Courtesy Regina Leader Post:

The Saskatchewan Roughriders were welcomed with incredible fanfare as they made their way down the parade route to the Legislative Building on Tuesday, celebrating their recent Grey Cup victory.

The team — carrying the quintessential beacon of victory in the CFL, the Grey Cup — drove south on Albert Street from 10th Avenue honking horns and waving to fans who cheered loudly and proudly for a team described by general manager Eric Tillman as a family.

Fans swarmed to get a closer look at the Grey Cup and players as they pulled up. With a -30 C windchill, everyone was bundled up tightly in their Rider gear as Premier Brad Wall invited them inside the Legislative Building to escape the cold. Packed in the rotunda of the building, the sea of green and white roared with excitement as the band played the infamous “Green is the colour” Roughriders theme.
Rider fans came out by the hundreds to honour their heroes in a parade and ceremony in sub-zero temperatures that was eventually held inside the rotunda of the Legislative Building.View Larger Image View Larger Image
Rider fans came out by the hundreds to honour their heroes in a parade and ceremony in sub-zero temperatures that was eventually held inside the rotunda of the Legislative Building.

“Saskatchewan is not the place to be from, it is the place to be,” said Wall to the crowd of as many as 1,000. “There were only two types of fans in Toronto this weekend — those who were Riders fans and those who wanted to be. Thanks to the entire team … You’ve lifted up an entire province.”

Tillman spoke of the focus given to the team by head coach Kent Austin at the beginning of the season. He said because of this focus and the adoption of new faces within the organization, the team became like family and consequently champions.

“They say the greatest blessings in life are the ones you get to share with people that you love, people that you care about,” said Tillman. “We are a family, we are the Rider Nation … We are an organization, we are a team, we are a family, we are a province, we are a nation, we are champions!”

Greeted by chants of his name, Austin thanked those who stuck with the team from the beginning — Day 1 of training camp. He spoke of the sacrifices the team made to have made it to this point.

“Dreams do come true when you truly believe,” he said. “You don’t have to wait 18 or 23 or however many years between Grey Cups because when you have a team, a real team … A team will pay the cost, and it is going to cost them something … Injuries, playing time, effort, preparation, hours, friendships. It’s cost them something to be a champion because it always does.

“I am honoured to be the coach of this football team,” Austin continued. “We have as a team accomplished something that has only been done three times. The next thing left to be accomplished is something that’s never been done (by the Roughriders) — repeat.”

Braving the cold Saskatchewan weather wasn’t even a thought that crossed one fan’s mind. Michael Pawluk of Saskatoon arrived at the legislature by 10:45 a.m. and described the event as something he’s been waiting for since he can remember.

“No bundling up required, it’s Rider Pride!” said an excited Pawluk. “This means everything to me. I’ve been waiting for this since I was in diapers. I cried like a baby when they won (the Grey Cup). I just want to thank the team for making my dream come true. Everyone talks about the fans, but it was the team that went out and did it for us.”

Melissa Moyer of Regina brought her nieces Emma, 6, and Zoe, 5, out to see the team and catch a glimpse of the Cup. The girls were excited to see the Cup, which looked about as tall as they did. Moyer said she brought the girls to gain the experience that she remembers from 1989, when she was their age.

“You never know when it’s going to happen again,” said Moyer. “I thought it was a great experience for them to have, it’s so exciting here.”