RIDER PRIDE

By Murray McCormick, Leader-PostNovember 10, 2009

REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders take pride in their ability to deal with off-field distractions.

The Riders have put those aside en route to finishing first in the West Division for the first time since 1976. There were doubters, especially considering what happened during the Riders' off-season.

The Riders are playing host to the West Division final on Nov. 22 despite general manager Eric Tillman being on paid administrative leave since Feb. 3.

Tillman isn't allowed to be in the team's offices or to talk to the media while a summary charge of sexual assault works its way through the courts. The charge is scheduled to be heard in Regina Provincial Court beginning on Jan. 4.

"If there was a shadow over this team it didn't cast a very big one because we're still shining,'' Riders running back Wes Cates said after Saturday's 30-14 victory over the Calgary Stampeders. "That's something that we have to let take care of itself. It's his business and the organization is doing what it can to make things work.''
Tillman operates the team from a distance. He remains involved in player moves and communicates

regularly with head coach Ken Miller and director of player personnel Joe Womack. The players are aware of what is taking place but continue to concentrate on the Riders' season.

"We focus on football and we don't worry about anything else,'' said quarterback Darian Durant. "(Eric) can still call Joe or Ken to get his point across. He's still in our ear.''

There have been some significant player moves made this season by Tillman. When the offensive line was hit by injuries, Tillman signed Joel Bell. The rookie import has started 15 games at right tackle.
The special teams received boosts with the signings of two former Riders. Tillman signed returner Jason Armstead on Aug. 31 and Kitwana Jones on Sept. 9. Both players have made considerable contributions to the special teams.

"Eric brings in the players in this locker room,'' said Durant. "That's why this team is good as we are — because of his scouting and the things that he does for the team.''

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Veteran Riders centre Jeremy O'Day isn't getting too worked up over reports that the CFL and the players' association could be headed towards a lockout before training camps open in 2010.
There were reports last week that the CFL would like to increase the players' work day from 41⁄2 hours to six and reduce the number of starting Canadians from seven to four. The reports suggested those changes could lead to a lockout, a scenario that has never happened in the past.

"They started talking about it early and that's a good sign,'' said O'Day, who is one of the CFLPA representatives with the Riders.

"It's negotiations and the CBA and those things are going to happen. I have confidence that our executive will do a good job for us.''

NOTES: There are approximately 500 tickets remaining for the West Division final. The Riders have sold about 2,500 tickets since Saturday's win over the Stampeders ... In 2009, four of TSN's five top-rated CFL games featured the Roughriders. The Riders' 33-30 overtime win over the B.C. Lions on Oct. 24 was TSN's top-rated game. It attracted 1.2 million viewers. The Edmonton Eskimos' 31-27 victory over the Riders on Sept. 20 was second with 1.1 million viewers, followed by the Edmonton-Calgary game on Sept. 7. (1.09 million), Saskatchewan's win over Calgary on Saturday (1.08 million) and the Riders' 19-16 loss to the Lions on Oct. 2 (1.04 million). TSN said that overall viewership of the CFL's 72 regular-season games had increased 51 per cent in 2009 compared to 2008.
(Rider Beat appears Tuesdays during the CFL season.)

mmccormick@leaderpost.canwest.com