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Former Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive lineman Scott Schultz explained why Regina might be better than Saskatoon for Canadian Football League training camp.
"The way I look at it is I'm a facilities guy. If I were on this team now, if I spent any more time at the stadium, I'd be a stand or a chair. I would spend all my time at the stadium using the facilities, using the hot tub, the cold tub, the treatment, everything that's there. You look at the facility that they have now, it is state-of-the-art," Schultz told SportsCage host Barney Shynkaruk.
"There's no one in the CFL that has a comparable one. Maybe Winnipeg a little bit, but it's kind of trashy over there. You know how that goes, very Winnipeg-ish."
Schultz expanded on his reasoning and explains how the Riders can bring events besides training camp to Saskatoon.
"I'm not saying cut Saskatoon out. They're obviously doing that game, and we'll talk about that as it comes, but there are other things that could take the place of a training camp in Saskatoon to build Riders fanship up there," Schultz said.
"You look at that facility, we're not the NFL, so we're not going to all these other facilities that have the same type of access. Whereas Mosaic Stadium is an unbelievable state-of-the-art facility with amenities for these players. I don't know why you would not use them during a time like training camp."
Schultz spent time in the NFL from 2001 to 2002 with the San Diego Chargers and the Pittsburgh Steelers then joined Saskatchewan in the CFL. He was the Green and White's first overall pick in 2001 and stayed with the team from 2002 through 2009. While with the Riders, he won the Grey Cup in 2007 as Saskatchewan defeated Winnipeg 23-19.
Schultz explained he initially did not get to participate in training camps in Saskatoon at the start of his CFL career.
"The first two years, I always missed training camp because I was down in the States. I did the Chargers (2001) training camp and the Steelers (2002)," Schultz recalled. "I missed the first two training camps, came in mid-season, and then my first full season in 2003, we did at Luther. I never got to experience going up to Saskatoon at all."
The Roughriders will host a preseason game in Saskatoon against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday, May 23, which Schultz believes is a smart idea.
"That's the kind of thing, not to belabour my other point, but you can substitute for a training camp up there. If you're doing stuff like that with a buildup and those kinds of things, couple of practices, I love that idea," Schultz explained.
"I love having a game offsite, albeit it's a preseason game, but it certainly gives an opportunity to the northern half to get more involved, get down there and get a piece of what's going on at the stadium."
