Riderville

Roy did a great job bringing the Riders from the absolutely horrid Al Ford era. Having said that, the team has stagnated and has not reached the next level where a 9-9 season is considered a bad season. Roy had six and a half years in Regina to produce a Grey Cup contender and didn't get it done. While he was great at finding running back, wide receivers (some of the time), and defensive backs, he and Danny B. never found nor developed a truly great quarterback. And his interest has started to wane -- how many new players did he bring in this year? The team is pretty good but it needs to go further than Roy and Danny have been able to bring it.

Go Riders!

I have to agree Mad Eye...Roy did most everything asked of him when it came to bringing in talent but he let his loyalty get in the way when it became vividly apparent Barrett couldn't motivate his troops. If Roy had simply set aside his friendship with Danny, he may still be around today. That said, I'm not sure CEO Hopson and Roy ever really saw eye to eye and someone has to be numero uno and it was a battle Roy was destined to lose.

I honestly can't see DB being around after the Grey Cup, no matter who the new GM is. For what it's worth, I believe DB is a good coach but needs to be tutored a little under someone who doesn't put up with inconsistent play...such as a Wally Buono or a Don Matthews. Once DB gets past being a nice guy on the bench to one that's respected by ALL his players (not just a select bunch), he'll find himself surrounded by a group that plays more consistent ball.

As for who the new head coach/GM combination will be, I'm going out on a bit of a limb here and saying one of the following:

1) Eric Tillman - GM; Kent Austin, Head Coach
2) Eric Tillman - GM; Matt Dunigan, Head Coach
3) Glen Suitor - GM; Matt Dunigan, Head Coach (now there's an interesting combination....*slaps forehead*....disregard that one (too many licks to the head in minor football for me I guess)
4) Chris Schultz - GM; Kent Austin, Head Coach (Honestly, I'd love to see Schultzie in that role, I think the guy has some of the best football smarts in the business...plus I don't think he'd take a lot of crap from kids who think they're bigger than the game and get into trouble off the field...just my humble opinion)

I guess we'll find out half the equation later this week and the other half after that (maybe sooner rather than later...)

Regardless....GO RIDERS GO!

I third those thoughts regarding what Roy has done, and one has to remember who he replaced. He is definetly not a "media darling" and I do disagree with some of his antics when he gets directly involved in players on field performance. It is no wonder the media is celebrating the firing. I think they fired the wrong guy. Barret has not got things done with the talent he was provided. He has proven since day one that he is too much a players coach and will not pull players (particularly QB's) when they are underachieving during a game. He, and his staff do not or cannot seem to make adjustments during a game nad when their opponents do they are basically screwed.

I see what the board has done as typical Saskatchewan move. Supress the opinionated boisterous and stay with (and likely) promote the underachieving nice guy. This is why the Riders and the province will always be a ".500[%]" team.

"I see what the board has done as typical Saskatchewan move. Supress the opinionated boisterous and stay with (and likely) promote the underachieving nice guy. This is why the Riders and the province will always be a ".500[%]" team."

Truer words were never spoken.

I like Shivers, I like Barrett, but their time is through. That being said, I have never understood why a GM is fired half-way through a season (though I would have made an exception in Dunigan's case). A man should be able to build his team in the off-season and manage it through to bitter end and suffer the consequences.

Further to that, having a sub-.500 coach being saddled with the GM job just when he needs to concentrate on getting his team out of the rut is even more ludicrous.

Just another day in Riderville, I suppose.

Roy's time was up. I don't thing Danny's too far behind. It's too bad but I think it was time for change. I liked Shivers he was interesting. Danny has tried but not produced a winning team. He was good for Sask. He was a good spokesperson for the team. We'll have to wait and see what happens.

"Eric Tillman - GM; Matt Dunigan, Head Coach"

Never happen. Mat demanded both jobs here in Calgary. That is what ended up being his demise.
Has he learned from that?

OTOH, what happened to the double blue?
Or rather, what happened to Montreal?

Cheers

Not Kent Austin! Please. I like the Sask running game, and when this guy played, and it was 2nd and 1, and Moses had just parted the turf at Taylor field to secure the down that would help win them the game that would possibly catupult them into the playoffs, he would NOT take that one step! Plus, I thought he had "issues" with the Riders before he left?!!?

Perhaps Danny needed this. It's finally a wake up call! The boys aren't THAT bad. It is all about attitude, AND stupid costly mistakes. The guys in the dressing room need to wake up, and I believe they did, both because of the Hamilton game, and the Shivers firing. Otherwise, Danny and crew should stay. They know this team very well, why blow it this chance?

And I agree with Hopson. I/we out in the real world are tired of the socialist attitude of just being "lil ol Saskatchewan". And I hope this "new" Rider team can help be our am"badass"ador!

Couldn't have said it better myself JackFish...

On the same subject...did anyone read Jason French's remarks about Roy being sacked? Personally, I don't think Jason French can carry the jocks of most CIAU receivers. I can't wait for Nathan Hoffort to finally get the chance he so deserves! Imagine a receiving corps consisting of Armstead, Dominguez, Fantuz, Hoffort and Grant! Sounds like the good old days of Elgaard, Fairholm, Narcisse and Guy!

I'm also going to guess that one Corey Holmes will land back in Regina next spring when training camp opens. After all...for those who watched the game Saturday you may have noticed Corey was still using his green mouth protector...that, in itself, should speak volumes for how much he loves the Rider organization!