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Voice of the Riders

Oct 19, 2015 | 8:00 AM

It’s Brett Smith’s team now.

That much was made clear last Wednesday when the Saskatchewan Roughriders shipped 36-year old quarterback Kevin Glenn to the Montreal Alouettes on the CFL’s annual trade deadline. Before the day was over, the Riders dealt leading rusher Jerome Messam to the Calgary Stampeders as well.

What they ended up with in return were Canadian kicker Tyler Crapigna and a third round pick in the 2016 CFL Draft.

The moves were a clear sign that the Riders are scrapping 2015 and entering a rebuild which only they know how long will last.  At 2-13, you’d think most fans would understand the direction of the team needs to change and in a poll at rodpedersen.com, 70% of respondents said they’d support that rebuild.

However there are other corners of the Rider Nation which were incensed with the moves.  “How could they trade Messam, the only bright spot on this team?” one guy screamed right in my face.   Others huffed, “How could they trade Messam for a kicker?”

Going by fan reaction, none were too upset to see Kevin Glenn go.  He was brought in as insurance in the event of an injury to Darian Durant but in the last two games – both of them must-win – he came up empty.  In the case of Messam however, the 31-year old Canadian running back was leading the polls to be named the Riders’ Most Outstanding Player this year.

Now both are gone.  But the fact is both Messam and Glenn were due to become free agents this February and if General Manager Jeremy O’Day hadn’t traded them now, it was likely those players would be gone and Saskatchewan would’ve wound up with nothing.

So enter Brett Smith.  Again.

The 23-year old rookie Rider quarterback was pressed into service in late-July when both Durant and Glenn went down and he produced mixed results, at best.  He went 1-5 as a starter and was the CFL’s most-sacked quarterback, being taken down on 14% of his plays.

And yet, the fans loved him.  I wasn’t sure why, because I was convinced he wasn’t even going to make it out of rookie camp however he fought and fought back in June and made the team.  I’ve asked some Rider fans what they love about him and the answer is always, “His fire!  I love his compete and the way he plays with fire!”

That’s one thing I’ve learned from years and years of covering sports in Saskatchewan and in Regina in particular: you don’t always have to win but you sure as heck better give it your all each and every time you step on the field or onto the ice.  Otherwise these fans will turn on you in a jiffy.

But Brett Smith is always going to give you 100% effort.  And just who is he?

Well, as mentioned, he’s a 23-year old God-fearing young man who was raised in Salem, Oregon (where his Dad played college football and married a local gal).  The younger Smith played his college football at the University of Wyoming and had pro football stints in Tampa Bay and Toronto.

He lives in Dallas now and spends his free time, fishing, shooting guns and driving his truck.  That may give you another idea why he’s so beloved in the Wheat Province.  Brett almost gave up on football before the Riders called him this spring and offered a tryout.

That love he’s earned from Rider fans will only go so far if Smith doesn’t start to show he’s capable of being the “Next Darian Durant”.  The Riders have three games left in the regular season, the first of which is this Saturday at home against Edmonton, and Smith is expected to get the start.

We’ll also likely get to see rookie pivots Keith Price and Hutson Mason as well, if not on Saturday then over the next few games before this season concludes.

 That’s right – if you’re paying attention – the only other quarterbacks the Roughriders have behind the injured Darian Durant are rookies.  Brett Smith is the only one who’s taken a CFL snap.

Personally, it makes me want to toss my lunch.  Just with nerves, that’s all.  What if Durant’s not recovered in time to start next season?  What about the fact the Riders have never won a Grey Cup without two quarterbacks capable of starting and winning games?

However GM O’Day seems undeterred.  In fact he seems more confident now than ever.

So we all just need to follow.

That’s what leadership is all about.