Riders’ Green and White game cut short due to smoke

The Green and White game on Saturday turned out to be more like a free sample than an appetizer ahead of the CFL pre-season.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders had to cut their intrasquad game short, only playing about 4 1/2 minutes of game time before the game had to be called due to air quality concerns from smoke from wildfires.

“It was too bad we couldn’t finish our scrimmage – we had just barely gotten started – but the air quality just went from bad to worse,” Roughriders head coach Craig Dickenson said at SMF Field. “We just couldn’t keep them out there.”

But it wasn’t a completely lost day for the team.

The Riders were able to get in their entire pre-game warmup and got a feel for how a game day will look ahead of the May 27 pre-season game against the B.C. Lions at Mosaic Stadium. Kickoff for that game is set for 5 p.m.

“The whole point of this (Green and White game) is twofold – the pre-game routine so guys know what it looks like and interacting with the fans,” Dickenson said.

The thousands who showed up for the game were able to get their first look at what new franchise quarterback Trevor Harris could bring to the offence this season.

The 36-year-old veteran was his normal consistent self on Saturday, going 6-for-7 with a touchdown to Derel Walker. On the touchdown, Walker reached around Nick Marshall with both hands to haul in the pass.

“(Harris) has had a good camp. It will be different when the pre-season hits and the real games. Trevor is a good football player and he makes the people around him better,” Dickenson said.

Harris won’t be suiting up for the first pre-season game as he will be gone for most of this upcoming week of practice to attend the birth of his child.

After the game, the players stuck around to sign autographs and take pictures for the fans who had shown up.

“I love this day. It’s a great opportunity and you get recharged when you interact with the fans out here because you realize how much they love football and how much they really support us,” Dickenson said.

State of the franchise

Dickenson ended the team’s state of the franchise with a promise to the fans.

“You have my word, you’re going to have a team out there you’re going to be proud of this year,” Dickenson said. “This team is going to be smart, we’re going to play physical and we’re going to play together.

“You’re going to be proud of what you see.”

Prior to the game, members of Rider Nation were able to ask questions to the three men in charge of the franchise – president and CEO Craig Reynolds, general manager Jeremy O’Day and Dickenson.

Dickenson explained his vision for the team this season.

“We’re going to be known for three things,” he said. “We’re going to be a smart football team, (so) that’s football IQ. We’re going to be less penalized. Our goal is to be the least-penalized team in the league and I’m going to make that my personal mandate to make that happen – wish me luck on that by the way. I’ve already started (working on that).

“We want to be a physical team and that includes the effort level. The third thing is together – we want to be smart and physical together.”

Reynolds said that last season — still coming out of the COVID pandemic and hosting a Grey Cup — took a lot of energy from the organization.

“This year in the off-season we were able to focus in on one thing and that’s the fans and the game-day experience. We’re really excited about a lot of things,” Reynolds said.

He said they have rescaled 9,000 seats, making them cheaper, and will be introducing a $5 menu at concessions. Reynolds explained each concession will have its own $5 item available.

“We just upped the ante on the entertainment side. We’ve got more music in Party in the Park, we’ve got great bands and great artists like Kim Mitchell at the home opener and then we’ve got some great themes this year too,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds admitted they are seeing a drop in season-ticket sales, which is normal following a Grey Cup-hosting season.

“The nice thing is that it’s not as deep as some of the other teams who have hosted Grey Cups,” Reynolds said.

Notes:

• Jake Herslow will get imaging done on his left knee to determine how serious the injury is. The receiver had a brace on his left leg and didn’t suit up for the Green and White game.
• Slotback Jake Wieneke was kept out of the game due to soreness but Dickenson said he will be fine.
• Running Back Javian Hawkins (ankle) also missed the game but isn’t expected to miss much time.

The Riders are expected to have Sunday off and return to Griffiths Stadium on Monday at 9 a.m.