Former Saskatchewan Roughrider George Reed
Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, Leader-Post files
Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, Leader-Post files
REGINA — Even for Saskatchewan Roughriders legend George Reed, game day at Mosaic Stadium really isn't all that different than for many fans.
His first few minutes after walking into the stadium at 3:30 p.m. before Sunday's contest with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats were not spent seeking out the Roughriders for an inspirational speech or being paraded in by the pep band. Instead, Reed's first order of business was checking for an update on the PGA championship on the televisions in the Green and White Lounge, followed shortly by propping up the wobbly table at which he was seated with his wife, Angie.
Of course, as the day wears on, Reed tends to pose for a few more photographs, sign a few more autographs and make a few more speeches and introductions than does the typical fan.
Just a half hour before Sunday's game, Reed is called away from his usual pre-game mingling in the lounge to meet the Plemel family from Humboldt.
Turns out that Maurice and Grace Plemel's daughter Megan takes classes from Reed's daughter Georgette, a professor and track and field coach at the University of Alberta.
"I ended up talking to her and how my dad loved watching his favourite player of all time," explains Megan. "I got him a George Reed jersey and e-mailed (Georgette) this week to see if we could set something up that he would autograph it. Georgette set it up with her dad that we could come an hour early and get it done."
Reed gladly spent a few minutes talking to the family, signing the jersey and posing for a photo with Maurice, even making sure they were in the right light so the picture turned out.
"He so humble," Grace says after the encounter.
"He so humble," Grace says after the encounter.
"Obviously it was a thrill," adds Maurice. "And our daughters conspired to make it happen, which makes it even more special. His fame is pretty long-lasting. He's as popular today as he was when he played football."
That's something that still takes the ex-running back by surprise. And given that he is indeed humbled each time someone approaches him for an autograph or photo, Reed is always happy to accommodate.
"If you don't like it, it's time for you to go into hibernation," Reed says, laughing. "I'm very honoured that people still want it. If they want it, I have time to give it."
In between all the reminiscing with fans, Reed also has time to serve as a pseudo master of ceremonies in the Green and White Lounge — making announcements, introducing special guests and the like — before he and Angie head out to their seats in the first row of the west-side stands.
"When it's nice," notes a chuckling Reed after heading back inside to escape a cold, wet Sunday evening in Regina. "I didn't bring any rain clothes today so I couldn't be sitting out there."
Instead, Reed finds an unoccupied corner of the lounge to watch the contest on one of several widescreen TVs.
Instead, Reed finds an unoccupied corner of the lounge to watch the contest on one of several widescreen TVs.
"You've got the best seat in the house, George," says one server.
"Today I do," comes the reply.
"Today I do," comes the reply.
Throughout the game Reed watches it through the eyes of a player.
"It depends on who is playing," Reed admits. "I'm probably more critical watching a Saskatchewan game than I am watching a regular game. I watch all the games that I can. But
I'm more on edge watching Saskatchewan games and I'm watching different aspects of it."
Sometimes it's the special teams, sometimes it's the defence and sometimes it's his old stomping grounds at running back.
Sometimes it's the special teams, sometimes it's the defence and sometimes it's his old stomping grounds at running back.
Even on a seemingly meaningless play that doesn't appear to warrant any analysis, Reed can come out with something noteworthy to say.
Case in point: Near the end of the first half Roughriders tailback Wes Cates is held up by a wall of Tiger-Cats defenders before eventually being thrown to the ground. The first thought through Reed's head is how he loved defenders attempting to throw him rather than stop him in his tracks.
"Any time a guy grabs you and throws you, he doesn't know it, but he's throwing you toward the first down," said Reed. "I kind of watch everything, but it's different phases of the game that I watch closely. In that case, of course you like to see the running back and if he's hitting the right holes and what he's doing with the football. That time, Wes did an excellent job of it and the guys just grabbed him."
That's about as into the game as Reed, who will turn 70 in October, gets anymore. He doesn't meet with players beforehand ("I let them get prepared to play and get ready to go," he said) and completely stays out of the way of the team.
"I'd don't get fired up about it anymore," he said. "There's certain plays at certain times you have that feeling like, 'I could do it on this play.' They cause you to want to be in the game. There's a few plays each year that that happens, but outside that, no, I just kind of relax."
And when the game is over and the Roughriders have escaped with a 33-23 win, Reed slips out as quietly as he slipped in. No fanfare, no need for any extra attention — although he probably signed an autograph or two on the way home.
And when the game is over and the Roughriders have escaped with a 33-23 win, Reed slips out as quietly as he slipped in. No fanfare, no need for any extra attention — although he probably signed an autograph or two on the way home.
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