Sideline switch a welcome change
REGINA — Saskatchewan Roughriders guard Brendon LaBatte relived some of the most traumatic moments of his CFL career Saturday.
Before signing with Saskatchewan in 2012, LaBatte spent four seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. During that time, he endured the slings and arrows that come with being on the visiting team’s bench on the east side of Mosaic Stadium.
On Saturday, the Roughriders were the visiting team for a CFL pre-season game with the expansion Ottawa Redblacks — whose stadium will not be game-ready until the regular season. As the visitors, the Roughriders were on the east side while the Redblacks manned the west-side (home) bench.
“It definitely was a flashback to my time in Winnipeg being over there,” LaBatte said with a grin after the Roughriders’ 21-17 victory. “Normally when (fans on the east side) would say ‘Hey, LaBatte,’ they’d have a little smart comment following it. Not today.
“It was good. They were really supportive — and it’s good to get over onto that side and let them cheer us on instead of just having to rip on the opposing team.”
Did anyone yell anything at LaBatte, just for old times’ sake?
“Nah — but I thought maybe somebody would,” the former Bomber replied. “I heard a few good ones when I was with Winnipeg over there, so I thought maybe somebody would repeat one of those. But they never did.”
Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant told the Leader-Post’s Rob Vanstone that it was “weird” to be on the east sideline instead of the west, but the veteran pivot agreed with LaBatte that it was good to interact with fans on the east side of the stadium for a change.
That said, Durant noticed a difference in the Roughriders’ supporters on that side.
“On the west side, they know to be quiet,” he said. “They know not to bother us. On the east side, they call our names a little bit.
“It was all in fun. They realize it’s pre-season. It was a serious time, but not too serious, and they understood that.”
In the days leading up to the game, Ottawa quarterback Henry Burris wasn’t too serious when discussing the location of the teams’ benches.
Burris — a favourite target of Mosaic Stadium hecklers since he left Saskatchewan as a free agent in 2005 — jokingly suggested in advertising campaigns that he should be cheered by the patrons Saturday because Ottawa was the home team.
The usual “Hennnryyy!” chants followed him to the west side, but, for the most part, Burris enjoyed the change of scenery.
“It was a lot easier, especially being away from that student section (on the east side),” he said with a smile. “It was good to get a great reception from the fans, being the new blood of the league.”
Defensive tackle Keith Shologan spent the first six seasons of his CFL career with the Roughriders before being selected by Ottawa in the expansion draft this offseason.
Because of his time with Saskatchewan, Shologan was right at home on the home team’s bench.
“I’m used to that side,” he said. “When we come back, it’ll be more of a jog to get over there (to the east side) so I’ll have to get my cardio up to get over there.”