2023 was a trying season for the Saskatchewan Roughriders but for general manager Jeremy O’Day, there was one especially low point.
In an end-of-year interview with 620 CKRM‘s Blaine Weyland, the 49-year-old executive expressed his regrets for the team’s Week 18 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, which came on the same night that late Rider legend George Reed was honoured pre-game.
“I think as an organization they did a great job (honouring him), I wish we would have played better on the day we recognized him,” O’Day said. “That was definitely something that we were disappointed in and feel like we let George down a little bit in that game.”
Reed passed away on Sunday, October 1 at the age of 83. The native of Vicksburg, Miss. played 13 seasons for the Green and White from 1963 until 1975, carrying the ball 3,243 times for 16,116 yards and 134 touchdowns. The ten-time all-star retired as the CFL’s all-time leading rusher, a mark that was not passed until Mike Pringle achieved the feat in 2004. He remains the league’s all-time leader in rushing touchdowns and 1,000-yard seasons with 11.
Following his death, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe declared October 7 to be George Reed Day in conjunction with the Riders’ next home game. The team provided a touching pre-game tribute video and the running back’s daughter, Georgette, addressed the mourning crowd at Mosaic Stadium, but the players on the field appeared entirely unaffected.
Hamilton dominated Reed’s old team 38-13 in an outing that the club’s former head coach, Craig Dickenson, dubbed “embarrassing.” Running back Jamal Morrow, who shares an alma mater with the Hall of Famer, went further, calling the performance “disgusting.” The result also had serious repercussions on the playoff race, marking the fifth of seven straight Saskatchewan losses to end the season.
The situation didn’t sit right with O’Day, who had tremendous admiration for Reed as a fellow Rider alum who chose to stay in Regina after his playing days were over.
“You talk about a legend walking around and coming to all the games, George is the guy that you never could get enough of. You wanted to be around him as much as possible and you never really wanted to leave when you had to leave him,” the general manager shared.
“A fun guy, a tremendous role model to our players. It was great that he was in the province here for quite a while. It was a sad day when we heard the news.”
While the Riders have yet to record a victory since Reed’s passing, the Saskatchewan icon did receive a fitting tribute during Grey Cup week. The CFL renamed the Most Outstanding Player award, which he won in 1965, in Reed’s honour, ensuring his legacy is carried forward for future generations.
Despite the sour taste left by his team’s flat finish and failure to properly represent Reed, O’Day believes the league and the non-football side of the organization nailed their part of the equation.
“As far as honouring him and the activities that we did leading up to that game, I thought they were awesome. I really did,” he said. “I thought they paid him the tribute that he deserved.”
The Riders open the 2024 campaign on Saturday, June 8 at 7:00 p.m. ET when they visit the Edmonton Elks.
