SASKATOON — The Saskatoon component of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ 2024 training camp was punctuated by praise from the President.
Peter Stoicheff, President of the University of Saskatchewan, addressed the team after Friday morning’s walk-through at Griffiths Stadium.
Early in the afternoon, the Roughriders departed for Edmonton, where they are to oppose the Elks in CFL pre-season action on Saturday.
After flying back to Saskatoon, the Green and White will return to Regina on Sunday and resume Coors Light Training Camp on Monday morning at Mosaic Stadium.
“I’m very, very proud of this (alliance),” Stoicheff said in an interview that preceded his talk with the team.
“I don’t think there are many universities in the country that can count on the fact that they’ve got a strong relationship with their local CFL team.
“We’re the university of the province — the University of Saskatchewan — and the Riders are the Saskatchewan Roughriders.”
Roughriders training camp has been held in Saskatoon 29 times, dating back to 1972.
Camp returned to the city 10 years later to begin a run of 11 consecutive springs at the U of S.
Since 1995, camp has been based in Saskatoon 17 times (1995, 1997-2002, 2013-2019, 2022-24).
“They treat us first-class,” Roughriders President-CEO Craig Reynolds said. “We’re lucky to be able to be here and have these types of facilities, with the dorms so close by. The food is first-class and everyone is so welcoming.
“The Huskies football team open up their clubhouse, their meeting rooms and their workout facilities for us.
“They’re fabulous hosts. I’m not just saying that because I’m a U of S grad.”
Dating back to 1934, there is documentation of 97 Huskies football players who have gone on to play for, try out for or be drafted by the Roughriders.
Thirty-three Huskies alumni have played at least one game for the Green and White. The cumulative games-played total: 1,256.
Ten Huskies products have been part of a Roughriders Grey Cup championship team.
1989: Rob Bresciani, John Hoffman, Kelly Trithart.
2007: Nathan Hoffart, Gene Makowsky.
2013: Graeme Bell, Ben Heenan, Scott McHenry, Levi Steinhauer, Paul Woldu.
Makowsky and fellow U of S graduate Dan Farthing are in the SaskTel Plaza of Honour.
Farthing, a Roughriders receiver from 1991 to 2001, is now the team’s Head of Strength and Conditioning.
The Roughriders’ current roster includes five players with U of S ties — defensive backs Nelson Lokombo and Katley Joseph, defensive end Nicholas Dheilly, linebacker Nick Wiebe and offensive lineman Noah Zerr.
“The Riders have a great history,” Stoicheff said. “They have a great future. They’re destined to be a great team.
“I say the same thing about the university. It has a great history and it has a great future.
“It’s one of the great universities in Canada. These guys are trying to be the top team in the country as well, so we share a lot.”
THE BELL SYSTEM
Roughriders Head Coach Corey Mace lauded Joshua Bell — the Pass Game Co-ordinator and Defensive Backs Coach — after Friday’s session at Griffiths Stadium.
Bell has played a key role in ensuring that the defensive backs can play any position in the secondary or even line up at the cover linebacker spot.
“It’s one of those reasons why I love Coach Bell,” Mace said. “From the defensive backs’ standpoint, he says, ‘Hey, here’s your position, but know all of them because we will move you everywhere.’
“We’ve been doing that at camp and we’ll probably end up doing it in the game. We’ll mix up the lineups and some of the guys may be playing in different places than they played in the first game, but we prepped them for that. It’s not like we just throw them out there.”
Bell and Defensive Assistant Jordan Linnen have been involved in the preparations since Day 1 of camp.
“If we do get in a jam for any reason, whether it’s (on Saturday) or throughout the season, we feel comfortable that the guys understand and can digest the playbook and still execute the game plan without having to hamper it,” Mace said.
“Shout-out to Coach Bell and Coach Linnen for keeping those guys prepared.”
MACE’S MESSAGE
Mace implored the players to make a compelling case for themselves in the pre-season finale.
“It was, ‘Make us stand on the table for you,’ ” he said after Friday’s walk-through.
“We believe in the guys who are here. They’re here for a reason, but the reality of the business is we can’t keep everybody, so make it hard on us. Everything that we’re trying to be, be that.”
Ideally, that will complicate the deliberations that lead up to the final cutdown date of June 1.
“There’s going to be some tough decisions,” Mace said, “but that’s a good thing from a coaching standpoint.”
