ROBSERVATIONS: Welcome to Fabulous Riderville! … home away from home for Harris … the Riders’ Blue Jays connections … here’s to Taylor-Fields!
There will almost certainly be gambling at Mosaic Stadium later today — exclusively on third-down situations, mind you.
The slots, for the purposes of a looming game between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and B.C. Lions, will otherwise be known as inside receivers. Period.
All that aside, there will be a Las Vegas flavour to the CFL’s 2025 regular-season finale, the theme of which is “Welcome to Fabulous Riderville!”
“We’re just inviting everyone to come to the stadium and throw a big party, much like they do in Vegas,” said Karina Peterson, the Roughriders’ Manager, Game Entertainment and Community.
Coors Light Party in the Park will include an Elvis Presley look-a-like contest — to be judged by Rory Allen. The festivities at Confederation Park begin at 2 p.m.
Allen, an Elvis tribute artist, will sing the national anthem shortly before the ball is kicked off at 5:08 p.m.
Game-day hosts Mark Johnston and Sabeen Ahmad will be resplendent in “fun attire,” Peterson noted, with a look that could very well be “bedazzling.”
Members of the Harvard Media Rider Cheer Team will be in showgirl uniforms at halftime during the annual Capital PICK6 contest — with the winner being able to choose from among six new vehicles. Saturday’s game is presented by Capital Automotive Group.
The list of prize recipients will also include the first 5,000 fans to enter the stadium.
“Every scratch-and-win is a winner,” Peterson said. “We’ve got a set of season tickets as a scratch-and-win prize, along with tickets to the playoff game (the Nov. 8 Western Final), Rider Store discounts and all sorts of things.
“If you’re one of the first 5,000 fans, you’re going to win something.”
That idea was the brainchild of Jenn Senger, our Director, Ticket Operations and Sales.
“Full credit to Jenn,” Peterson said. “We tried to look at giveaways in a unique way, which kind of falls under the gambling realm.
“The fun part is that this theme has provided a platform to be playful. Hopefully our fans will jump on board as well and come to the game in a really playful mood and be a big part of a fun atmosphere.”
TREVOR’S TAKE
So, Trevor Harris, what makes Riderville fabulous?
“I feel like there’s something magical about this place,” the Roughriders’ starting quarterback said. “I just love this stadium. I love this building. I love the people here. I love the city.
“Getting the opportunity to be the quarterback here is something I never take for granted, so I wake up every day making sure I’m doing the best I can for my teammates, my family and, most importantly, Jesus Christ.”
The presence of Harris shouldn’t be taken for granted, either.
Quarterbacks and people of his calibre don’t come along very often.
Consider the fact that Harris is one of only eight players in CFL history to be a named a team’s Most Outstanding Player a decade or more after receiving that honour for the first time.
Harris has been recognized while playing in Toronto (2015), Ottawa (2018), Edmonton (2019) and Saskatchewan (2025).
The other seven members of the Decade-Plus Club are either in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame (Henry Burris, Anthony Calvillo, Tom Clements, Garney Henley, Ricky Ray, Ron Lancaster) or certain to be enshrined at the earliest opportunity following retirement (Bo Levi Mitchell).
Harris and Burris — quarterbacking cohorts with the Ottawa REDBLACKS in 2016 — are the only players in CFL history to be named the MOP of four different teams.
Smilin’ Hank received that honour in Saskatchewan (2000), Calgary (2005, 2007, 2008, 2010), Hamilton (2013) and Ottawa (2015).
Of the four MOP awards Harris has received, what makes this one distinctive?
“I told you a few weeks ago that if I’m ever fortunate enough to be able to sign a one-day contract or go out as a Roughrider, this is the place that I kind of feel I’ve loved being in the most, so it does mean something to you,” he said.
“At the same time, it’s a complete team award, but to be recognized is pretty cool.”
So is this: Harris is only the second 39-year-old to be named the Roughriders’ MOP. Lancaster, in 1977, became the first.
“I’ve always tried to tell myself that you can continually get better,” Harris said. “Age truly is just a number.
“When you start losing mobility in your body and in your joints and stuff, that’s when you start to age. I still feel great.
“I’ve always wanted to say that age was not going to be what made me retire. It was going to be when I didn’t have the desire to do it anymore.
“I’ve worked with a lot of great people in NerveOTX, with Jake Kozens, and the people who have put together this training stuff. The personal trainers I’ve had in the past and the rehab staff here have been great. I’ve trained at TB12.
