Saskatchewan Roughriders facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Saskatchewan Roughriders

Founded	1910
Based in	Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Home field	Mosaic Stadium
Head coach	Corey Mace
General manager	Jeremy O'Day
Owner(s)	The Saskatchewan Roughrider Football Club Inc.
League	Canadian Football League
Division	West
Colours	Green, white
Nickname(s)	Riders, the Green and White, Jolly Green Giants
Mascot(s)	Gainer the Gopher
Grey Cup wins	4 (1966, 1989, 2007, 2013)
Current uniform
2025 Saskatchewan Roughriders season

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a professional Canadian football team. They are based in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. The Roughriders play in the Canadian Football League (CFL). They are part of the league's West Division.

The team started in 1910 as the Regina Rugby Club. They have been playing football continuously since then. This makes them one of the oldest professional football teams. Only a few teams in North America are older. The team changed its name to the Regina Roughriders in 1924. Then, in 1946, they became the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

For many years, the Roughriders played at Taylor Field. This was from 1936 to 2016. In 2017, they moved to a new stadium. It is also called Mosaic Stadium.

The team has many loyal fans. They come from all over Saskatchewan and Canada. These fans are known as the Rider Nation. The Roughriders play in the CFL's smallest market. They have won the Western championship 28 times. They have played for the Grey Cup 19 times. They have won the Grey Cup four times: in 1966, 1989, 2007, and 2013.

Many Roughriders players are in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. The team's biggest rival is the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Games against them are often sold out. Regina has hosted the Grey Cup four times. This includes 1995, 2003, 2013, and 2022.

Team Facts

Team wordmark

• Old Names: Regina Rugby Club (1910–1923), Regina Roughriders (1924–1947).
• Past Uniform Colors: Old gold and purple (1910), blue and white (1911), red and black (1912–1947).
• Team Songs: "Green Is The Colour", "On Roughriders", and "Rider Pride".
• Main Rivals: Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Edmonton Elks, Calgary Stampeders.
• Western Division 1st Place: 8 times (1951, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1976, 2009, 2019).
• Western Division Championships: 28 times.
• Grey Cup Championships: 4 times (1966, 1989, 2007, 2013).
• 2023 Season Record: 6 wins, 12 losses.

Team Ownership

Community Ownership

The Saskatchewan Roughrider Football Club Inc. started in 1910. It became a company in 1940. The team is a non-profit organization. This means it does not aim to make money for owners. It is one of only two CFL teams owned this way. The other is the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. This is rare in North American sports.

Membership Shares

Since 2004, fans can buy "Membership Shares." These are like small parts of the team. There are two types of shares. Class A shares have voting rights. Class B shares do not. As of March 2019, over 11,000 Class A shares were sold. Over 400 Class B shares were sold.

You cannot resell these shares. They also do not pay dividends. No one person can own more than 20 voting shares. But you can own many non-voting shares. The shares cost $250 each. Money from these sales goes into the team's Stabilization Fund. This fund helps the team stay financially strong.

Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation

The Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation began in 2019. It collects and gives out money. The Foundation focuses on education, health, and amateur football. It helps young people learn important skills. These include leadership, resilience, and responsibility.

Team History

Early Years (1910–1923)

1910 Regina Rugby Club

The team started as the Regina Rugby Club. This was on September 13, 1910. Their first colors were old gold and purple. They played their first game on October 1, 1910. They lost to the Moose Jaw Tigers. After a tough first season, Regina became very strong. In 1911, they changed their colors to blue and white.

In 1912, the team changed colors again to red and black. From 1912 to 1920, Regina was very dominant. They won six Western Canada Rugby Football Union titles. They were undefeated during this time. World War I stopped games in 1916, 1917, and 1918.

In 1921, the Western champion could play for the Grey Cup. Regina was undefeated in the regular season. But they lost the provincial championship. The Edmonton Eskimos went to the Grey Cup instead.

In 1923, Regina won their eighth western championship. They went to the Grey Cup for the first time. But they lost badly, 54–0, to Queen's University. This was the biggest loss in Grey Cup history.

Regina Roughriders (1924–1945)

After their first Grey Cup loss, the team changed its name. In 1924, they became the Regina Roughriders. They kept their red and black colors. The name "Roughriders" might come from the North-West Mounted Police. They were called Roughriders because they broke wild horses.

From 1926 to 1932, the Roughriders won seven straight western championships. Players like Canadian Football Hall of Famer Eddie James led the team. They reached the Grey Cup finals five years in a row. This was from 1928 to 1932. But they lost every time. They were outscored 102–15 in those games. The Roughriders won their last western title in 1934. They lost the 22nd Grey Cup to the Sarnia Imperials.

