As we move closer to Christmas everyone starts to think about the good times ahead with friends and family back home over the holidays.
Although they are professional athletes, believe it or not, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are no different. Before they catch their flights to their hometowns, which spread across North America, they are taking the time to say thank-you to their support family throughout the season, the province of Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan Roughriders players were in the Battlefords on two separate occasions in four days. First Riders, Darian Durant, Omarr Morgan, Tad Kornegay and Lance Frazier were in North Battleford Friday. Fans lined up nearly an hour before their expected arrival to get in line for autographs and pictures with the four players.
It was an amazing sight at the Co-op Mall, as the line for fans to meet the players wrapped from the cafeteria to the grocery store, out the doors and along the side of the building.
Morgan said in his 11 years in the league that was one of the longest lines of fans at a community visit he had seen.
Hats off to the Saskatchewan Roughriders fans, who came out in droves and waited patiently to meet the closest thing Saskatchewan has to superheroes.
From the Co-op the Riders went to Miami Tanning, followed by some quiet time at their hotel and a meal at the Venice House and they also went out for the night and spent some time at the Garage nightclub.
The players eventually left the Battlefords with likely a small case of carpal tunnel Syndrome from the hundreds, maybe even thousands, of autographs signed.
Monday, Morgan and Kornegay returned and made a stop at Connaught School. The students and staff had a chance to ask the players questions before singing the school song for the Roughriders and eventually lining up for photos and more autographs.
The message from the dozens of Roughriders who went across the province since the team lost their second straight Grey Cup Nov. 28 is that they truly are thankful for the fan support. The team obviously knew it was important to stick around for awhile before going home to show how much they appreciate the fans.
"It is very important," said Morgan of the idea of the players meeting the fans and said it is just a small effort to show their thanks for the support they give the team.
A message from the fans to Roughriders is that we too appreciate what you do and the extra personal touch to cap off the 100th anniversary season is greatly appreciated. The high fives, and smiles don't lie.
As for the off-season plans Morgan simply replied, "Rest."
The team will also be waiting to hear who the new head coach will be and Morgan said Monday that no matter who it is, their will be a lot of pressure and the expectation will be to win a Grey Cup.
That sounds good to me.
