2008 Saskatchewan Roughriders season
Encyclopedia
The 2008
Saskatchewan Roughriders
finished in 2nd place in the West division with a 12–6 record for the second consecutive year. It was their 51st season in the Canadian Football League
. The Roughriders attempted to repeat as Grey Cup
champions, but, due to an abundance of injuries, lost to the BC Lions
in the Western Semi-Final game.
Last season's starting quarterback Kerry Joseph
was traded to the Toronto Argonauts
on March 5, 2008, along with a third round pick in the 2010 CFL Draft
in exchange for offensive tackle Glenn January
, defensive lineman Ronald Flemons
, the Argos' first-round pick in the 2008 CFL Draft
and a 2010 second-round selection.
On April 5, 2008 a report was released saying that the Roughriders set a new record for earnings in a single season. At the Roughriders' annual general meeting, Mike Back, the club's vice-president of finance and operations, reported the Roughriders registered a record profit of $1,737,377 in 2007.
The Roughriders exceeded the $22-million plateau in total operating revenue and expenditures. This figure eclipsed the previous mark of $15 million. Total net assets increased by $1,998,857 to $5,096,393. These earnings were due in part to the championship season the Roughriders sported, which included 8 home game sellouts and their first home playoff game in 19 years.
The former Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback, also had a long career as a head coach, with the Edmonton Eskimos and Hamilton Tiger Cats. He was diagnosed in late July and had been undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. Lancaster played 16 seasons with Saskatchewan, and led the team to five Grey Cup appearances. He led the club to their first CFL championship in 1966 when Saskatchewan upset the Ottawa Rough Riders 29–14.
When he retired in 1978, at the age of 41, he was the league's all-time leader in passing yards (50,535), touchdown passes (333), pass attempts (6,223) and completions (3,384). He also suffered more interceptions than any other quarterback in CFL history. He had also passed for more yards than any passer in professional football history.
West
Date and time: Saturday, November 8, 3:30 PM Central Standard Time
Venue: Mosaic Stadium, Regina, Saskatchewan
2008 CFL season
The 2008 CFL season was the 55th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 51st season for the league. It was also the first CFL season in which all of the league's regular season and post-season games, including the Grey Cup game, were aired on TSN. This meant the CFL...
Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
finished in 2nd place in the West division with a 12–6 record for the second consecutive year. It was their 51st season in the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. The Roughriders attempted to repeat as Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
champions, but, due to an abundance of injuries, lost to the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
in the Western Semi-Final game.
Off-season
Several months after capturing the 2007 Grey Cup, 2007 CFL coach of the Year Kent Austin stepped down as head coach to become the offensive co-ordinator at Ole Miss. In accepting this position in the NCAA, Austin turned down a very lucrative contract that the Riders had offered. On February 6, 2008, Eric Tillman announced that the new head coach would be Ken Miller. Miller was formerly an offensive coordinator under Austin.Last season's starting quarterback Kerry Joseph
Kerry Joseph
Kerry Tremaine Joseph is a quarterback who is currently playing for the Edmonton Eskimos. He was born in New Iberia, Louisiana....
was traded to the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
on March 5, 2008, along with a third round pick in the 2010 CFL Draft
2010 CFL Draft
The 2010 CFL Draft took place on Sunday, May 2, 2010 live at noon ET on TSN. 47 players were chosen from among eligible players from Canadian Universities across the country, as well as Canadian players playing in the NCAA. After a number of trades, including ones made on draft day, Toronto and BC...
in exchange for offensive tackle Glenn January
Glenn January
Glenn Arwin January, Jr. is a professional Canadian football offensive tackle currently playing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League.- Early years :...
, defensive lineman Ronald Flemons
Ronald Flemons
Ronald L. Flemons is a Canadian Football League defensive lineman for the Toronto Argonauts. He attended John Marshall High School and Texas A&M University...
, the Argos' first-round pick in the 2008 CFL Draft
2008 CFL Draft
The 2008 CFL Draft took place on April 30, 2008. 48 players were chosen from among 752 eligible players from Canadian Universities across the country, as well as Canadian players playing in the NCAA....
and a 2010 second-round selection.
On April 5, 2008 a report was released saying that the Roughriders set a new record for earnings in a single season. At the Roughriders' annual general meeting, Mike Back, the club's vice-president of finance and operations, reported the Roughriders registered a record profit of $1,737,377 in 2007.
The Roughriders exceeded the $22-million plateau in total operating revenue and expenditures. This figure eclipsed the previous mark of $15 million. Total net assets increased by $1,998,857 to $5,096,393. These earnings were due in part to the championship season the Roughriders sported, which included 8 home game sellouts and their first home playoff game in 19 years.