In 1936, Regina joined the Western Interprovincial Football Union. This was the top league in Western Canada. They became the first WIFU champions. But they could not play for the 24th Grey Cup. This was due to a dispute over American players.

World War II stopped play from 1942 to 1944. In 1945, the Roughriders played the Calgary Stampeders. But they lost the series.

Saskatchewan Roughriders (1946–1958)

In 1946, the team changed its name again. They became the Saskatchewan Roughriders. This was because they became a team owned by the whole province. This was the first time a major North American team used a province-wide name.

Before the 1948 season, the team needed new uniforms. An executive found green and white uniforms in Chicago. He bought them for the team. Green and white have been the team's main colors ever since.

In 1951, the Roughriders won their first WIFU regular season title. They reached the Grey Cup for the first time since 1934. They played the Ottawa Rough Riders. This was the first "Roughriders vs. Rough Riders" Grey Cup. But Saskatchewan lost 21–14.

The 1950s saw some good seasons. Players like Frank Tripucka and Cookie Gilchrist played for the team. But they could not get back to the Grey Cup.

A sad event happened on December 9, 1956. Four players died in a plane crash. Gordon Sturtridge, Mel Becket, Ray Syrnyk, and Mario DeMarco were killed. They were coming back from an All-Star Game. The team retired their numbers to honor them.

The Ken Preston Era (1958–1978)

In 1958, the Saskatchewan Roughriders joined the new Canadian Football League. Ken Preston became the General Manager. He held this job for 20 years. This was a very successful time for the team. They went to five Grey Cup finals. They won one in 1966.

The 1959 season was the worst in team history. They won only one game and lost 15. The team missed the playoffs for three years.

Ronnie and George Show (1963–1975)

In 1963, the team signed fullback George Reed. They also got quarterback Ron Lancaster from the Ottawa Rough Riders. This duo changed the team. They led the Roughriders to many successful seasons.

1966 Grey Cup Champions

In 1965, Eagle Keys became the head coach. In 1966, the Roughriders won the Western Conference title. This was their first since 1951. Ron Lancaster was named the West's most outstanding player. George Reed and others were named league all-stars.

Saskatchewan beat Winnipeg in the West Finals. They reached their ninth Grey Cup final. In the 54th Grey Cup, they played the Ottawa Rough Riders again. Saskatchewan scored 15 points in the fourth quarter. They won their first Grey Cup championship 29–14. This happened on November 26, 1966, in Vancouver. George Reed was the MVP.

The Roughriders kept winning in the following years. They reached the Grey Cup again in 1967. But they lost to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. In 1968, they had the best record in the league. Coach Eagle Keys won Coach of the Year. In 1969, they reached another Grey Cup. But they lost to the Ottawa Rough Riders again. In 1970, the Roughriders won a team record 14 games. But they lost in the West Finals. Eagle Keys then resigned.

John Payne Era (1973–1976)

George Reed is the club's all-time leading rusher.

John Payne became head coach in 1973. The team continued to do well. George Reed retired after the 1975 season. He was the all-time leading rusher in professional football.

In 1976, the Roughriders won the Western Conference. They beat the Eskimos in the West Final. They went to the Grey Cup to play the Ottawa Rough Riders. Ottawa scored a touchdown in the last minute. Saskatchewan lost their fourth Grey Cup in ten years. This ended a great but also frustrating time for the team. They had made the playoffs for 15 seasons in a row. But they won only one championship.

Tough Times (1979–1986)

After the 1976 Grey Cup loss, the team struggled. They missed the playoffs for 11 years. This was the longest playoff drought in CFL history. Even with talented players like Joey Walters and Dave Ridgway, they couldn't win.

Quarterback Ron Lancaster retired after the 1978 season. He was the CFL's all-time passing leader. Playing without him was hard. The team had very bad seasons in 1979 and 1980. Lancaster himself was the coach during these years. In 1981, they had a winning record. But it was not enough to make the playoffs.

In 1985, the Roughriders got a new logo. They added black and silver to their colors.

The Kent Austin Era (1987–1993)

Before the 1987 season, the team was in trouble. They needed money to survive. Fans helped by buying enough tickets in a "Save the Roughriders" telethon. A group called "Friends of the Riders" started a lottery. This helped the team's money problems for many years.

In 1987, John Gregory became head coach. In 1988, the Riders had an 11–7 record. They made the playoffs. This ended their 11-year drought. But they lost their first playoff game at home.

1989 Grey Cup Champions

In 1989, the Roughriders had a 9–9 record. They made the playoffs again. They beat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Final. Then, they faced the strong Edmonton Eskimos. The Eskimos had won 16 games that season. But the Roughriders beat them 32–21. They went to the Grey Cup.

