Rider Mini Camp Ends, Outbreak of Hope Begins!
We’re a tough football crowd in Saskatchewan.
We’ve had only four real highs, a bunch of moral victories and a fan base with an intensity that dwarfs anything in Canada. So when we are coming off a 3-15 season and seen two Riders who exemplified the best of this province let go for salary cap reasons, there are a lot of people sitting on a high fence, perhaps not willing to commit like before in case this new crew manages to do worse than 3-15.
The hiring of Chris Jones and staff by Rider CEO Craig Reynolds marked the start of what is turning out to be one of the most profound culture changes in the 105 years this franchise has rocked the Prairies. The only thing I can recall being similar is when Kent Austin and Eric Tillman took over the Riders in 2007.
The Florida mini-camp started on Saturday with a massive try-out and the best of those players were invited over to the mini-camp the next day. There were over 100 players who signed up for Saturday and the Riders carried over 14 to the mini-camp which featured over 100 players.