RIDER NEWS CONFERENCE NOTES
If you weren’t able to listen to Tuesday’s news conference at which new Roughrider Head Coach & GM Chris Jones announced his assistant V.P.’s of Football (John Murphy and Jeremy O’Day), here’s a synopsis of what was said:
JONES
– This is a group that knows how to win and is a cohesive unit. Murphy’s worked 12 years in the league and been to three Grey Cups, winning two. The other guy (O’Day) has been to five Grey Cups and won three.
– Worked with Murphy over in Calgary and had a great relationship. He will be the assistant V.P. of Player Personnel and will assist in every way on the personnel side.
– Jeremy has been with the Riders for “quite some time”. He’ll be the assistant V.P. of Football Operations & Administration.
– It’s an interesting dynamic as we all are three big circles that will intersect. We’ve talked at length how this is going to work. Jeremy’s playing history will be a huge benefit, but has worked some in personnel and lots in administration.
– You win by surrounding yourself with good people. John Hufnagel’s made a career of it and Jim Popp’s the same. That’s the model the new Roughriders want.
O’DAY
– The hiring process was a trying time but it’s hard to argue with the results when you look at these three men together. Tough to beat the decision that was made. Feels very comfortable with this group and the direction of the team. That’s all been laid out and they’re all on the same page. Jones, within five minutes of meeting with O’Day, has laid out his vision and it’s exciting.
– Reached out to Jones after 24 hours of “pouting a little bit” but picked him up at the airport and after meeting, they’re ready to roll.
MURPHY
– Wasn’t looking to leave Calgary but interviewing for the Rider GM job was an extraordinary opportunity and is probably the best job in the league. When he didn’t get the job, he went back to work in Calgary but then received another call from Saskatchewan extending this opportunity.
– Thanks Calgary for allowing him the opportunity to join them in 2007 and grow and learn and bring him to the point where he’s ready to join the Riders in this role. This is a “once in a lifetime” opportunity and there’s only one “Saskatchewan Roughriders team” in our league. It’s very exciting to build this team and also wonderful to have Jeremy O’Day stay with the club. The players and fans will be very excited about the coaching staff that will be unveiled on Wednesday.
– We win (Murphy and Jones together). That’s it. Period. That’s what we’re here for and that’s our plan. Having Chris Jones on the sideline makes you a better football team.
JONES
– I’m extremely fortunate. We have three of the four candidates who interviewed for this job all at this table. As Murphy mentioned, the Riders are the pinnacle of this league and we’re here at a good time — to do the things that will put the wheels in motion to win.
– It’s not an accident to win games. You have good people and there’s support from the top down. When things started falling into place, I realized this could be special.
MURPHY
– The Rider roster got better today. They asked in the interview if this is “a project”. I said yes and no. They had a chance early and young guys fought hard late in the year. There are a lot of holes and age that need to be addressed. We need to get younger, faster, and our Canadian content needs to continue to improve especially through the draft.
JONES
– Right now I’m concentrating on getting the staff in order and securing these two guys. Once the staff is order, then I’ll be calling players not only from me but the whole staff.
– Darian is a winner. He’s confident on the field and the team takes on a different personality when he’s not there. He’s a tremendous player and we hope he gets back to being 100% and to the old Darian.
MURPHY
– There are 250,000 people here who think they can do, or want to do this job. I was in Disneyworld last year and there was a guy with a Rider jersey on. I’m in New Orleans trying to watch a game and there’s eight Rider fans watching the Rider game on TV in the same bar. This is a step up from every other team in the league. Look at the history! We’re going to close one facility and open one of the finest facilities in North America a year from now. To help feed the system to put players on the field for those two things – how do you turn that down?
I can hardly wait for the 2016 season.
Glad Murphy knows this is the best place in the league to be!
Hey old yaitzee happy birthday! Cindy, if you read this please drag his lame butt out of the house and get him a good time with the fellas. None of this movie and in bed snoring by 9:30.