In the 77th Grey Cup, they played the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. It was a very exciting game. The score was tied 40–40. Placekicker Dave Ridgway kicked a 35-yard field goal. This won the Grey Cup for the Roughriders! It was their second championship. It ended a 23-year wait. This kick is still famous as "The Kick."

The team made the playoffs in four of the next five seasons. But they lost in the West Semi-Final each time.

Challenges (1994–1999)

In 1995, Regina hosted the Grey Cup for the first time. But the Roughriders did not make the playoffs that year.

In 1997, the team needed money again. They held another "Save the Roughriders" telethon. Fans helped keep the team going. The Roughriders made the playoffs that year. They beat both Alberta teams. They reached the 85th Grey Cup. But they lost to the Doug Flutie-led Toronto Argonauts 47–23. The Roughriders ended the 1990s with two more losing seasons.

Roy Shivers and Danny Barrett Era (1999–2006)

In 1999, Roy Shivers became the team's general manager. He hired Danny Barrett as head coach. This was a historic moment. They were the first professional team with both a black general manager and head coach.

The team struggled in 2000 and 2001. But in 2002, they made the playoffs. They played in the East Semi-Final. This was due to a "crossover rule." They lost to the Toronto Argonauts. In 2003, the Roughriders had a winning record. They hosted the 90th Grey Cup that year. They beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the playoffs. But they lost the West Final. They missed playing in the Grey Cup at home.

In 2004, they reached the West Final again. They lost a close game to the BC Lions in overtime. In 2005, quarterback Henry Burris left the team. The Roughriders crossed over to the Eastern playoffs again. They lost to the Montreal Alouettes.

In 2006, the team fired general manager Roy Shivers. Eric Tillman took over. He did not renew Danny Barrett's contract. The team had three 9–9 seasons in a row. They did not win any championships. But Shivers and Barrett helped the team become more respected.

Ken Miller and Darian Durant Era (2007–2011)

2007 Grey Cup Champions

The Roughriders celebrate their 2007 Grey Cup victory

In 2007, Kent Austin became head coach. Ken Miller was the offensive coordinator. The team started strong. They finished with a 12–6 record. They hosted a playoff game for the first time since 1988. They beat the Calgary Stampeders. Then they beat the BC Lions in the West Final. This sent them to the Grey Cup.

On November 25, 2007, the Riders played the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 95th Grey Cup. This was the first time these rivals met in a Grey Cup. Saskatchewan won 23–19. James Johnson had three interceptions. He was named MVP. Andy Fantuz was named Canadian MVP.

After winning the Grey Cup, Austin left to coach in the NCAA. Ken Miller became the new head coach. The team also traded quarterback Kerry Joseph.

In 2008, the team started 6–0. This was their best start since 1934. They finished 12–6 again. But they lost to the BC Lions in the West Semi-Final.

In 2009, quarterback Darian Durant led the team. They finished 10–7–1. They won their first West Division title since 1976. They beat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Final. They went to the 97th Grey Cup to play the Montreal Alouettes. Saskatchewan was leading 27–11. But Montreal came back. Their kicker Damon Duval missed a field goal. But Saskatchewan had too many men on the field. Duval got another chance and made it. Montreal won 28–27.

In 2010, the Roughriders celebrated 100 years. They wore old red and black uniforms. They finished second in the West. They beat the BC Lions and the Stampeders in the playoffs. They faced the Alouettes in the 98th Grey Cup again. Saskatchewan lost 21–18. This was their second Grey Cup loss in a row to Montreal.

After the loss, Ken Miller resigned as head coach. Greg Marshall took over. But the 2011 season was bad. The team finished last. Marshall was fired. Miller stepped in as coach again. But it was too late. Miller retired after the 2011 season.

Corey Chamblin Era (2012–2015)

2013 Grey Cup Champions

Roughrider Cheerleaders, 2012.

On December 16, 2011, Corey Chamblin became the new head coach. The team signed top Canadian players. But they lost star players like Jerrell Freeman and Andy Fantuz. Still, they made the playoffs in 2012. They lost to the Calgary Stampeders in a close game.

In 2013, the Riders traded for six-time all-star Geroy Simon. The 2013 season started great. Quarterback Darian Durant and running back Kory Sheets played very well. The Roughriders started 8–1. This was their best start ever.

The 2013 season ended with an 11–7 record. They were second in the West. They hosted a playoff game on November 10. They beat the BC Lions 29–25. Then, on November 17, they beat the Calgary Stampeders 35–13. This sent them to the 101st Grey Cup. It was the first time they played the Grey Cup in their hometown.

