By Darrell Davis,
Regina Leader-Post
Players and off-field personnel of the Saskatchewan Roughriders can be dismissed if their actions severely embarrass the community-owned CFL franchise, according a Code of Conduct approved by the team’s board of directors.
The Code was distributed to the media during the Roughriders’ annual general meeting Saturday at the Hotel Saskatchewan Radisson Plaza. Potential punishments are listed under Consequences of Code Breaches’:
“Action in this regard may include a direction regarding counselling or other remedial action, a reprimand or a suspension or termination of employment.”
Outgoing chairman Graham Barker had vowed to implement a Code of Conduct following a series of incidents involving players, including the arrest (and subsequent conviction) of linebacker Trevis Smith on two charges of aggravated sexual assault and tailback Kenton Keith being charged with assault.
The Code has apparently been approved by the league and the CFL Players’ Association. The Code will adhere to provincial and federal privacy regulations, and it is similar to documents drawn up by other organizations, but it demands this accountability from all Roughriders employees:
“Club personnel must view themselves as ambassadors and representatives of the Club and must make every reasonable effort to ensure that their conduct will measure up to that of “good citizenship,” characterized by treating others with courtesy and respect. The test that may be applied to such conduct is simply whether Club Personnel would be proud to have their activities fairly reported on the front page of the local newspaper.”
Said Roughriders head coach Kent Austin: “I’m often asked, ‘What are your rules?’ We’re not big on rules. We’re big on character. We’re looking for talented players, but we’re also looking for character.”
– – –
Rob Pletch, the managing partner and chair of MacPherson Leslie and Tyerman law office in Regina, was elected by the directors to replace Barker as chairman of the Roughriders’ volunteer board.
“In 2007, our job as a board is creating a platform to allow your football team to succeed,” said Pletch, before discussing the Roughriders’ image throughout the CFL as loveable losers.
“It’s good to be loved, it’s better to be respected. I want us to be feared.”
Pletch has been on the Roughriders’ board for five years. Pletch, Deb McDonald and vice-chairman Doug Rogers were re-elected during Saturday’s meeting. Rogers will remain as vice-chairman and oversee the improvements being made to city-owned Mosaic Stadium. McDonald serves as a representative for the provincial government, as mandated in 2005 when the province forgave the club a $2.8 million loan.
Two new directors, Grant Gayton and Twyla Meredith, were elected to replace the outgoing directors on the 10-member board. Marla Preston was the other director who retired.
Directors whose terms continue are Roger Brandvold, Paul Hill, Rory Picklyk, Mayo Schmidt and Tom Robinson.
– – –
Veteran centre Jeremy O’Day was the inaugural recipient of the President’s Ring, presented by Frontier Peterbilt and voted upon by the players for his leadership on and off the field.
O’Day, a 10-year CFL veteran who has spent eight seasons with Saskatchewan, spearheads the Community Youth Challenge. The program dispatches Roughriders throughout the province to speak with schoolchildren about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. O’Day is a Roughriders captain and a representative for the CFL Players’ Association.
During his acceptance speech, O’Day related stories about his his recent travels, which included three vehicle accidents within a two-week span. On one trip to Oxbow he was rear-ended by a semi-trailer and totalled his vehicle, but O’Day said he was uninjured except for some soreness in the days following his accident.
– – –
Although the Roughriders have stated they exceeded last year’s salary cap of $3.8 million by $1.1 million, they will not be punished. CFL teams were expected to follow the financial constraints in 2006, but the range of financial and personnel punishments weren’t scheduled to take effect until 2007.
Said Tillman: “We spent in excess of $5 milion (in 2006). Speaking to the CFL office, our fines would have been $3 million and some draft picks.”
– – –
A door prize of a Lund fishing boat and trailer was awarded as a door prize to a Riders shareholder. Tim Roth, a defensive tackle with the Roughriders from 1971-77, had his name drawn by Hopson. Roth, who lives in the U.S., wasn’t at the meeting.
