RIDERS CLEAN HOUSE, ROLL THE DYCE
The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced on Monday they have fired head coach Corey Chamblin, and vice president of football operations and general manager Brendan Taman.
The Roughriders are coming off a 35-13 loss to Ottawa on Sunday that dropped their record to 0-9. They are the only winless club in the CFL this season and sit in the West Division basement – six points behind the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who are 3-6.
“We are not meeting our expectations or our standards on the field and these changes were necessary to move us forward,” said Riders president and CEO Craig Reynolds.
“Brendan and Corey worked tirelessly for this organization and I thank them for all that they have done for our team. But we are in a results oriented business and the current position of our team is unacceptable and this decision was necessary for us to build this team towards sustained success.”
Both vacated positions will be filled on an interim basis with a full search being conducted at seasons end. Jeremy O’Day has been named interim VP of football operations and general manager, while Bob Dyce has been named interim head coach.
Chamblin led Saskatchewan to a Grey Cup in 2013, but this season was a struggle right from Week 1 when starting quarterback Darian Durant went down with a season-ending injury. Veteran back-up Kevin Glenn followed Durant with an injury, leaving rookie Brett Smith at pivot.
Chamblin joined the Riders in 2012 and went 29-34.
CKRM/Sportsnet CFL insider Arash Madani broke the story Monday night and provided the following analysis…
MADANI COMMENTS ON 620 CKRM ON THE FIRINGS
“I think there might some kind of impression that Brendan Taman went down on the sword — that he was told to fire Chamblin or he’d be out the door as well. However the information I’ve been given is that that’s not the case at all.
“Taman was, at this point, ready to part ways with Chamblin as the coach. He knew he lost the team with how things shook down Sunday in Ottawa and it was time to turn the page. But by that point it was too late. The organization had decided it was time to end their time with the GM and the coach. A GM whose first coaching hire was Corey Chamblin – a coach that brought them a championship – and was not given an opportunity to hire a second head coach. That’s what’s most puzzling of all.”
ON O’DAY AND DYCE
“At this point there was no other option. You’re not going to bring in a head coach worth his salt to take over an 0-9 team, to be a dead-man walking, with no quarterback, with no assurances past this year. You had to go internally, you had to find somebody and the show has to go on, not only for Labour Day, the Banjo Bowl and the remainder of the season. That’s how things will be moving forward. I’ll be surprised if at sometime Jeremy O’Day isn’t named the full-time GM in the months ahead but there will be a national search for the next head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.”
THE OTTAWA GAME WAS THE LAST STRAW FOR CHAMBLIN
“Totally agree. Corey Chamblin lost his football team in Ottawa with how that all shook down. Going with Tino Sunseri, a guy they weren’t even fans of last season, cut in training camp, and you’re supposed to be evaluating and developing for the future and you bench Brett Smith because of a sideline altercation in an emotional game? These are supposed to be grown men and grown professionals making intelligent decisions. This wasn’t one. While it wasn’t the cause of Chamblin’s demise, it was definitely the final straw that had him leave midway through this 2015 season.”
(With files from the Canadian Press)
The board got it right on this one, now the search begins for the right people!
Thank god it's about time both were an embarrassment to this organization!!!
BINGO!!!
Now I can sleep tonight.
Owen Nine
Thanks Coach Chamblin.
I believe he did his job with the best intentions everyday.
Never good to see someone loose his job however the ego this guy had when he stated how he's very employable…guess time will tell! O'day isn't the answer yet, like "Justin" "he's just not ready" but needs an extension as assistant gm and possibly director of player personnel.
Not so sure that Tamen should have been fired. I can't see that he did any thing wrong.
Your an idiot. Taman's record as a GM 83-105-1.
OMG
Tamen supported the coach to far, had he fired him weeks ago he'd still be employed.
Finally .
No he wasn't the first! Mike Stackhouse from Yorkton beat him to the punch. Here's the release: News Release The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced today they have relieved VP, football operations & general manager Brendan Taman, and head coach Corey Chamblin of their duties with the Football Club. “We are not meeting our expectations or our standards on the field and these changes were necessary to move us forward,” stated Riders President & CEO Craig Reynolds. “Brendan and Corey worked tirelessly for this organization and I thank them for all that they have done for our team,” continued Reynolds. “But we… Read more »
I got it from Madani Twitter feed. He's always first with everything significant.
Hey 'Great Coach' who's the boss now?
Great news, I'm proud of the boards decision. With this new leadership, we will redefine our goals and have a new beginning. GO RIDERS GO!
Jim Hopson you owe the Roughriders $1.5 million for your stupid decision to fire Tillman and give these clowns long term contracts. THIS IS 100% ON YOU JIM!!!
umm yeah..you are such an idiot..Where's tillman now ? Guess Grey cup wax nothing then…idiot…
O'Day and Dyce …… now that's a confidence builder.
They have to put someone in from within the team, who else is would you suggest, Bill Bellicheck?
Go be great somewhere else! I will bet dollars to dimes coach C doesn't head coach in the CFL ever again and Taman doesn't GM anywhere. Best of luck to their futures
So since 2013 we have fired our oc, dc, hc and gm. And now we have oday in the chair to rebuild for the rest of the year….what connections does he have? Oh well the mob got its wish once again. It is back to the 1980s circus. Who is going to want to join the organization where the mob runs the show and torches someone every year…..well i tuess someone who wants to get rich in a hurry. Come on in sign a long term contract and when we torch you then you will be a millionaire….. Good decision… Read more »
Goes to show how much Luc and Rod know.
Luc has far to much of a players perspective and not enough realizm. Rod just agrees with him and his buddy Arash.
Don't let the door hit your visor on the way out.
The people have spoken and The HC and GM are gone. Guess the reporters in Wpg weren't wearing green sunglasses like Rod!
lawless was wrong. had chamblain left smith in the game, he's still the riders HC.
Roddy is back on the team plane!
Ryan
After the Grey Cup: – Chamblin started to get freaky with his benching of the running backs for a fumble – that is weird! – Chamblin, more recently, now pulls and benches QB's for interceptions (strange how Kevin Glenn was not pulled for his once a game interception – Chamblin cuts Sunseri, then brings him back along with two others from U of Wash and U of Alabama… What gives Chamblin (and Taman), get rid of Sunseri and let the others in… Oh well, someone else will now have to get rid of Sunseri – Chamblin decides that he is… Read more »
Maybe this is the way a rebuild should happen. You could have a .500 record and fool yourself that you are a legitimate playoff contender. This way, you realize that more than one component needs fixing to right the ship. Like the Detroit Lions in 2008, sometimes it takes a stinker season to get your act together.