Murray McCormick
The Leader-Post

REGINA -- Paul LaPolice, Kavis Reed, Jamie Barresi and Steven Jyles will find themselves in familiar territory for Sunday's Labour Day Classic game at Mosaic Stadium.

But the former Saskatchewan Roughriders and current Winnipeg Blue Bombers will be in unfamiliar circumstances for the game. The contest between the Riders and the Blue Bombers marks the first encounter of the CFL season between that group and their former team.

LaPolice moved to Winnipeg to become the Blue Bombers' head coach during the off-season after three years with the Riders, the last two as offensive co-ordinator. LaPolice hired Reed, who was the Riders' running backs coach and special teams co-ordinator in 2009. LaPolice then added Barresi, who spent two seasons with the Riders as a running backs coach in 2008 and the quarterbacks coach in 2009. Reed is Winnipeg's defensive co-ordinator and assistant head coach. Barresi is the offensive co-ordinator.

Jyles, who spent two seasons as a back-up quarterback with the Riders, signed with the Blue Bombers during the off-season as a free agent.

"I'm sure it will be a fun atmosphere,'' LaPolice said recently from Winnipeg. "I've never been on that side of the stadium for a game, but I know it will be loud. I was watching film the other day and Hamilton was playing. One of the guys ran out of bounds and there were five guys (in the stands) all wearing green. They were all giving it to the receivers ... It was great to see that kind of passion. I just hope that they think nicely of me and that my three years there helped in some way.''

The circumstances are different than LaPolice and Co. had hoped for in terms of their homecoming. The Blue Bombers are 2-6-0, last in the East Division and on a four-game losing streak.

"I've enjoyed the process and the job,'' said LaPolice. "I like dealing with things on a bigger level. That has been good, but the wins and losses have been frustrating. We feel we have been really close, but this isn't a close business. You really want to get those wins.''

Winnipeg hasn't recorded a victory since beating the Edmonton Eskimos 47-21 on July 24. The game was Jyles' first start with the Blue Bombers and second in the CFL. Jyles, who was second on the Riders' depth chart in 2009 behind Darian Durant, has been starting due to a knee injury to Buck Pierce.

Pierce could return this weekend, but LaPolice has yet to announce that decision. The two split repetitions during Thursday's practice. Jyles, who is nursing bruised ribs, is willing to accept whatever role he's asked to fill. It's similar to what took place during his stint with the Riders.

"It's not a role. It's my job,'' Jyles said. "It's part of being a professional and I have to be ready to play no matter what happens.''

Despite Winnipeg's struggles, Jyles doesn't have any regrets about signing with the Blue Bombers

"None at all, because we have a great team here,'' Jyles said. "The ball can bounce either way and it hasn't bounced our way yet. We make big plays on the field and beat ourselves in a lot of ball games. We know what our problems are and we're doing what we can to correct them.''

Reed spent one season with the Riders before following LaPolice to Winnipeg. He's looking forward to the trip and being part of the sold-out Labour Day Classic.

"It's nice going to a place where I had a lot of success and there will be a lot of nostalgia because of that,'' Reed said. "It's different from any other game, because it's a place you're returning to.''

The last contest in which they were involved as members of the Riders was definitely different.

The Montreal Alouettes beat the Riders 28-27 in the 2009 Grey Cup game when placekicker Damon Duval connected on a 33-yard field goal without any time remaining.

Duval missed his initial 43-yard attempt but was awarded another attempt when the Riders were penalized for having too many men on the field.

Reed, who accepted responsibility for the mistake, said it took about a week to get over the miscue. He has since moved on.

"I know that Saskatchewan folklore will never let it go,'' Reed said. "I don't live in the past, because there isn't anything I can do to change it. If I stay in the past, I won't move forward. I moved forward after I had my period of grief.''

Reed noticed that the Riders have twice been penalized for having too many men on the field this season.

"It shows that God has a sense of humour,'' Reed said with a chuckle. "It's an opportunity to give people perspective. How many games have been won and lost in the NHL playoffs with too many men on the ice? It happened in the NFL playoffs. Those things happen. Life doesn't stop because that play happened. It keeps on going.''

The ties between the former Riders and the end of the Grey Cup may never be cut. LaPolice has moved on but he knows his hat-slamming reaction after the Riders were penalized remains a regular clip in the CFL's highlight packages.

"I remember when they show the referee (Glen Johnson) and then they always show me,'' LaPolice said.

"My wife said that I will be tied to Glen forever because of that clip and I guess she's right. I don't think about it much anymore, though. I'm concentrating on getting wins and doing my best to help our team be successful.''

LaPolice and Jyles could depend on their experiences with the Riders to help on the weekend. Both men spent countless hours going against the Riders' defence in practices.

"I know that they have a lot of different looks and they try to confuse you,'' Jyles said. "When that happens, you just have to play football. If we execute our offence, we shouldn't have any problems.''

Ken Miller, the Riders' head coach, feels the Blue Bombers may be in for a surprise.

"They took the offence that we used here for the last couple of years, lock, stock and barrel,'' Miller said.

"When Doug (Berry, who replaced LaPolice as the Riders' offensive co-ordinator) came in, he made some adjustments. Because of that, we know more about them they do about us.''