HOW THE RIDERS TOUCHED MY LIFE
The Riders are always out in the community trying to make a difference and along the way they have touched the lives of many people.
So we invite all Rider fans to tell us your story about how the Riders have made a difference in your life.
Just simply send us a summary of your encounter, in 250 words or less, about how a Rider has affected your life and gone the extra mile, so we can share it with all of Rider Nation. Pictures may also be included.
These fan submitted stories can be sent via email to communications@saskriders.com
Its hard to narrow down how one rider has changed or touched my life...
As I grow older, I realize just how important the Riders are to not just myself, but for Saskatchewan, the CFL, and Canada...
There is one thing that is always guaranteed at any game involving the Riders...there will always be someone with a watermelon on their head, or a Rider jersey, or a huge Rider flag...
Our team may not always win the Grey Cup or even make the playoffs for that matter, but you know that 9x out of 10, your gonna be in a battle against us...
Thinking of the greats that played for the Green and White:
Ron Lancaster
George Reed
Ray Elgaard
Gene Makowsky
Kent Austin
Don Narcisse
Bobby Jurasin
Glen Suitor
Dave Ridgeway
Jeff Fairholm
Geez, the list goes on and on...but these names are only a few of the guys that make me proud to be a Rider fan...
Its not just one player that has changed my life...its simply Rider Nation!
Billy Baker
A True Southern Gentleman
In early August I had a chance meeting with Eric Tillman where we briefly exchanged some pleasantries and parted company. Mr. Tillman was very touched by a remark I made and he mentioned it to a mutual acquaintance. The acquaintance informed Mr. Tillman that my husband, Jim, had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and that our life had been anything but smooth for some time. Upon learning this, it gave my remark even more impact. Mr. Tillman left his number with our mutual acquaintance and asked to have me call as he would like to do something nice for our family. When I called I thought, it was a nice gesture, but didn’t believe it to be anything more. Was I wrong. Mr. Tillman initially offered us some game tickets, however Jim’s illness made going to a game impossible. Mr. Tillman then offered a football signed by the team, an offer we accepted with delight. True to his word, a few days later Mr. Tillman, accompanied by Neal Hughes, came to our home and personally presented the signed football to Jim who was overwhelmed by their generosity. Our son, who bleeds Rider green, brought out his jersey for Neal and Mr. Tillman to sign. Mr. Tillman thought two signatures weren’t enough and offered to take the jersey to the clubhouse and have the team sign it. Unfortunately before the jersey came back, Jim passed away. Upon hearing this, Mr. Tillman got as many signatures as he could and again, personally, brought it to our home. He spent close to an hour with our family. He gave us a very bright spot in a very dark point in our lives. Mr. Tillman’s visits were sincere, heartfelt, caring, and the acts of a true southern gentleman. Our family will always remember the kindness he showed Jim. We wish him well now and on into the future.
Good Luck, Mr. Tillman.
Donna Daniels and family
We just wanted to extend our sincere thanks to both you for helping organize this as well as Luca for his appearance at our United Way Kick-Off yesterday afternoon. Our crowd certainly appreciated his willingness to sign autographs or appear in pictures, but more importantly, I really think they were impressed (as I know I was) with Luca's messaging about the importance of community and the role each of us have in helping others achieve their dreams.
Thanks again!
Chantelle
On Saturday, my girls and I attended the Green and White Day in Saskatoon at Griffith Stadium. It was a beautiful day to have the Riders in our city. Well I just wanted to send a big thank you to Ken for helping my daughter's dream come true. Not only did he go above and beyond his call of duty that day but he made her the happiess girl on this planet.
She above all wanted to meet Weston Dressler, her favorite player on the team. We got alot of autographs that day but it was his that she wanted the most. Upon the five minute warning about the players having to go to the field, she was very disappointed because she had not met Dressler yet. So as Ken was walking back to the dressing room, I had asked him if he would find Dressler so that my daughter could meet him. He went into the dressing room and could not find him but assured us that he would have to walk past us and that we should wait right there. Now this is where he went above and beyond, he waited there with us until he saw Weston Dressler and asked him to come over and meet his biggest fan. My daughter was so happy as Dressler walked up to her and gave her the biggest smile. As there was no one else around and she had him there all by herself.
So a very big Thank You to Ken and Weston for making my daughter's dream come true!!!
Sincerly,
A very happy Mom and Rider Fan.
Annette Wacholtz
Dear Rider fans, players, and staff:
(Rider season ticket holders from this day on!)
Brennan shows off his autographed Christmas gift, thanks to Dawn and Matt!
Hi, I know that this happened almost 2 years ago but it is still something that is talked about daily in our house.
My husband had taken our 3 year old son to Green and White day in Saskatoon for training camp. Here pictures were taken with fans and players. My son spotted Kent Austin and wanted his picture taken and from that point on he was the biggest "Kent Austin fan".
She had returned the email saying that Kent was proud of his little fan, I had asked if there was any way to get the picture signed, she said to mail it to her and she would take care of it all. We did just that and a week later when we went to the next game there were the pictures signed by Kent. The season came to an end and we had learned that Kent Austin was going to leave as the Head Coach. When Andrew heard of this he cried.
He said the Riders would never be the same, but he would always have his picture to look at and remember. This past season we took Andrew to the Labour Day classic and he was happy to meet all the riders. When Andrew was asked who his favorite Rider was he would say Kent Austin, and the players would look at each other and say yeah he was our favorite too.
