MACKLIN -- The Saskatchewan Roughriders may not have known the decades long history the Cosh family from Macklin has with their team. There are Saskatchewan Roughrider fans and there are avid Rider fans. Robin and Lori Cosh have always bled green, holding Saskatchewan Roughriders season tickets for more than two decades. Robin was advised in August that he was selected by the organization as the club’s ‘Road Warrior’ of the week and he replied, “It’s never been about me, it’s always been about the Cosh Family.” Thus, the whole family was recognized at the home game in September playing Hamilton.
The Riders began the ‘Road Warrior’ program picking someone from out of province that keep their season tickets even though they only make it to one or two games a year, a gesture of thanks for their dedication to the team.
The Riders told the Cosh family they were about as close to out-of-province as they could get to which Robin replied, “We are closer to Edmonton and Calgary than we are to Regina.” A true testament loyalty and commitment from those, like the Coshs, who are part of Rider Nation.
The Cosh family have been season ticket holders since 2001, holding six seats for 22 years now.
To add to their affiliation with Rider Nation, daughter Laine, who has been on the cheer team for the Saskatchewan RUSH for the past six seasons, is now a Rider cheerleader, too.
Mom, Lori, says Laine was only two when they started going to Rider games, so she grew up with the sport and the team. Her knowledge of the team and football in general might be a step above other members of the cheer team. While she may miss her seat with the family at the games, she is thoroughly embracing her experience as part of the team on the field.
Lori Cosh, is also famously known in Rider circles as Sister Saskatchewan. She has worn the Habit for over 20 years, sharing her creative prayers for the team and enthusiastically cheering for her team in person.
“I think Sister Saskatchewan all began when I jokingly said, ‘I spend so much time in the stands praying that I may as well play the part in costume,’” says Cosh.
Cosh doesn’t wear her Sister Saskatchewan outfit to home games anymore but the Habit definitely comes out for big games they attend like Touchdown Atlantic, Labour Day, playoffs and of course for a few days during Grey Cup.
“It’s a really fun costume and people recognize me from year to year at Grey Cup,” adds Cosh.
The Coshs say it would be hard to highlight a single experience at Rider games. They have made friendships and forged alliances with people their season tickets are around, from the old Taylor Field to the new Mosaic Stadium.
A memorable experience for them was one year having an extra ticket and they chose to pick up a hitchhiker and took him to the game. Turns out he was a Japanese tourist en route to Regina from Saskatoon to catch the bus to Winnipeg and he had one day to spend in Saskatchewan. Lo and behold, it could have been one of the more memorable days of his life as he spent it with the Cosh family at the Rider game. It’s like his prayers were answered.
“Definitely winning Grey Cup in Regina in 2013 stands out as one of the best highlights of our Rider experience.”
Cosh admits that scheduling can interfere with their ability to attend every game as this year along with one game has been on a Thursday, two Friday games and two Sunday night games were in the season, and the duo have a business in Macklin to run. Lori maintains that those times might work in Vancouver and Toronto but not in the province where the majority of the people attending are driving a long distance to get to the game, as the Riders are supported by more than those who live in the city of Regina and limits.
The Cosh’s have attended 15 Grey Cups as part of their football fever and are planning to attend Hamilton in 2023 as it’s the only CFL city they haven’t been to yet.
Their passion for the Riders goes beyond the field in Regina. When Taylor Field was being torn down, Lori bid on lights as a member of the Macklin Football committee and they were successful in their bid. However, the age of the lights and the lack of paperwork from the Riders and City of Regina drew out the process of possibility for refurbishing so they were unable to activate them however the field now includes LED lights, thanks to this jumpstart.
However, the Coshs have the wooden bench they sat on for 15 years at Taylor Field and a large piece of the memorable turf from that field.
It’s no wonder the Roughriders organization recognized that the Cosh family as true road warriors and acknowledged them publicly at a game. Macklin residents said there is much more to this family’s Rider history in town and they, too, acknowledge this family’s role in pumping up Rider pride during the season.
