SASKATOON — Between them, C.J. Coldon and Corey Mace have two degrees and very little separation.
Mace (the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Head Coach) and Coldon (a rookie defensive back) are both graduates of the University of Wyoming.
The Roughriders’ field boss has a bachelor’s degree in social science. Coldon majored in American studies.
The difference: Mace played all his NCAA football for the Wyoming Cowboys, whereas Coldon was part of that program from 2017 to 2021 before transferring to the University of Oklahoma and earning All-Big 12 honourable mention as a senior with the Sooners.
“I remind him all the time to take off that OU stuff,” Mace said with a laugh after Friday’s workout at Coors Light Roughriders Training Camp.
“We talk every day — just subtle jabs.”
Coldon has given coaches, reporters and spectators plenty to talk about since rookie camp began on May 8 at Griffiths Stadium.
“He has been impressive, obviously,” Mace said. “We’ve asked him to do a lot and he has gotten a lot of reps.
“He’s a good player and another guy we’re looking forward to seeing on game day.”
That would be Monday, when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers visit Mosaic Stadium to begin the CFL’s 2024 pre-season schedule. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
“I’m super-excited,” Coldon said. “I haven’t played football in months, so I’m excited to get out there and run around and show my coaches, show my teammates, what type of player I am outside of practice and in a game, when it gets serious.”
Coldon has not played in a game since Aug. 26, when he suited up for the Minnesota Vikings — with whom he had signed as an undrafted free agent — against the Arizona Cardinals in a pre-season contest.
In that game, he registered a pass knockdown (making a diving deflection to break up a two-point convert attempt) and two defensive tackles.
Four days later, Coldon was signed to the Vikings’ practice squad, on which he remained until Nov. 1.
His signing with the Roughriders was announced on Jan. 29.
“This is my first time in another country,” said Coldon, 25. “It’s a blessing. I’m excited to see the future and what’s to come.
“Canadians are cool people — nice people and down-to-earth. I haven’t really been able to sight-see and enjoy the city yet, but it kind of reminds me of Laramie, Wyoming a little bit, with the vibe and the weather, too.
“It rained and then it stopped and then it got sunny. I’m used to the cold and to being up north, so I like it.”
With that in mind, Coldon looks forward to his first visit to Regina and Mosaic Stadium.
“I want to see the facilities and I want to see the field — everything,” he said. “I want to see the fans come out and cheer us on and I want to be out there and make plays and be excited.
“I can’t stop moving. I keep thinking about it. I can’t wait to fly around on Monday. It’s going to be fun.”
GREEN AND WHITE DAY
The annual Green and White Day is slated for Saturday at SMF Field, where the gates are to open at noon.
State of the Nation — showcasing Mace, Craig Reynolds (President-CEO) and Jeremy O’Day (Vice-President of Football Operations/General Manager) — is to commence at 1 p.m. and last 45 minutes.
Dave Thomas, 620 CKRM’s new voice of the Riders, will moderate a panel discussion before members of the audience will be invited to ask questions.
“I’m looking forward to State of the Nation and getting to talk with some of the fans,” Mace said.
“To this point, I’ve just been talking to you guys (in the media) — and I love you guys. You guys are awesome. But it will be fun to interact with the fans.”
Also on hand for Green and White Day will be Gainer the Gopher, the 620 CKRM Rider Cheer Team and the 620 CKRM Rider Pep Band.
Face-painting, inflatables, music and games will also be a part of the family-oriented event.
On-field activities, involving the Roughriders’ players and coaches, are to begin at 3 p.m.
“It’ll be cool for the guys to get off-site and check out something else,” Mace said.
“We’re going to end up having a good practice out there and still put on a show for the crowd.”
Beginning at 5 p.m., the players will sign autographs and pose for pictures along the fence.
FAST PACE UNDER MACE
The Roughriders are poised to begin their pre-season slate earlier than ever — by a full week.
Until this year, the earliest pre-season openers had been on May 27 in 2018 and 2023.
By May 27 of this year, the Green and White will have finished its pre-season schedule. The 2024 finale is set for May 25 against the host Edmonton Elks.
The Roughriders’ earliest previous conclusion to a pre-season was on June 2, 2023.
Thirteen days separate Day 1 of 2024 training camp and the game in Edmonton.
“It comes at us quick, but I think we’ve done a good job as a staff of organizing our practices around that and preparing the guys to be in the best position to go out there and make plays,” Mace said.
“We’re going to be in a situation where we’ve got to make some tough decisions. The pre-season games are holding a lot of weight, so we want to make sure the guys are fresh enough to put their best foot forward.”
Although everything is unfolding in rapid-fire fashion, the pace won’t be as frenetic after the May 25 pre-season finale.
After that, the Roughriders will not return to action until the June 8 regular-season opener — also in Edmonton.
“There’s give and take,” Mace said. “Some people would look at it as a negative that we play so fast into camp, but the positive is that we get a little bit more prep time (after the pre-season).
“We’re looking at it with a glass-half-full mentality. The half-full part is that we get to play Edmonton and then we play them again in the first game of the season.”
