GUTFRIEND, DOMINGUEZ TO PLAZA OF HONOR
The Saskatchewan Roughrider Plaza of Honor Committee has announced two new members will be inducted into the Plaza of Honor as the class of 2016. This year Matt Dominguez and Ivan Gutfriend will have their names forever etched into Saskatchewan Roughrider history.
Gutfriend spent 38 seasons as the Riders head trainer (1978-2015) winning three Grey Cups. He is originally from Leader, SK.
Dominguez played for the Roughriders for six seasons (2003-2008) being named a Division All-Star in 2006 and winning a Grey Cup in 2007. The Texas product played his college football at Sam Houston State and had NFL stints with the Denver Broncos and New York Jets.
The Plaza of Honor Dinner presented by SaskTel has inducted 120 individuals who have made major contributions to the proud tradition of the Saskatchewan Roughrider Football Club. The club has also inducted the 1966, 1989 and 2007 Grey Cup championship teams.
The cairn recognizing the Plaza of Honor inductees is situated outside the main gates on the west side of Mosaic Stadium. The Plaza of Honor cairn is sponsored by SaskTel, SASK SPORT INC. and the City of Regina.
The SaskTel Plaza of Honor Dinner is known as Saskatchewan’s most prestigious sports dinner and as a result has contributed over $6 million to the Saskatchewan Roughrider Football Club.
This year’s dinner is set for Friday, September 16 in the Credit Union Eventplex at Evraz Place. Five seasons ago the Dinner was moved to the Eventplex in order to meet the demand for tickets and accommodate a larger audience. The space allows patrons the opportunity comfortably mingle and meet friends and associates throughout the evening.
For information on tickets or corporate tables, contact the Saskatchewan Roughrider Ticket Office at 525-2181 or 1-888-474-3377 or any committee member.
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GUTFRIEND QUOTES
IG: “My first visit to Taylor Field if you will was in 1970 so, having followed a person like Sandy Archer, was monumental to me. And working with pro athletes at this level was beyond my feelings with regards to how important was to me. This was something I dreamt of doing since 1969 so I’m just overwhelmed right now with this honour.
“I’ve had a fair amount of coverage in the past. That’s fine. I’m not the focal point. It’s not all about me as most of you know. It’s about the players and my role was to have them have success and get them on the field to help the team have success. Here again it’s really not about me. It’s about the players.
“I have a lot of memories but obviously two stand out: one was winning in 1989 after 11 years of not making the playoffs at all. That was pretty huge. And secondly, the 2009 (Grey Cup) loss in Calgary was overwhelming from my perspective. Here’s a game that we had, with just a minutes left and lost a game like that. Those are the two major things that stand out in my mind.”
DOMINGUEZ QUOTES
MD: It feels really good. When you look up the all-time greats, the guys that are already in, it’s a lot of slotbacks. And I played wide receiver. So for the WR position to get some love, that’s good.
“I told my wife that I spent a lot of time with Ivan! So for me to go in with Ivan and spend some time with him, it kind of makes sense.
“When I first got here in 2003 my thinking was to just make the team. From Day 1, Shivers, Danny Barrett, I’ve had a lot of quarterbacks. If you look it up, I had seven or eight QBs and I only played six years. To be a part of the resurgence of the Riders, because in 2003 we slowly got a little better, I was never part of a losing season. And to be able to produce the way I was able to when I was ‘on’, I never thought about the end. It’s just an honour to be here.”
Congrats Ivan.
That is all.
Unbelievable. The guy who tapes ankles gets in, and I just want to get this correct. The guy who didn't play in the 2007 big game gets in but the guy who did and won the MVP that year is not getting in? This is what they are saying?
"Honor"… the American spelling of Honour.
I can't think of two more deserving ex – Riders, and nice guys to boot. Ivan continued capably after the great Sandy Archer.
And Matt, for all the great catches I remember a crushing block a number of years ago in the playoffs at Edmonton.
Well done, gentlemen!
Still no Wes Cates? booo.
Congratulations to both Ivan and Matt.
Anon #3: As opposed to what…the British spelling? Who cares. I mean, besides you.
Congrats to both men.
Anon #2. It's obviously about more than one game, even if it was the Grey Cup game. It's about a career. Think about it for a bit.
debate all you want about Dominguez but 30+ years with the team for Ivan = undoubtedly deserved. If you question that you got problems. Pick another team, seriously!
#blamejonesandmurphy
Congrats to both of them, well deserved! It's not only about the game, it's also what you did after the game, and after you retired in the community.
Why don't they just rename it the Plaza of Mediocrity already. But they'd probably spell that wrong too.
Where's Mr. Roy Shivers name along with Mr. Danny Barrett? Two men who successfully built the Roughriders team from the ashes of doom.
Ivan, yeah good pick. Dominguez, you have to be kidding. All I remember of this guy is he seemed to be injured all the time.
Riders haven't contributed a dime to the stadium build. Their pitence of the deal will commence once they occupy (and only then) allotted space in the building.
Actually they've committed tens of millions of dollars already.
$10000000 / $350000000 x 100% = 2.9%. But that just math kinda like honor and honour what the difference? All reading, writing, and arithmetic ever done was provide context.
Congratulations to both men, I respect both!
The idiots are out in full force I see.
h-o-n-o-u-r