Speaker Ryan
They call him the Fireman
That's his name
Making his rounds all over town putting out old flames
Well everybody'd like to have what he's got
He can cool em down when they're smouldering hot
He's the fireman, that's his name.
Happy birthday buddy
Gundersons Yorkton
Did 3-15 really happen only a month ago? When you hear these guys talk about WANTING to be here in Saskatchewan and you contrast that to the 1980s and 1990s when no one wanted to even think about coming here you start to wonder how did it change? What caused this huge shift? Hopson? Tillman? I'd really like to hear what everyone thinks about this…how did we go from the pariah of the league to THE place to be?
One name only will suffice, Shivers! Mr. Roy Shivers! End of story.
Money
Definitely not Hopson. He never would have hired Jones cause then he wouldn't have a say in football ops or take credit for stuff that he had nothing to do with. It's a new regime town and it's very refreshing. You don't see Reynolds posing with the new hires yesterday or today. Word has it Hopsin asked Reynolds to ask Jones if he could introduce the new staff and Jones told him to beat it. Murphy stated it yesterday, this team was on a bad path and resulted in the piss poor record these last six years. Hopson loved to… Read more »
Hey Kim, some good books out there already on recent Rider history. Just grab any by Rob Vanstone to start (or go visit and chat with John Lynch). The Jim Hopson book is also worth a read. You won't get intelligent analysis on this comment section as it has been of late infiltrated by too many unhappy Eskimo and Stamp fans spewing crap.
Old Hank
….you're so dumb….$600,000 reasons were given to "want" to be in Saskatchewan.
Kim K … the fans. people want to be part of something everyone is invested in.
Kim if you look back everyone said they were thrilled to be here in the 80's and 90's even if they weren't. These guys are here now and it is great but if this off season has taught cfl fans anything it is that they can leave quickly too…You can bet if someone is looking for coaches or management there are some other teams right now that would love to stick it to the riders
That person at Disneyland wearing a jersey surely must have been Brendan Taman scouting???? on behalf of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Hmmm… weren't a few of those announced team cuts just recently re-signed by the past Roughriders interm gm? Now they're unemployed under a new regime. And what happened to those head coaching candidates that were interviewed during Grey Cup week? Got to feel sorry for those who went through the process. No wonder…
Eddy Coslet
Hey Kim K,
It was Shivers and Barrett. Before we were a joke and no one wanted to play in Regina.
Then Hopson kept it rolling.
Whiner nation is far far from the place to be everybody is here because they are all being overpaid otherwise no way they come to whinerville , doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure that out even though riders fans cant count to 12 without a calculator ,which is the perfect gift for all riders fans.
Love this comment from Jones:
" That's the model the new Roughriders want."
He's got a vision and he's making it happen – have to respect that.
Anonymous with the calculator comment: You are a wannabe Rider fan. Look at how cute this is,,, you coming on OUR blog and chatting with us. Thank you for also being as invested in the Riders as our own fans. We know your team's blog isn't as good as this one, the number one sports blog in all of Canada. That's because of the best Play by Play man and football marketer in all of Canada and all of us fans. If you could count to twelve you would have known that. Keep your calculator….. your gonna need it to… Read more »
Mr. Saskatchewan …. If you actually believe that Rod is the best play by play then you sure haven't listened to any others. There's a reason he's still in Regina. At least you gave me a good laugh for today.
Rod is more of a Bobby the brain Heenan type. He doesn't mind pissing a few people off it means promoting his brand. Although sounds like him and the new coach are off on the wrong foot so now he'll have to be more of a Jerry Lawler and kiss some ass.
Rod has turned down more than one NHL job in the past to stay here until his family was raised. That is just coming to an end. Rod will end up in Vegas during the Arizona relocation in 3-5 years. He is BY FAR the best play by play man of any sport in Canada. That's why they have him do the World Juniors when he wants to. So you are right , there is a reason Rod is still in Regina, I just gave it to you. You don't have a clue bud.
MR. SASKATCHEWAN