Reflecting on the past 12 months, the mind instantly rewinds to Oct. 1, when the sad news circulated that Saskatchewan Roughriders icon George Reed had passed away — one day shy of his 84th birthday.
The outpouring of tributes was a comforting reminder of his exemplary contributions on the football field and in the community.
George’s story isn’t thoroughly told by simply enumerating a scroll of impressive statistics, some of which are detailed below.
As fondly as we remember No. 34’s battles with fellow CFL legends such as Calgary Stampeders linebacker Wayne Harris, it was the one-on-one interactions of a different nature that resonated with fans who affectionately related personal tales of cherished time shared with George.
In that spirit, we begin our recap of the past 365 days by honouring — in the order of their passing — dear friends the Rider family lost in 2023.
Martin Fabi (punter/tight end, 1962-65), Nov. 1, 1941-Jan. 5, 2023. On Sept. 14, 1963, Fabi set enduring CFL single-game records for punts (18) and punt yardage (814). He averaged 45.2 yards per boot in a 4-4 tie with the Stampeders at McMahon Stadium. For the season, he averaged 44.0 yards per boot. His 149 punts in 1963 were the most ever by a Roughrider in a 16-game regular season.
Dave Albright (linebacker, 1986-91), Jan. 25, 1960-Jan. 26, 2023. Albright, in his first full season as the Roughriders’ middle linebacker, amassed 118 defensive tackles for the 1987 edition. He set a franchise single-season record that lasted until Darnell Sankey made 120 stops in 2022. Albright’s signature play was a game-changing, 62-yard fumble-return touchdown in the 1989 West Division final at Edmonton. One week after helping Saskatchewan upset a 16-2 Edmonton powerhouse, Albright and his teammates celebrated the second Grey Cup victory in franchise history.
Joe Moss (Assistant Coach, 1977), April 19, 1930-Jan. 31, 2023. Moss’s accomplished coaching career included CFL stops in Saskatchewan, Toronto, Hamilton and Ottawa. In 1977, Moss worked with the Roughriders’ defensive backs and linebackers. He was the Toronto Argonauts’ Interim Head Coach in 1974 and later called the shots for the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1985 and 1986.
Jerry Zbytnuik (halfback, training camp 1967), Jan. 30, 1944-Feb. 10, 2023. After starring for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, Zbytnuik was chosen by the Roughriders in the sixth round (42nd overall) of the 1967 CFL Draft. He was the Regina Rams’ Head Coach when they won Canadian junior football titles in 1980 and 1981.
John Fedosoff (running back/defensive back, 1958), Nov. 19, 1932-Feb. 16, 2023. Born in Canora, Fedosoff played professional football with the Argonauts (1952-54), Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1955-57) and Montreal Alouettes (1958) before joining the home-province Roughriders on Oct. 12, 1958. He was an East All-Star defensive back in 1955.
Dr. Donovan Brown (team physician, 1982 to 2007), 1932-Feb. 23, 2023). A great friend to the sporting community, Dr. Brown was also the team doctor for the Regina Intercollegiate Football League’s Thom Trojans for more than 25 years. A faithful Roughriders season-ticket member since 1970, he was also a shareholder and the proud owner of two Grey Cup rings (from 1989 and 2007).
Don Esch (Roughriders fan/volunteer), Sept. 21, 1939-March 11, 2023. Don often referred to himself as the “gopher chauffeur,” a label that was well-earned as the driver of the Gainer-mobile. Don’s wife, Sharron, was often in the passenger seat as the vehicle motored around the perimeter of Taylor Field following Roughriders touchdowns. The Gainer-mobile, with Don at the wheel, also appeared in the 1989 Grey Cup Parade.
Jim Copeland (defensive back/punt returner, 1961-64), Jan. 2, 1939-May 6, 2023. Copeland was a fearless punt returner in the days, unimaginable now, when blocking was not permitted. He reliably returned 229 punts over four seasons as a Roughrider in addition to registering eight interceptions (including three in 1961 and 1962).
Jesse Kaye (quarterback, 1967), March 7, 1944-June 3, 2023. Kaye was primarily a backup to Ron Lancaster in 1967. On Aug. 30 of that year, Kaye started in Edmonton because No. 23 was sidelined with an ankle injury. Kaye subsequently scouted for NFL teams for nearly 30 years, the lengthiest association being with the New York Jets (1994-2014).
Tom Beynon (offensive lineman, 1966-67), July 13, 1941-June 26, 2023. Beynon appeared in a Grey Cup Game in each of his first four CFL seasons (with Saskatchewan in 1966 and 1967 and Ottawa the following two years). A member of Saskatchewan’s first championship team, he studied law at the U of S while playing for the Roughriders and eventually enjoyed a long and successful career in the legal profession.
Tom MacCallum (offensive lineman, 1993-94), Dec. 22, 1970-July 11, 2023. After starring for the Rams and twice being named a Prairie Football Conference All-Star, MacCallum dressed for 21 games with the Roughriders over the 1993 and 1994 seasons. He remained involved in the sport as a coach while also positively influencing the lives of young people as a teacher and school administrator.