The Waithman Family
Andrew gets a picture with his #1 Rider, Kent Austin. Signed by Kent, thanks to the Rider Staff!
Dear Roughriders,
I just wanted to share a picture of Dad-Ben Resler. He was one your best faithful fans. He passed away in Aug. 08 at the age of 96.
He loved the Rough Riders and had Rider Pride all his life. He never missed a game on tv, and couldn't wait for the morning paper to read about the game. He knew all the players and could tell you anything you wanted to know. He lived in Lampman Sask. And was proud to be a Rider fan! We miss him dearly and when the Rider's play we think of him.
Thanks for winning the Grey Cup for Dad!
Ron and Gerry Resler
Longtime Rider Fan Ben Resler
Riders Love Story
We met in the hotel lobby, over drinks. I was sitting with my friends, and he with his. They'd just come back from a pub and were discussing going to bed, and I was enjoying drinks until close after a long day of debate and resolution writing.
I kept hearing this bellowing laughter, so I kept peering around the side of my wing-backed chair to see who was making the ruckus. The one fellow flipped a finger out and motioned for me to join him and his friend. I decided to take him up on the offer, much to my friends' dismay.
He asked me my name, and I told him, then he told me his name - to which I replied, "Are you from Alberta? Because that's the most redneck name I've ever heard!!" He let out this LOUD laugh again and admitted that while he lived in Alberta, he was actually from Saskatchewan. I asked him why he was there, and he told me that he was there to see the Rider's capture the Grey Cup. We carried on throughout the night, with Riders coming and going through the lobby [one even signed our friend's head!] and then parted ways for the evening.
The following day, we met up in the lobby and shared a moment together where he hugged me, then headed out to Rogers Stadium to get the party started. Throughout the game, this die-hard, life-long Riders fan kept text messaging me - telling me how much he wished I was with him, and how much more exciting the game would be if I were there beside him.
When the Rider's won the Grey Cup - the hotel was a-buzz. The doors in the lobby were on lock down and you could only get in with a keycard. The first person back in the hotel from the game was him. He stood at the top of the stairs above the lounge and put his arms out and let out a loud, proud bellow. His Rider's had WON and he'd been there to witness it!!! He came to me and grabbed me up into a giant bear hug. He told me he'd be right back and left to his room to change. He came back quickly, still wearing his Riders jersey and hat, but in shorts and sandals. We partied into the night, celebrating the Riders' victory, and once again parted ways at the end of the evening.
I moved to Alberta to be with him in May 2008. We spent the summer watching the Riders through thick and thin, spending hours on the phone with our family in Saskatchewan as they attended the games with their season tickets; we felt the pain and said a prayer every time a player was put on the injured list; we defended them when people dogged them down; we mourned when they lost; and we celebrated heartily when they won! He took me to my first CFL game in September - the Labour Day Classic. I fell in love with Mosaic Stadium and became more passionate in my drive to be a part of the "Rider's Nation".
We continue to have a strong love for each other, a passion like no other - it shows in everything we do and have, including our passion for the one thing that brought us together.
Without the Riders getting to Grey Cup in 2007, we would have never met.
On January 13, 2009 he asked me to marry him. I said yes. The only thing left to do is decide a date, time and place.
KR
June 13 - 2:30 PM MST
June 20 - 1:00 PM MST
July 1 - 5:00 PM MST
Fan Comments
I want to definately include the entire team, including the team's coach. Seeing him on t.v. the other night and seeing the burden he is carrying was hard. please pass the message onto him and the whole team, how much we have appreciated his/their efforts. We hope the burden /sadness will lift and they cast their sites on 2010. We've got a great team.
High River, AB
Sunday’s Grey Cup game was almost exactly the previous paragraph. However, on each and every play someone did not achieve his specific objective as contained in paragraph one. A block is missed; a pass dropped; a smaller than needed gain on the ground; a tackling attempt that didn’t quite stop the runner; a penalty. Whatever it might have happened it is unlikely it might have happened to each and every one of you on a particular play, but it most likely did not happen to all of you at the same time; and whenever this happened, the end result was possibly partially successful as the Alouettes are a talented, creative team because any member can apply some combination of these characteristics and create a positive advantage on any given play.
This Grey Cup might be remembered as an incredible experience for each and every Rider on the playing field and all the strategist coaches and strategist/sidelined coaches. There were so many successes. There were blocks, tackles, runs, knockdowns, catches, and passes. In each in every category you as a team made positive results. Each play requires exact coordination and sometimes it is slightly ajar. That is why there is “always another play.” It is rarely, “first down and out”! THERE IS “ALWAYS ANOTHER PLAY.”
Yours, as a Rider, will occur on the kick off on the first league game of the 2010 Season. Embrace it and I expect you will do the same on each and every following play for the Riders (as in, your teammates and coaches). To those of you who return strive to “BRING BACK THE CUP!”
As a humble long term member of the foreign (as in Kelowna?) Rider Nation, I wish to express to all Riders (especially those who are leaving) thanks for great 2009 football season and Grey Cup memories. For those returning, you will the Nation’s appreciation at the start of that first 2010 game whether it is at home or just “out of the neighbourhood”. There is always Green in the stands. “BRING BACK THE CUP!”
Forever a rider fan,
Lynn Fletcher and family in High River Alberta