Roughriders react to upcoming CFL changes

Several current Saskatchewan Roughriders spoke about the CFL rule changes announced Monday. Jacob Carr has more.

The announcement by CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston of sweeping changes to the game in the next few years, has caused a stir across the nation.

But what do the players and coaches of the Saskatchewan Roughriders think about the future of the sport?

Offensive coordinator Marc Mueller, born and raised in the Queen City, said he doesn’t mind the tweaks.

“The goalposts, it was a unique Canadian thing, and I remember as a kid the Leibel Field goalposts went right on the goal line. So as long as you touched the goalposts you were in, so I liked that, but that hasn’t happened for a long time.”

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Quarterback Trevor Harris agrees with Mueller and even wants some of the staunch detractors of the upcoming changes to take a breath and relax. He said the uniqueness of the Canadian football game isn’t going anywhere.

“Maybe a bit of an overreaction yesterday by some people. It’s still three downs, there’s still 12 people on the field, the field is still 65 yards wide, the endzone is still bigger than ten yards, going to 15, it’s still Canadian football.”

Receiver Sam Emilus, who could make his return to the lineup this week after a lengthy stint on injured reserve, told CTV News that the goalposts moving and field dimensions shrinking could open up more scoring.

As a native of Montreal, Emilus doesn’t have any qualms with the changes closely mirroring that of the American game.

“I would say, most of the basic rules are staying in place, with the waggle and stuff. So, I don’t think it’s going to change too much on my end, but I can see why some people are taking issue with the changes.”

Head coach Corey Mace, who is from the other side of the country in Port Moody, B.C., says he is in support of most of the changes.

However, he did take issue with the teams being put on opposite sidelines starting next season.

“You know the sideline thing I was a little upset about because I just started training, and I was ready for Dinwiddie. But other than that, other than that I guess I don’t have to work out again,” he joked.

Humour aside, Mace and the Riders will get one more shot at his old coaching mate Ryan Dinwiddie, when Saskatchewan hosts Toronto on Oct. 10.

But for now, the team says its sole focus is on this week’s opponent, the Edmonton Elks.