“I’m kind of knocking on doors, all that I can, to be able to maximize and extend my prime. The fact that you can get to this age and still feel like you have a higher ceiling and you can play better football in the future is just a credit to the people who have helped me along the way in those ways.”
RIDERS/BLUE JAYS CONNECTIONS
• If the Toronto Blue Jays capture the 2025 World Series title at home, they will match the Roughriders’ total of championship-clinching victories at the Rogers Centre (two). Toronto was the site of Saskatchewan’s Grey Cup victories in 1989 and 2007. The Blue Jays won their titles in Atlanta (1992) and Toronto (1993).
• Joe Carter’s walk-off home run against the Philadelphia Phillies ended the 1993 World Series on the evening of Oct. 23. Earlier that day, the Roughriders had defeated Calgary 48-45 at Taylor Field. Dave Ridgway snapped a 45-45 tie with one second remaining in the fourth quarter. Also noteworthy from that CFL shootout: Calgary’s Doug Flutie and Saskatchewan’s Kent Austin passed for 547 and 546 yards, respectively. The combined total of 1,093 aerial yards endures as a CFL single-game record.
• Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly is the younger brother of a former Roughriders quarterback. Randy Mattingly was Lancaster’s understudy in 1974 and 1975.
• Another Carter home run from 1993: Leon Carter of the National Baseball Institute Blues homered on the second pitch when the Blue Jays visited Taylor Field on May 3, 1993. Blue Jays trailed 4-0 but rallied to win 16-6.
• The Blue Jays’ previous visit to Regina was a prelude to a Roughriders championship season. On May 11, 1989, the Blue Jays edged the NBI Blues 8-7. David Wells, who struck out two of the three batters he faced in relief, was the winning pitcher. The highlight, though, was a pre-game home-run-hitting contest that included a round-tripper by Grant Devine. Then the Premier of Saskatchewan, Devine was on a team captained by Canadian-born Blue Jays outfielder Rob Ducey. Ducey homered six times and, as always, the Robs prevailed.
• The Blue Jays and Roughriders regularly oppose one another … in North Dakota. The Roughriders represent Red River High School in Grand Forks. Jamestown High School’s athletic teams are known as the Blue Jays. As a member of the Bismarck High School Demons, Weston Dressler often opposed the Roughriders.
• One more note: The Blue Jays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-4 in Friday’s World Series opener. The Roughriders have yet to play in an 11-4 game. There have been three 11-3s (1928, 1970, 1979) and two 11-5s (1983, 1995), but never an 11-4.
EXTRA POINTS
• Friday marked the 60th anniversary of George Reed’s most statistically dominant game as a Roughrider. Blake Tiedeman (Manager, Content and Creative) and Morgan Fleury (Digital Media Co-ordinator) lent their time and expertise to THIS FLASHBACK to Oct. 24, 1965, when No. 34 rushed for a franchise-record 268 yards in a 30-14 victory over B.C. at Empire Stadium in Vancouver. The retrospective is highlighted by seldom-seen, black-and-white footage from the game — including a lateral from Reed to Hugh Campbell. Priceless.
• FAST FACT: Roughriders right guard Jacob Brammer went to high school with CeeDee Lamb, now a star receiver with the Dallas Cowboys. Brammer and Lamb both attended John and Randolph Foster High School in Richmond, Tex.
• New York Jets Head Coach Aaron Glenn has spent part of this week deciding whether to start Tyrod Taylor or Justin Fields at quarterback on Sunday against the host Cincinnati Bengals. What a combo! Here’s to Taylor-Fields!
ROLL CREDITS …
• Nice people who deserve a plug: Liz Roper, Yolanda Roper, Ray Roper, Angie Kater, Reid Kater, Beau Kater, Cynthia Styan, Amanda Minchin, Jean Harrington, Laura Lehne, Veronica Baker, Cam Baker, Alyssa Marta, Channing Masuhara, Kevin Clive, Angela Tillier, Marquay McDaniel, Don Mattingly, Randy Mattingly, Dwayne Hinger, Karen Fedor Klapatiuk, Ramona Vigneron, Antoine Brooks Jr., Mitch Picton, Morgan Fleury, Blake Tiedeman, Shea Rollason, Karina Peterson, Jenn Senger, Rory Allen, Jermarcus Hardrick, Trevor Harris, Jacob Brammer, Lana Mueller, Jorgen Hus, Michael Hughes, Nelson Lokombo and, with congratulations on 50 (!) years at CTV Regina, the incomparable Wayne Mantyka.
