Mitchell Blair
Riderville.com

REGINA -- The Rider Nation is in a state of panic. It must be the off-season. Once again, many Rider fans are thinking nothing but doom and gloom is on the horizon after a day that saw Paul LaPolice leave as offensive co-ordinator to become head coach of the Bombers with Stevie Baggs defecting to the NFL as he signed a one year deal with the Cardinals.

If there was good news, it was the fact Andy Fantuz didn't sign with an NFL team -- at least not yet.

Haven't we been on this merry-go-round before?

After the championship season of 2007, it was an off-season that saw Kent Austin, Kerry Joseph, Fred Perry and Reggie Hunt leave. Many believed the team's good fortunes were over after just one year. The team did just fine in 2008.

The 2008 off-season saw Anton McKenzie, Maurice Lloyd and Richie Hall leave. Once again, disaster was predicted and we all know what happened.

This off-season has seen Eric Tillman, John Chick, LaPolice and Baggs leave. Guess what? Chances are this team will be fine.

Yes, this team has been hit hard, but that is going to happen when you are successful. If no one was raiding our available players and coaches, it would mean you're not a very good organization. The Riders are a good organization. They have taken punches before and they have survived.

The loss of Chick and Baggs means players like Willie Evans, Joe Sykes and Mike Stadnyk will get a chance. Guys will be brought in. Perhaps free agency will bring someone here.

The positives with this football club far outweigh the negatives. They will be fine!