Amid Grey Cup celebrations in Vancouver, you’ll have to excuse the Saskatchewan Roughriders contingent if they aren’t that festive.
The Riders season abruptly came to a close in the West Final when they dropped a 38-22 decision to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Offensive lineman Logan Ferland, who is in B.C., admits he still hasn’t come to terms with the result.
“Still kind of sinking in. It is tough to be in a place like this and not be here on behalf of the team for the Grey Cup.”
“So, still a little bit of shock. We were very confident going into [the West Final] and we didn’t execute how we should have. So just unfortunate, disappointed,” Ferland added.
Defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr., who had a Most Outstanding Player calibre season, admits he hasn’t watched the game from Winnipeg.
“I watched a little bit of it but it hurt. I went home and had to come right back out [to Vancouver] and it’s still fresh. I’ve been talking to my wife about it periodically throughout the days, but I still haven’t gone back and watched the film yet.”
Head coach Corey Mace has been a Grey Cup champion three times, once as a player and twice as a coach. He admits the loss is tough, but down the road, it will be something that they can build on.
“I’ve been a part of teams who’ve come up short, and it motivates you a little bit differently, Mace said. “Certainly for myself having a first playoff run [as head coach of the Roughriders] other coaches on staff who are first-timers at what they’re doing. A lot of those guys in the locker room, whether being a home playoff game or an away playoff, there wasn’t a ton of experience.”
And the 38-year-old is excited for what that experience will bring.
“It’s going to do us well as we push forward, Mace said. “To see how the guys reacted was very familiar to me and that’s a good thing.”