Darrel Aschbacher (offensive lineman, 1962), June 2, 1936-July 15, 2023. In 1962, Aschbacher dressed for 12 games and helped the Roughriders make the playoffs for the first time since 1958. During training camp with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles in 1959, Aschbacher’s roommate was a rookie tackle named John Madden. Late in Aschbacher’s football career, he was hired as a pilot by Delta Air Lines, for which he flew from 1961 to 1996.
Gary Brandt (offensive lineman, 1967-77), April 11, 1943-July 17, 2013. How is this for durable?! From 1968 to 1977, Brandt played in each of the Roughriders’ 16 regular-season games, in addition to helping the team advance to the Grey Cup in 1969, 1972 and 1976. He was named the Roughriders’ Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 1975. More accolades followed in 2002, when he entered the SaskTel Plaza of Honour alongside long-time offensive line cohort Larry Bird.
Fred Wagman (President, 1996-97; Board member, 1993-2000), Feb. 6, 1937-July 18, 2023. Under Wagman’s Presidency, the Roughriders withstood dire financial challenges — which were eased by a successful telethon that was held on March 15, 1997 — and advanced to the 85th Grey Cup Game. Wagman’s support of his beloved Green and White was reflected by the fact that he owned season tickets for 65 years. For a quarter-century after his Presidency, he was a perennial and valued presence at the Roughriders’ Annual General Meeting — a reliable seconder of motions and dispenser of good cheer.
Zenon Andrusyshyn (practice roster, 1986), Feb. 25, 1947-Aug. 7, 2023. “The Big Z” was 39 when he tried out for the punter-starved Roughriders in August of 1986. Among CFL fans, Andrusyshyn is best remembered for the 10 seasons he spent as the Argonauts’ punter/placekicker. With Toronto on Oct. 23, 1977, he unloaded a 108-yard punt that was the longest in professional football history until the Roughriders’ Chris Milo matched that distance on Oct. 29, 2011.
Carl Crennel (linebacker, 1981), Sept. 14, 1948-Aug. 19, 2023. The younger brother of long-time NFL coach Romeo Crennel excelled in the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1971), Montreal (1972-79), Edmonton (1979), Hamilton (1980) and Saskatchewan (1981). Signed by the Roughriders shortly before training camp in 1981, Crennel was a key leader and consistent contributor on a team that posted a 9-7 record. That was a tonic after back-to-back 2-14 seasons.
Bunnye McQuarters (wife of Roughriders legend and Canadian Football Hall of Famer Ed McQuarters), April 7, 1945-Sept. 29, 2023. Ed and Bunnye McQuarters and their two sons (Eddie and Mike) moved to Saskatchewan in September of 1966 and became mainstays in the community. Ed, who spent nine seasons on the Roughriders’ defensive line, helped them win a Grey Cup in 1966 and, one year later, was named the CFL’s top lineman. Eddie, an offensive lineman, spent time with the Roughriders in 1985 and 1987. Bunnye, who was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Tulsa, Okla., was a proud Reginan for most of her adult life.
George Reed (fullback, 1963-75), Oct. 2, 1939-Oct. 1, 2023. No. 34’s status as a Roughriders icon is exemplified by his permanent presence outside Mosaic Stadium, where Reed and Lancaster are honoured in the form of statues. Over 13 seasons as a Roughrider, Reed rushed for 16,116 yards and 134 touchdowns. In 1965, he rushed for 1,768 yards (still a team record) and became the first Roughrider to be named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player. His accomplishments off the field were every bit as legendary. On the strength of his commitment to the community, he received the Order of Canada in 1978.
Sue Linnen (49-year season-ticket member), June 2, 1950-Oct. 26, 2023. Sue and her husband of 50 years, Ken, purchased season tickets one year after they were married. Sue battled lymphoma for more than a decade without allowing it to diminish her spirit, energy or good cheer. In her final months, she attended Roughriders games in Halifax (July 29 against Toronto in Touchdown Atlantic) and Vancouver (Sept. 29 versus B.C. Lions). Her goal of seeing a Roughriders road game in person became a reality in late July thanks to Cameco Riders Touchdown for Dreams, a program that helps women who are facing a life-threatening cancer diagnosis.
John Lynch (broadcaster/lifelong Roughriders fan), Sept. 6, 1937-Dec. 8, 2023. The distinctive, booming voice of “John Frenzy” was heard on the airwaves and in the stands as he supported the Roughriders. In 1948, one of Rouleau’s favourite sons saw the Green and White in person for the first time. He later became part of an ultra-exclusive fraternity, consisting of people who have seen all four Roughriders Grey Cup victories (those of 1966, 1989, 2007 and 2013) in person. Blessed with an encyclopedic recollection of all things pertaining to football, he was our version of Google, long before the advent of the Internet.
STORY OF A SEASON
Trevor Harris put it best during an interview in late November.
