As with any sports logo, the Rider "S" brings forward many strong feelings for its fans. We started by asking, "What do the Riders mean to the people of Saskatchewan?" The students had many creative responses, referring to their presence in the community, their involvement in provincial events, and their support of local charities. All of this was true, but there was more to be said.
The students, being quite young, have obviously limited their experiences as Rider fans. I was therefore very surprised when one of the boys in class pointed out that seeing the logo reminds fans of their childhood and the historic Rider teams of years ago. We talked about the Grey Cup teams and some of the names that have become a part of Rider lore - Lancaster, Reed, Austin, Ridway, Joseph, and Fantuz. It was wonderful to see the students make the connection that a logo could be such a dynamic symbol.
Then, another student closed the conversation with a remarkable connection. He stated that the Roughriders were a lot like the farmers of Saskatchewan - they need to be strong, hard working, and patient. As a life-long, Rider fan, I can assure you that this is true of the fans as well!
Can't wait to extend this talk even further as we visit with Riders defensive backs coach and CFL legend Barron Miles.
