‘My second home’: Richie Hall has embraced Regina throughout football career

No matter what team’s colours he’s wearing, one thing has remained constant for Richie Hall — the love he feels from the people in Saskatchewan.

“Whether I’ve been here or when I was in Edmonton, people have always supported Richie for whatever reason,” the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive co-ordinator said Thursday. “Even though I’ve been with the other team, they’ve always been good to me and I’m very appreciative of it.”

The 62-year-old Hall will be looking to win a third straight Grey Cup with the Bombers on Sunday when they take on the Toronto Argonauts at Mosaic Stadium. Kickoff for the game is set for 5 p.m.

Much like the province fell in love with Hall, Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea explained how Hall quickly became loved in Winnipeg as well.

“He is the ultimate authentic coach. He does not apologize for anything in terms of the way he is. He’s a great man and a great human being. I enjoy every single day interacting with him,” O’Shea said.

“The entire team sees an authentically genuine, kind-hearted good man, which can be difficult in this profession — to remain so kind and good-natured.”

Hall was a fan favourite for many Saskatchewan Roughriders fans while he was on the gridiron.

The San Antonio product was a two-sport athlete growing up, splitting time between football and baseball. It was the ball diamond that Hall felt like he was getting pulled towards.

“I was probably a better baseball player than a football player but I had more desire to play football because everyone told me I was too small,” said Hall, who was listed at 5-foot-6. “So I had that chip on my shoulder.”

He walked on at Colorado State University and played receiver and defensive back while there.

After that, the Calgary Stampeders gave Hall a call to come to the CFL to play professionally in 1983.

“It’s a dream come true. You never think you’re going to go outside the country, but the opportunity to still play a childhood game and get paid for it, I’ve been blessed,” Hall said. “That’s the ultimate job but it doesn’t seem like a job.

“It doesn’t matter where you’re at, whether you’re in Texas or Europe or Canada, just to do something you enjoy doing is pretty special.”

Hall was named an all-star in his rookie season and a West Division all-star in 1986 while he was a member of the Stampeders.

In 1988, the Stamps traded him to Saskatchewan — the province he would make his home. He still lives in Regina in the off-season.

“Getting traded here, they had some tough years. To be part of that turnaround (was special) — ’88 was the first time in 11 years they made the playoffs,” Hall said.

That team hoisted the Grey Cup in 1989, defeating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 43-40.

“We won the Grey Cup with a 9-and-9 team and we beat every team that had a better record than us …,” Hall said. “Playing in Saskatchewan is pretty unique because of the community, the entire province, embraces you.

“To be able to do something for the first time in 20-something years was pretty amazing because that’s the biggest show. To be able to win a championship here is something I will remember for the rest of my life.”

Hall said it’s something special to come to Regina as a player.

“You can be in Toronto and you’re just there. When you come here, people know you — they know you better than you think you know yourself,” Hall said. “They love you. You’re more to them than just a football player; you’re a part of the community and they want to embrace you.”

Hall eventually traded in his helmet for a headset, becoming the Riders’ defensive backs coach in 1994 before ascending to defensive co-ordinator in 2001.

But coaching was never something Hall envisioned himself doing.

“I always thought I would be a high school coach maybe, maybe college, but I was a social work major so I always thought I would work with kids in some capacity,” Hall said.

In 2007, Hall helped the Riders capture their third Grey Cup title as the defensive co-ordinator — an opportunity for which he’s thankful.

“In 1999, we were 3-and-15 and we were the worst team in the CFL and I was still able to be on staff eight years later to be a part of that ’07 team, which makes it special,” Hall said. “It’s one of those ones where you get a chance to be bottom of the barrel but get a chance to stick around long enough to be king of the mountain …

“It shows an example of who the Saskatchewan people are. The farmers and the people deal with hardships, they keep fighting and fighting and then, boom, it happened in 2007.”

Hall became the head coach in Edmonton for two seasons (2009-10) before returning to the Riders in 2011. He was with them for four more seasons.

In 2015, he joined the Bombers’ staff and has helped lead a defence in search of the team’s third straight Grey Cup win.

“I think it’s special. It’s hard to visualize three in a row; to me, it’s only one because each team is different every year,” Hall said. “I do believe when we go out there on Sunday that it’s going to feel like it’s a home crowd for us and that’s exciting.”

Through it all, Hall is grateful the people of Saskatchewan welcomed him as one of their own.

“My relationship with Saskatchewan has always been a win-win and it’s something I never thought would happen when I first came here,” Hall said. “I’ll probably end up dying here — that’s not what my plans are — but it’s become my second home.”