CFL Draft
| Round | Player | Position | School/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (via Toronto Toronto Argonauts The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta... ) |
Keith Shologan Keith Shologan Keith Shologan is a Canadian football defensive tackle for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League... |
Defensive Lineman | Central Florida Knights |
| 2 (via Edmonton Edmonton Eskimos The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895... , via Toronto Toronto Argonauts The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta... , via Edmonton Edmonton Eskimos The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895... ) |
Jonathan St. Pierre Jonathan St. Pierre Jonathan St-Pierre is a professional Canadian football offensive lineman for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Roughriders in the second round of the 2008 CFL Draft. He played college football for the Illinois State Redbirds... |
Offensive Lineman | Illinois State Redbirds Illinois State Redbirds The Illinois State Redbirds are the athletic teams that represent Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. Teams play at the NCAA Division I level . The football team competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference while most other teams compete in the Missouri Valley Conference... |
| 2 (via BC BC Lions The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954... ) |
Michael Stadnyk Mike Stadnyk Michael Stadnyk is a professional Canadian football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He was most recently signed by the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Roughriders in the second round of the 2008 CFL Draft. He played college football for Montana... |
Defensive Lineman | Montana Grizzlies Montana Grizzlies football The Montana Grizzlies football program represents the University of Montana in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision of college football. The Grizzlies have competed in the Big Sky Conference, where it is a founding member, since 1963... |
| 4 (via BC BC Lions The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954... ) |
Jean-François Morin-Roberge Jean-François Morin-Roberge Jean-François Morin-Roberge is a former offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the fourth round of the 2008 CFL Draft... |
Offensive Lineman | Montreal Carabins |
| 5 | Jeff Zelinski Jeff Zelinski Jeff Zelinski is a Canadian football defensive back. He played CIS Football at Saint Mary's.... |
Defensive Back | Saint Mary's Huskies Saint Mary's Huskies The Saint Mary's Huskies are the men's and women's athletic teams that represent Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Their primary home turf is Huskies Stadium located in the centre of the University's campus.... |
| 6 (via Hamilton Hamilton Tiger-Cats The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium... ) |
Teale Orban Teale Orban Teale Orban is a former Canadian football quarterback for the University of Regina Rams. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2008 CFL Draft by the Saskatchewan Roughriders.-Personal life:... |
Quarterback | Regina Rams Regina Rams The Regina Rams are the CIS football team that represents the University of Regina in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. The Rams nickname is used by the university's football team only; all other teams at the school are named Regina Cougars... |
Pre-season
| Week | Date | Opponent | Score | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Fri, June 13 | BC Lions BC Lions The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954... |
33–13 | Win | 28,800 |
| B | Thurs, June 19 | at Edmonton Eskimos Edmonton Eskimos The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895... |
37–7 | Lost | 33,508 |
Crowd trouble
On September 20, an unsportsmanlike incident occurred during a game in Saskatchewan. It started in the fourth quarter when Saskatchewan fans became angry about a B.C. play they thought should have been a face mask penalty. Lions defensive back Dante Marsh fired the ball into the stands, and Saskatchewan fans responded by pelting the Lions with full cans of beer. The incident occurred on the night when the Roughriders were honouring past CFL legend Ron Lancaster, who recently died at the age of 69. The club subsequently announced that in order to reduce the probability of a similar incident beer in the east stands (where the visitors bench is) would be sold in plastic cups for at least the remainder of the season.Ron Lancaster
On Thursday, September 18, Ron Lancaster, 69, died from an apparent heart attack, less than two months after being diagnosed with lung cancer.The former Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback, also had a long career as a head coach, with the Edmonton Eskimos and Hamilton Tiger Cats. He was diagnosed in late July and had been undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. Lancaster played 16 seasons with Saskatchewan, and led the team to five Grey Cup appearances. He led the club to their first CFL championship in 1966 when Saskatchewan upset the Ottawa Rough Riders 29–14.
When he retired in 1978, at the age of 41, he was the league's all-time leader in passing yards (50,535), touchdown passes (333), pass attempts (6,223) and completions (3,384). He also suffered more interceptions than any other quarterback in CFL history. He had also passed for more yards than any passer in professional football history.
