A-MACE-ING
(Listen daily for the RP Commentary on Cat Country 98 and LTD Radio)
I was going to comment today on Alex Ovechkin’s stalled chase of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goals record.
But Ovie isn’t catching Wayne anytime soon, so that can wait for another day.
No, it’s not everyday a head coach is hired in the Canadian Football League, and it’s even more rare in Saskatchewan.
Thursday morning I woke up to the notification from TSN that the Riders have hired Corey Mace as the successor to Craig Dickenson, and the man who will be tabbed to turn this franchise around.
It’s going to be a big job.
How we got here may or not be important but the reports are certainly interesting that Hamilton assistant coach and longtime NFL’er Scott Milanovich turned the Rider job down because the Saskatchewan braintrust wanted a say in his coaching staff, among other things.
To say that surprises me would be a flat overstatement.
So it’s Corey Mace, and he wouldn’t be the first guy to take a job after not being the #1 choice. (It’s working out pretty well for Rick Bowness with the Winnipeg Jets).
Mace is a Canadian from Port Moody, BC who played three seasons as a D-lineman with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, another six with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders, and has been coaching since 2016 in Calgary, then Toronto.
I’ve never met him but he comes with a great reputation as both a football man, and human being.
And while I haven’t been reporting on this story daily, that hasn’t stopped my phone from buzzing from the football people. They say Mace will be bringing Marc Mueller with him as his offensive coordinator; the Regina Rams and Sheldon Williams Collegiate great, longtime Calgary assistant, and grandson of Ron Lancaster, the “Greatest Roughrider Of ‘Em All”.
The football folk say that same Rider braintrust thinks the hiring of Mueller will earn the team back some goodwill within the Rider Nation, given Marc’s family’s ties to the franchise and province.
I love Marc, but it says here the only way to do that, will be by winning football games.
That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary
(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm & 5 pm ET on Game+TV, WQEE Radio, Podcast & YouTube Live)
I have been following this search closely and you are the only one stating that the head coach job was ever offered to Scott Milanovich. It is widely believed that the Riders lost interest after hearing who his assistant coaching staff would be. But you always put a spin on things to make the Riders look as bad as possible.
Incorrect. That info came from Justin Dunk on CJME’s Greenzone. The Riders don’t need my help to look bad. They’re doing fine on their own.
Good chance the Riders are turning a corner here. Feels like a great opportunity to be part of the positive momentum and get back to promoting the team.
You don’t know the story Dan so I’ll write what I want to write. You can either return to this site or not. I don’t really care.
No problem Rod! I saw this answer coming. Was just trying to help you lose some of the hate you have balled up inside. After years, I’ve had enough of your growing arrogance and desire to get people upset to feed your ego. I’ve removed my bookmark for your site. Won’t bother you further. See ya!
Good. Good-bye.
Milanovich told the old boys club where to go and likely Pierce did the same, good on them. These two buffoons are the laughing stock of the league. (Reynolds and O Day).
Mace won’t have much say, he will be a “yes” man. Wish him the best of luck.
#greenemptyseats
Take a hike Dan. Don’t disrespect anyone that can cone back to you with way more smarts than you’ll ever have. Go back to your moms basement and let the rest of us read about something we care about rather then some idiot bashing someone who writes about what we care about
I totally believe that a micro managed decision in regards to assistant coaches was put forth by O’Day and Reynolds. Nothing against Mace but if during the interview this was said by the GM and President this is unacceptable. You hire the coach and he hires his assistants. Does this mean that they don’t like any of the assistant coaches in place right now. How does this make them feel. People are forgetting O’Day was passed up by every GM job he applied for. The red flag on why he was passed on so many times is showing through now… Read more »
Scott Milanovich definitely would never work for those 2 bozos above him. I wonder how many other coaches turned them down? They had to hire a rookie head coach with no experience who would work for anyone just to get to be a head coach!
The Riders could revive Elvis Presley for half-time entertainment and still not sellout. It’ll be that way as long as Reynolds and O’Day are in charge and I can’t understand why the BOD can’t see that.
Maybe they will clue in this year when there is even more empty seats than last year.
I have been of the opinion for many years the structure (Board of Directors, team President) for the football operations of the Saskatchewan Roughriders Football Club is not conducive to success in professional sports. A major shakeup, a major rethink and overhaul to this organization is needed it’s obvious, The dictated decisions emanating from two particular men running Saskatchewan Roughriders team management (O’Day+Reynolds) is just getting more absurd with each passing moment. The Saskatchewan Roughriders are persona non grata within the pro coaching ranks and the laughing stock of professional football. Something drastic needs to happen to fix what impedes… Read more »
What I had being saying all along; “wanted a say in his coaching staff, among other things.” Any football man worth his salt can take a look at those two and realize what Reynolds/O’Day don’t know could fill a book. This is a good move for Corey Mace. Nothing reiterates what Reynolds said about hiring a Head Coach that understands the uniqueness of Saskatchewan than a former a Stampeder, born in B.C, and coac, coached in Toronto. Milanovich turned this down and his coaching tree is getting to be Don Mathews level. Plus he’s buddies with Chris Jones who informed… Read more »
I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall during the Milanovich interview. Who was actually interviewing Who?
I believe that most Rider Fans were hoping for either Mace or Pierce and are pleased with the choice the Riders have made. But not much room for positivity regarding the Riders on this comment site.
Now the truth comes out that Buck Pierce also turned downed the Riders. You cant blame anyone for not wanting to be here working for a clown with his poor track record and who signs Trevor Harris and Anthony Lanier combined for over 700k a year!! Then on top of it he signs Juan Brescasin who has been injured his whole career. I could go on and on! Poor Mace the next Rider scapegoat. Cue the 2024 circus to begin