ROBSERVATIONS: Running back to Saskatoon … Riders’ unsung heroes … snappy comebacks … and the usual shout-outs

From the Amateur Meteorology Department: There is, unreliable sources whisper, a 94-per-cent chance of weather.

Also consider the accompanying likelihood of the snow (ugh) disappearing before May, in time for the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ training camp.

This will be my fourth camp as an employee of the community-owned CFL team — but the first that includes a Saskatoon-based pre-season game.

The Roughriders are to play host to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on May 23 at Griffiths Stadium, located on the University of Saskatchewan campus.

“The fans (in that area) deserve a short little drive to watch their team,” Roughriders running back A.J. Ouellette said. “The atmosphere is going to be fun, with a college stadium.

“Obviously, we love having our locker room and hot tub and cold tub and all that (at Mosaic Stadium), but it’s football. If you play in a parking lot, we’re going to give you our best.”

Never before has Griffiths Stadium been the site of a CFL pre-season game. When the Roughriders and Blue Bombers met in Saskatoon in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991, Gordie Howe Bowl was the venue.

“I think the people of Saskatoon are going to do a great job of packing that place out,” Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris said.

“I’m sure there will be rumours about, ‘Does Saskatoon need a (CFL) team?’ There’s always going to be stuff like that, but I think Saskatoon is a tremendous city — a city that we’re proud to represent as the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

“It’s going to be a great thing for us. I couldn’t be more excited for the people of Saskatoon that we finally get to take a game to their city and be able to put on a performance in front of them for a day.

“Although it will be pre-season, it will be exciting to be in front of the people there.”

When the Roughriders and Blue Bombers last collided in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan won 17-16 on June 13, 1991.

The Roughriders scored the go-ahead touchdown at 13:13 of the fourth quarter, when Willis Jacox caught a 29-yard scoring strike from former University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Tony Rice.

Rice also led Saskatchewan in rushing, with 42 yards on six carries.

In all likelihood — we are seriously into probabilities in this edition of Robservations — the Roughriders will again deploy a one-time Notre Dame pivot when the Blue Bombers return to Saskatoon for the May 23 engagement.

Saskatchewan’s stable of quarterbacks includes Jack Coan, who was the Fighting Irish’s starter in 2021.

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UNSUNG HEROES

Recently in this cherished space, I mentioned often-unsung members of the Roughriders’ Football Operations department — which received the inaugural Ted Goveia Football Operations Award on March 25.

That got me thinking, for better or worse: Who are the most under-rated players in Roughriders history? Some nominees …

DaMarcus Fields: It is easy to be overshadowed when you are a member of a starting secondary that also includes Tevaughn Campbell, Marcus Sayles, Rolan Milligan Jr. and C.J. Reavis — as was the case during the 2025 Grey Cup Game. It should be remembered, though, that Fields has started all 41 of the Roughriders’ regular-season and playoff games since joining the team in 2024. His first of two interceptions last season was a pivotal play in a 21-13 victory over the host Blue Bombers in the 2025 Labour Day Rematch. On top of that, Fields found time to make 11 special teams tackles in 2025.

Craig Ellis: A Roughrider for only two years, he made eye-popping contributions during that short time. An exceptional all-purpose running back, Ellis scored 29 touchdowns in 32 games with the Green and White. With 17 majors in 1985, he tied Hugh Campbell (1966) for the second-best total in franchise history. Ken Carpenter set the enduring record of 18 TDs in 1955. Also applaudable from 1985: Ellis caught 102 passes, tying a Roughriders single-season mark (since eclipsed) Joey Walters established in 1982. Ellis subsequently scored 17 touchdowns (on receptions!) and exceeded 100 catches as a slotback with Edmonton in 1990.

Dale West: Edmonton was the foe when West demonstrated his versatility on Sept. 21, 1963. With 1:35 remaining in the fourth quarter at Taylor Field, West caught an eight-yard TD pass from Ron Lancaster to complete a 109-yard TD drive. Reg Whitehouse (another unsung hero) provided the convert, giving Saskatchewan an 8-7 lead that held up for the remainder of the proceedings. Edmonton’s last hope was extinguished when quarterback Lynn Amadee was intercepted by (who else?) West. Such was his nature in 1963, when he intercepted 10 passes along with being an explosive performer on offence. Lining up as a receiver, West caught five passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns. Average per catch: 34.8 yards. Subtract the aforementioned eight-yard TD and West averaged 41.5 yards on his other four receptions. West is in the Plaza of Honour and Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, so recognition has not eluded him, but his 1963 season is without parallel.

Angie Mitchell: Mortlach-born Angus Alexander Mitchell is the only Roughrider to start at quarterback in three consecutive Grey Cup Games (1929, 1930, 1931). Versatility being a theme today, along with probabilities, it should also be noted that Mitchell caught the first home-field TD pass in Roughriders history — a 30-yarder from Fred Goodman against the Saskatoon Quakers on Oct. 24, 1931. (Saskatoon content is everywhere!)

Taj Smith: Smith led the 2013 Grey Cup championship team in receptions (78) and was one of three Roughriders to exceed 1,000 receiving yards that year, joining Weston Dressler and Chris Getzlaf. In the 101^st Grey Cup Game, Smith made a massive block on a pivotal play. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who trailed 31-6 at halftime, narrowed the gap to 31-16 before Saskatchewan responded with an eight-play, 82-yard, fourth-quarter TD drive. On second-and-19 from the Roughriders’ 19-yard line, Kory Sheets took off on a 21-yard run. He would have been short of first-down yardage without a key block from Smith, who felled Tiger-Cats defensive back Delvin Breaux. Any realistic hope of a Hamilton comeback was effectively extinguished when Sheets ran for 21.

SNAP CHAT

Earlier this week, a media member asked Ouellette about the benefits of playing on an offence that includes Harris.

“Luckily, he has me next to him on pass plays to tell him where to throw it,” Ouellette replied with a laugh.

In all seriousness …

“He is, I think, the smartest CFL player to put a uniform on,” Ouellette said. “It makes my job 10 times easier.

“I don’t know what his snap-to-release time was, but I’m sure it was at the top, because he knows exactly what route’s winning against any coverage out there.”

ROLL CREDITS …

• Nice people who deserve a plug: Isla Jo Ouellette, Vic Rauter, Dr. Tom Robinson, Rhett Dawson, Steve Taylor, Ashley Prest, Wendy Medwid, Donna Kabaluk, Dale Derkatch, Laura Steadman, Doug Mutschler, Grant Langford, DaMarcus Fields, Craig Ellis, Dale West, Taj Smith, Jack Coan, Tony Rice, Tim Roth, Eva Fletcher, Marco Ricci, Nick Wiebe, Chris Hodges, Herb Zurkowsky, Teagan Witko, Dave Thomas and Scott Harvey.