Season schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Score | Result | Attendance | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat, June 28 | vs. Edmonton Eskimos 2008 Edmonton Eskimos season The Edmonton Eskimos season was the 51st season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 60th overall. The Eskimos finished 4th in the West division, but made the playoffs because of the "crossover" rule. Edmonton became the first Western team to win the East Semi-Final... |
34–14 | Win | 28,800 | 1–0 |
| 2 | Fri, July 4 | at BC Lions 2008 BC Lions season The 2008 BC Lions finished the season in third place in the Western Division with a 11–7 record. The Lions appeared in the CFL Western Final.- CFL Draft:... |
26–16 | Win | 33,815 | 2–0 |
| 3 | Sat, July 12 | at Hamilton Tiger-Cats 2008 Hamilton Tiger-Cats season The Hamilton Tiger-Cats attempted to win their 9th Grey Cup championship, but they failed to make the playoffs.-Jamacia Jackson:Ticats linebacker Jamacia Jackson died on April 16, 2008. Jackson was found unresponsive on Monday morning at a home in Sumter, South Carolina. He was later pronounced... |
33–28 | Win | 20,874 | 3–0 |
| 4 | Sat, July 19 | vs. Montreal Alouettes 2008 Montreal Alouettes season The Montreal Alouettes finished first place in the East Division, won the East Final and advanced to the 96th Grey Cup in Montreal, where they lost to the Calgary Stampeders.-Offseason:... |
41–33 | Win | 28,800 | 4–0 |
| 5 | Sun, July 27 | vs. Toronto Argonauts 2008 Toronto Argonauts season The 2008 Toronto Argonauts season was the 51st season for the team in the Canadian Football League and 136th season overall. The Argonauts attempted to win their 16th Grey Cup, but they failed to make the playoffs ending the season on a nine game losing streak.... |
28–22 | Win | 28,800 | 5–0 |
| 6 | Sat, Aug 2 | at Calgary Stampeders 2008 Calgary Stampeders season The Calgary Stampeders finished 1st place in the Western division, won the West Final and played in the 96th Grey Cup in Montreal to face the Alouettes. The Stampeders won their 6th Grey Cup championship.-Transactions:... |
22–21 | Win | 35,650 | 6–0 |
| 7 | Thurs, Aug 7 | vs. Calgary Stampeders | 30–25 | Loss | 28,800 | 6–1 |
| 8 | Bye | |||||
| 9 | Thurs, Aug 21 | at Edmonton Eskimos 2008 Edmonton Eskimos season The Edmonton Eskimos season was the 51st season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 60th overall. The Eskimos finished 4th in the West division, but made the playoffs because of the "crossover" rule. Edmonton became the first Western team to win the East Semi-Final... |
27–10 | Loss | 48,808 | 6–2 |
| 10 | Sun, Aug 31 | vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers 2008 Winnipeg Blue Bombers season The Winnipeg Blue Bombers attempted to win their 11th Grey Cup championship, but they lost in the Eastern Semi-Final game against the Edmonton Eskimos, who crossed over from the West.-CFL Draft:... |
19–6 | Win | 30,985 | 7–2 |
| 11 | Sun, Sept 7 | at Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 34–31 | Win | 29,770 | 8–2 |
| 12 | Sat, Sept 13 | at BC Lions | 28–23 | Loss | 38,608 | 8–3 |
| 13 | Sat, Sept 20 | vs. BC Lions | 27–21 | Loss | 30,945 | 8–4 |
| 14 | Sun, Sept 28 | at Montreal Alouettes | 37–12 | Loss | 20,202 | 8–5 |
| 15 | Fri, Oct 3 | vs. Calgary Stampeders | 37–34 | Win | 30,945 | 9–5 |
| 16 | Mon, Oct 13 | at Calgary Stampeders | 42–5 | Loss | 35,650 | 9–6 |
| 17 | Sun, Oct 19 | vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 30–29 | Win | 30,945 | 10–6 |
| 18 | Sat, Oct 25 | vs. Edmonton Eskimos | 55–9 | Win | 30,945 | 11–6 |
| 19 | Thurs, Oct 30 | at Toronto Argonauts | 45–38 | Win | 28,654 | 12–6 |
Roster
| Saskatchewan Roughriders roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterbacks Running Backs RB FB RB FB FB RB Wide Receivers WR SB WR Slotbacks SB SB SB SB |
Offensive Linemen RT Centre LG LT C RG RT Defensive Linemen Rush End Off Tackle Quick End Quick End Nose Tackle Quick End DL DL |
Linebackers Strong-Side LB Weak-Side LB Middle LB Middle LB Weak-Side LB Weak-Side LB LB Defensive Backs CB CB Halfback CB Halfback Free Safety Halfback Special Teams K P Long Snapper |
Reserve List WR RB LT Off Tackle Developmental Squad Injured Lists SB QB SB CB CB (9 Game) Strong-Side LB (9 Game) Free Safety OL (9 Game) RG Long Snapper Nose Tackle WR SB (9 Game) SB (9 Game) WR DL Quick End (9 Game) Suspended List DB Free Safety Italics indicate Import player Roster updated 2008-10-30 Depth Chart • Transactions 46 Active, 11 Inactive, 7 PS → More rosters |
|||
Passing
| Player | Att | Comp | % | Yards | TD | INT | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Bishop | 274 | 160 | 58.4 | 2550 | 10 | 13 | 81.9 |
| Darian Durant | 129 | 77 | 59.7 | 1122 | 7 | 6 | 86.8 |
| Marcus Crandell | 128 | 67 | 52.3 | 924 | 7 | 3 | 84.3 |
| Steven Jyles | 61 | 42 | 68.9 | 533 | 4 | 6 | 76.7 |