The Roughriders beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 45–23. Running back Kory Sheets was the MVP. He rushed for a Grey Cup record 197 yards. They were the third team in a row to win the championship at home.

After the Grey Cup, the team lost key players. Kory Sheets and Weston Dressler went to the NFL. Others retired.

In 2014, Darian Durant got injured. He missed the rest of the season. The team struggled without him. They brought Kerry Joseph out of retirement. But they lost to the Edmonton Eskimos in the Western Semi Final.

The 2015 season was tough. Darian Durant got a season-ending injury in the first game. Other players also got hurt. The team started 0–9. Head coach Corey Chamblin and general manager Brendan Taman were fired. Bob Dyce became interim head coach. Jeremy O'Day became interim general manager.

Chris Jones Era (2016–2018)

On December 7, 2015, Chris Jones became the new head coach, general manager, and vice-president of football operations. Jones had won four Grey Cups with other teams. Many of his coaches from Edmonton joined him.

Jones made big changes. He cut many players, including fan favorites John Chick and Weston Dressler. Dressler signed with the rival Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Jones left after the 2018 season. Craig Dickenson took over.

Craig Dickenson's Riders (2019–2023)

In Craig Dickenson's first year, the Riders finished first in the West Division. They had a 13–5 record. But they lost a close game to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the West Final. The 2020 CFL season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, the Riders returned to the playoffs. They beat the Calgary Stampeders. But they lost to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers again in the West Final.

In 2022, the Riders missed the playoffs. They had a 6–12 record. But the team made money again. This was helped by hosting the 2022 Grey Cup.

In 2023, the team changed their offensive coordinator and quarterback. But they had the same 6–12 record. They missed the playoffs again. Quarterback Trevor Harris was injured early. On October 23, 2023, the Riders announced that Dickenson's contract would not be renewed. Jeremy O'Day signed a new contract as general manager.

Corey Mace Takes Over (Since 2023)

The Riders announced Corey Mace as their new head coach on November 30, 2023. Mace had been a defensive coordinator for the Toronto Argonauts. This is his first head coaching job.

Mace hired Marc Mueller as offensive coordinator. Mueller is from Regina. Mace also announced he would be the team's defensive coordinator.

Team Popularity

Fan Support

Now-defunct Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field prior to a CFL match.

In 2009, the Roughriders had the largest fan base in the CFL. They are third in merchandise sales among Canadian sports teams. Only the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs sell more. A 2015 survey said the Riders were the third strongest sports brand in Canada.

When the Roughriders play away games, many fans still come to support them. This is because fans travel or have moved from Saskatchewan. In 1995, a record 55,438 fans watched a game in Regina. This was more than 25% of Regina's population!

Rider fans are known for their unique costumes. The most popular is the watermelon helmet. The team also has a fan-based website. It shares opinions from fans.

Fundraisers

Fans have supported the team through the "Friends of the Riders Touchdown Lottery." From 1986 to 2018, this lottery raised over $23 million for the team. It also gave out over $33 million in prizes. This money was very important when the team had money problems. Fans also helped in 1987 and 1997. They bought season tickets in telethons to save the team from bankruptcy.

Section 28

Section 28 was a famous part of the East Side bleachers at Taylor Field. Fans there were very loyal to the Riders. They stood for the whole game. They were also known for being tough on opposing fans. This section used to be for university students. It kept its rowdy reputation until the stadium closed in 2016.

Team Songs

The official Rider songs are played at the stadium. These include "Rider Pride" and "Paint the Whole World Green." The team's touchdown song is "Green Is the Colour." It is based on a song by the Chelsea Football Club. "On Roughriders" is another song. It is adapted from "On Wisconsin."

During the fourth quarter, the song "The Last Saskatchewan Pirate" is played. The Riders Cheer Team leads a stretch. Many other songs have been made for the team over the years. Some have become very popular in Western Canada.

"Green Is the Colour" plays after every Rider touchdown. Then, Gainer the Gopher drives around the stadium. He gives high fives to fans in the first row.

Mascots

Gainer the Gopher

The official Rider mascot is Gainer the Gopher. He first appeared in 1977. He was updated in 2019. Gainer is a mixed-up spelling of Regina. The gopher, or Richardson's ground squirrel, is a common animal on the Canadian Prairies.

Radio Broadcasts

Roughriders games are broadcast across Saskatchewan. This is done through The Co-operators Roughrider Football Network. The main station is CKRM in Regina. Other stations also carry the games.

Many people have been broadcasters for the Roughriders. These include Dave Dryburgh and John Badham. Rod Peterson was the voice of the Riders from 1999 to 2019. Derek Taylor took over in 2019. In 2022, Michael Ball became the new voice. In 2024, Dave Thomas took over.

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