“Our fan base is the best in the league,” the Roughriders’ marquee quarterback said, “so we need our product to match our fan base.”
The season started at a promising pace, with three victories in the first four games. In the fourth quarter of the fifth contest, however, Harris suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Without Harris in the lineup, Saskatchewan was 3-10.
Following a second successive 6-12 season, the Roughriders parted ways with Head Coach Craig Dickenson, who was on an expiring contract.
Given the mandate that accompanies a three-year contract extension, General Manager and Vice-President of Football Operations Jeremy O’Day conducted a wide-ranging search before naming Corey Mace the Roughriders’ 48th field boss.
Mace, in his first meeting with season-ticket members, promised them “a team that really represents what the community is.”
Shortly thereafter, Mace hired Regina-born Marc Mueller (Lancaster’s grandson) as the Offensive Co-ordinator and announced that Kent Maugeri would once again be in charge of special teams.
Mace will double as the Defensive Co-ordinator, having excelled in that capacity for the Argonauts over the past two seasons.
O’Day has also signed Assistant GMs Kyle Carson and Paul Jones to two-year extensions.
HIGHLIGHT REEL
- Veteran linebacker Larry Dean amassed 104 defensive tackles after registering 101 the year before. He became only the second Roughrider to reach triple digits in back-to-back seasons, matching the feat of George White (2000, 2001).
- Shawn Bane Jr., signed by O’Day as a free agent, responded with a 93-catch, 1,104-yard gem of a debut season in Riderville.
- Samuel Emilus, drafted seventh overall in 2022, enjoyed a breakout season as a CFL sophomore. He caught 70 passes for 1,097 yards and a team-high six aerial TDs.
- Emilus’s first three CFL touchdowns were celebrated on June 16 in the home opener against Winnipeg. He tied a Roughriders record for TD catches in a game, matching a feat that had been accomplished on 17 previous occasions.
- Mario Alford tied the Roughriders’ single-season record of three punt-return TDs, matching Willis Jacox (1991) and Curtis Mayfield (1999). Alford scored on 94- and 67-yard returns on July 15 against the visiting Stampeders. Mayfield (on Sept. 5, 1999 versus Winnipeg) and Alford are the only Roughriders to score on two punt returns in the same game.
- Alford became the Roughriders’ career leader in return touchdowns (seven) when he took off on a 104-yard punt return on Sept. 22 in Ottawa. Alford passed Corey Holmes, who scored on five punt returns and one kickoff return as a Roughrider.
- Dean, Alford and punter Adam Korsak were named West Division All-Stars. As a first-year CFLer, Korsak checked in at 47.9 yards per punt — the second-best average in Roughriders history. On June 24 in Calgary, Korsak launched what would be the longest punt (90 yards) of the 2023 CFL season.
- Harris and Jake Dolegala combined for three 400-yard passing games. That was the Roughriders’ highest total since 2010, when Darian Durant eclipsed the 400 mark on three occasions. Harris put up 413 yards in the home opener. Dolegala boasted peak yardage totals of 429 (Oct. 21 versus Toronto) and 409 (Sept. 29 at B.C.).
- Peter Godber, a high-priority free-agent signing in February, received the highest grade of all CFL centres and was the Roughriders’ highest-ranked offensive lineman, according to Pro Football Focus.
- Jamal Morrow exceeded 1,000 yards from scrimmage for the second season in a row. Playing in 16 of the Roughriders’ 18 games, Morrow rushed for 907 yards in 2023 and added 349 via receptions. The year before, Morrow produced 1,032 total yards in only 12 games. He rushed for 666 yards and caught passes for 366 in 2022.
- At the Annual General Meeting on June 21, the Roughriders announced a $3,883,046 operating surplus for the 2022-23 financial year. The overall surplus swelled to $7,184,928 when the Club’s share of proceeds from the Saskatchewan-based 2022 Grey Cup Festival ($3,301,882) were factored into the equation.
SOLID CITIZENS
- At the AGM, which covered the 2022-23 financial year, it was announced that more than $750,000 had been distributed throughout the province via legacy funding from the 2022 Grey Cup Festival and Game. Thanks to the Grey Cup Festival Legacy Grant program, $277,000 was distributed among nine communities. Another $338,000 was earmarked for amateur sport and the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation, which focuses on youth, mental health and physical wellness. As well, a total of $150,000 was awarded to six Saskatchewan communities in 2022 as part of the Richardson Pioneer Rider Nation Community Celebration.
- Over the 2023 calendar year, there were more than 500 player appearances, including Club- and Roughrider Foundation-based initiatives. Rider Reading and Win with Wellness are Foundation cornerstones that revolve around young people.
- Roughriders linebacker Derrick Moncrief received the Mosaic Community Player of the Year Award.
- Three members of the Roughriders were called to the podium during Grey Cup Week — kicker Brett Lauther (Tom Pate Memorial Award) and receivers Brayden Lenius (Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award) and Jake Wieneke (Gord Barwell Award).
