Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
Would you rather be at home or on the road? For the average person the question is typically an easy one. Who would want to work from a satellite office on the far side of Canada? We tend to enjoy the comforts of familiar surrounding and football players are no different.
From the hook used to hang a specific piece of equipment to a pregame ritual in the same spot of your home turf there is an added level of security in repetition.
For all these reasons the Saskatchewan Roughriders attempt to become the first crossover team to ever make the Grey Cup becomes all tat much more interesting.
Unlike the Edmonton Eskimos who last year traveled back West to prepare for the Eastern Final in Ottawa after beating Hamilton in the Eastern Semi-Final, the Riders decided to stay in Ontario after their Semi-Final win over the REDBLACKS.
You’re probably saying to yourself, “what does that have to do with the comforts of home or familiar surroundings?”
Your answer: The Riders have already been here and done that.
That feeling of comfort knowing which locker is yours, where all your equipment goes, how long the walk is from the locker room to the tunnel, it’s all been experienced by Saskatchewan players and staff just a few short months ago.
In Week 15 Saskatchewan travelled to Ottawa and stole a win from REDBLACKS backup quarterback Ryan Lindley using a special teams punt return touchdown as the turning point. After that win the Riders stayed East and practiced at Carleton University before travelling down highway 401 past Brockville, Napanee, Clarington, Ajax and many more points in between to take on the Toronto Argonauts.
Despite the fact Rider Pride will be taking to the friendly skies instead of busing to Toronto this time around the final destination is the same. A date with the Toronto Argonauts.
When the surroundings are familiar and the comfort level matches the team wide confidence football teams get really dangerous. On social media this week the Riders appear to be having the trip of a lifetime. Being on the road for an extended period of time tends to have that affect.
Each night players post videos fun of fine food and good company intercut with moments of genuine child like happiness in a weight room dancing or at a mall trying on matching – and equally ridiculous looking – full body winter jackets.
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Being on the road has the potential with the right group to bring people together and it seems as though the already confident and together green Riders locker room is taking that unique vibe to another level in November with the likely cause being the close quarters and constant companionship brought on by life on the road.
It’s not just the locker room, travel and down time hiking that create a dangerous Riders team ahead of Sunday’s final four matchup in Toronto. It is their familiarity with both Ottawa and Toronto’s teams.
This is not a large league and as a result there are many personal connections made which last a career and often lifetime.
Doing an FBI investigation string board to connect the dots on team to team personal player and coach familiarity would empty the yarn aisle of most arts and craft stores but the Riders and Argos take that concept to a whole new level.
Now Riders head coach Chris Jones has a history in Toronto as does Argos defensive coordinator Corey Chamblin in Regina. Jones has battled against Tretsman’s old Alouettes rosters before which included Bear Woods and S.J. Green, of course both prominent Argos now.
The connections are endless and become increasingly entangled the further back in history you travel. The fact remains Saskatchewan knows what is ahead in travel, surroundings and opponent.
Combine that with momentum, confidence and ability and you get the possibility of explosive performance in Sunday’s Eastern Final.
