat and should be remembered and appreciated,’’ Bagg said. “When you do it at home, there is something different about it and the fans understand that.’’
Many players marked the championship with victory cigars. It was the last time Durant smoked a cigar and there is a reason for that.
“We will hoist that trophy again before I walk out of town,’’ Durant vowed. “You can mark that down and that will be my next cigar.’’