Go Riders!

If you haven't figured it out yet, my user name is ridersrgr8 as since I was old enough to remember I have been a Saskatchewan Roughriders fan. I live and die with the fate of my team. I am a passionate fan and I follow every season, every game and every play. I rarely miss a game on TV and when I can I see them in live. The Riders are my team.

Even though I have yet to comment on the Riders in this forum, I believe my user name is appropriate. I am a Riders fan and despite the years of disappointment, no one will tell me that they are not great.

So here is my first post on the Riders. It comes on the day that Eric Tillman has replaced Roy Shivers. I liked Roy Shivers and I like Eric Tillman. Though I do not like change in the middle of the season, something had to be done. I have nothing but respect for the job Shivers did in bringing in quality players, but two things bothered me. One, why does this team continually underperform with the talent they have? I know it is Danny Barrett's job to get the players ready and motivated for each game, but this is one issue that has been there the entire time of the Barrett - Shivers regime. Maybe a change in the GM job will get the players out of their funk and play with some consistency.

Secondly, I am sick and tired about reading about my favorite team, and more specifically about the players on my favorite team being in the news for the wrong reasons. Fights in bars, DUI's, sexual assaults...the list is too long. And most of this has taken place under Shiver's watch...and he has stood behind his players, but when you don't have the results on the field, you get tired of hearing of the problems happening off the field.

That's in the past. Looking forward, Eric Tillman's record indicates he is a no-nonsense type of general manager. The son of a Minister, he will not tolerate behavior that was too common in the past. The players will have to behave themselves off the field (especially in Regina, where everyone knows their name) or they are gone. I am one of those fans who does not want to see any more off field transgressions. I can understand why the Rider's Board of Directors and specifically Jim Hopson went this route...it makes sense if they want to improve both on and off the field.

Although I respected the job Shivers did in bringing in talent, the off field shenanigans have worn thin on me and I support this change.

In the long run it is the right thing to do. Go Riders.