‘Started day one’: Saskatchewan Roughriders ready for Grey Cup challenge

It’s been 12 years in the making, but the Saskatchewan Roughriders are finally back in the Grey Cup.

The team is already in Winnipeg ahead of the 112th Grey Cup, which is set to be played on Sunday against the Montreal Alouettes.

Read more:

• Fondue and dead bread: Roughrider and Alouette superfans prep for Grey Cup Sunday
• ‘Work as usual’: Riders have eye on the prize during Grey Cup week
• ‘This team is special’: Enthusiastic fans cheer Riders on route to Winnipeg for Grey Cup

Defensive back Tevaughn Campbell said this Roughrider team always believed they would reach the championship game.

“It really started day one of camp. We came into the building, and we knew what we wanted. You could say that about every team – every team came into their building saying they wanted the Grey Cup and yada yada yada – but we just have a bunch of dogs on the team who don’t just have that bark in them, they have that bite,” Campbell said.

“You could see it all come together from day one, to the first game, to the last. It’s something that made this Grey Cup team a Grey Cup team.”

The Riders received a big send-off from fans in Regina before they boarded the plane on Tuesday. Head coach Corey Mace said it felt good to know the province is behind them.

“Even when you expect it, it’s special. Our fan base – I’ve been in a few places around the league and this one is top-notch,” Mace said during Tuesday’s media conference.

“Since training camp, we wanted to put together a team that represents the province and how that province works. For them to come and show up, I’m sure they had other things to do, but to send us off like that, it was special and our guys appreciate that.”

The last time Saskatchewan last appeared in the CFL championship game was all the way back in 2013, when the Green and White emerged victorious on home soil in a 45-23 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

While it’s been a long time since the Roughriders have played for the championship trophy, there are plenty of players on the team who have won championship rings in recent years. General manager Jeremy O’Day has put together a team that features plenty of championship pedigrees, including the likes of linebacker Jameer Thurman, running back AJ Ouellette, and offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick, just to name a few.

Mace said he believes the experience in the Riders’ locker room will help the team navigate all of the extra noise surrounding the Grey Cup week.

“I think it bodes well – this week it helps – but (we’re) just following the process to get to this point,” Mace said.

“For us as a team, this is our first time being here, but not the first time for a lot of people in the room.”

Quarterback Trevor Harris said this is where the team planned on being all along.

“Our confidence comes from one another. We compete in practice every week, and we compete against one of the best defences in the league every single week, and we feel we are one of the better offences in the league and so we have iron sharpening iron every week,” Harris said.

“I can feel this group loves one another, and hopefully we can go finish the job this Sunday.”

A lot of attention will be paid this week to the status of Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander, who brings a 13-0 record into the game as a starter in the CFL. Alexander aggravated a hamstring injury that has been plaguing him this season in the team’s win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the CFL East Semifinal.

Alouettes head coach Jason Maas said he understands that a lot of the focus will be on his quarterback, but he has been focusing on other things as well.

“We have to put together a game plan and all those things. He will be a part of it and I will talk with (general manager) Danny (Maciocia) and the staff and medical staff and be mindful of what Davis is doing,” Maas said.

Mace said he goes into the game expecting to see not just the best version of Alexander, but every player.

“This game, it’s easy for guys to sacrifice a lot,” Mace said.

“If you’re on the field, the coaches and team have faith in you. I think teams that make it to this point have faith and belief in each other.”

Kickoff for the game on Sunday is set for 5 p.m. The Green Zone pregame show will begin at 3 p.m.

Mace says Grey Cup in Winnipeg makes life easier for Sask. fans

Mace admitted that during this season, the team discussed the fact that the Riders could raise the Grey Cup on the home field of their rivals, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Bombers tried to raise the cup at Mosaic Stadium in 2022, but failed when they lost 24-23 to the Toronto Argonauts. Mace was the defensive co-ordinator for the Argos during that game.

“I’d be lying to say that we didn’t bring that up at some point in the year, but we’re grateful to be here in this game, wherever it was,” Mace said.

“What’s really cool about the location of this is how close it is for our fan base to get here. I am looking forward to that – that’s what I think is really cool about the location of this, above anything else.”

“The rivalry is real, the rivalry is deep, and why not add some extra motivation?” said linebacker A.J. Allen.

“It’s not like we need it at this point.”

Mace says CFL should eliminate football operations cap

One of the more controversial rules in the CFL places a cap on how much teams can spend on their football operations departments.

Mace made it clear he isn’t a fan of the cap.

“Get rid of it,” Mace said with a laugh.

“I’ll second that,” Maas said in agreement.

Along with spending, the cap also limits the number of coaches and staff members each team can employ.