| Andy Fantuz | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | (−414.6) |
Rushing
| Player | No. | Yards | Average | TD | Fumbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wes Cates | 216 | 1229 | 5.7 | 12 | 4 |
| Michael Bishop | 46 | 244 | 5.3 | 4 | 5 |
| Darian Durant | 27 | 204 | 7.6 | 1 | 1 |
| Stuart Foord | 27 | 162 | 7.0 | 2 | 0 |
| Neal Hughes | 35 | 130 | 3.7 | 4 | 1 |
Receiving
| Player | No. | Yards | Avg. | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weston Dressler | 56 | 1123 | 20.1 | 67 | 6 |
| Andy Fantuz | 36 | 488 | 13.6 | 31 | 3 |
| Wes Cates | 39 | 451 | 11.6 | 40 | 2 |
| Rob Bagg | 22 | 371 | 16.9 | 72 | 0 |
| Adarius Bowman | 23 | 358 | 15.6 | 73 | 3 |
Awards and Records
- The Roughriders started the season 6–0 for the first time since 1934.
- Wes Cates, Led CFL, Rushing Touchdowns (12)
- Weston DresslerWeston DresslerWeston Dressler is a professional Canadian football slotback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Roughriders as a street free agent in 2008. He played college football for the North Dakota Fighting Sioux.-Early years:Dressler was born in Bismarck,...
(SB), Saskatchewan Roughriders – CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie AwardCFL's Most Outstanding Rookie AwardThe Most Outstanding Rookie Award is annually rewarded to the player deemed to be the best player in his first year in the Canadian Football League. This is the fifth-last award to be given during the CFL Awards banquet, which takes place the week before Grey Cup weekend in the same city where it... - Jeremy O'DayJeremy O'DayJeremy O'Day is a retired Canadian Football League offensive lineman . He was a CFL All-Star in 2006, 2007, and 2009 and winner of the 2008 CFL season Tom Pate Memorial Award for community service....
(C), Saskatchewan Roughriders – Tom Pate Memorial AwardTom Pate Memorial AwardEvery year the Canadian Football League Players' Association presents the Tom Pate Award. It is not a "Jock Award," but rather an award given to players who display qualities that distinguish them from their peers....
CFL All-Star Selections
- Wes CatesWes CatesWes Cates is a professional Canadian football running back who is currently a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders football club in the Canadian Football League.-College career:...
, Running Back - Gene MakowskyGene MakowskyGene Makowsky is an offensive lineman for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League and a politician. He was selected in the second round of the 1995 CFL Draft from the University of Saskatchewan...
, Offensive Guard - Anton McKenzieAnton McKenzieAnton McKenzie is an American player of Canadian football and American football. He is a linebacker for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He played college football at Massachusetts.-External links:**...
, Linebacker - Maurice LloydMaurice LloydMaurice Lloyd is a professional Canadian football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He most recently played for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He played college football at UConn....
, Linebacker
CFL West All-Star Selections
- Wes CatesWes CatesWes Cates is a professional Canadian football running back who is currently a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders football club in the Canadian Football League.-College career:...
, Running Back - Gene MakowskyGene MakowskyGene Makowsky is an offensive lineman for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League and a politician. He was selected in the second round of the 1995 CFL Draft from the University of Saskatchewan...
, Offensive Guard - Anton McKenzieAnton McKenzieAnton McKenzie is an American player of Canadian football and American football. He is a linebacker for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He played college football at Massachusetts.-External links:**...
, Linebacker - Maurice LloydMaurice LloydMaurice Lloyd is a professional Canadian football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He most recently played for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He played college football at UConn....
, Linebacker
WestCanadian Football League West DivisionThe West Division is one of the two regional divisions of the Canadian Football League. Although the CFL was not founded until 1958, the West Division and its clubs are descended from earlier leagues.-Pre-1936:...
Semi-Final
Date and time: Saturday, November 8, 3:30 PM Central Standard TimeVenue: Mosaic Stadium, Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BC Lions BC Lions The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954... |
7 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 33 |
| Saskatchewan Roughriders Saskatchewan Roughriders The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor... |
0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 12 |