Davis: Riders begin new adventure under family-first coach Corey Mace

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SASKATOON — Because Day One of Saskatchewan Roughriders training camp was on Mother’s Day, new head coach Corey Mace had some appropriate advice for his players.

“He’s a guy you want to be like, who you want to look up to, a family guy first,” said running back A.J. Ouellette, who joined the Roughriders as a free agent in the off-season from the Toronto Argonauts, where Mace had been that CFL team’s defensive co-ordinator.

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“First thing he said to the guys (Sunday) is, ‘Make sure you call your moms. Don’t send a dang text. Call your mom, Facetime her.’ ”

Although it was heartfelt and true to character, Mace’s message may not be as inspiring as Kent Austin’s opening remarks in 2007. Austin was also a first-time head coach when he pointed to a nearby door and told his players that anybody who didn’t believe they were going to win the Grey Cup should leave immediately. Nobody left.

The Roughriders won the 2007 Grey Cup, primarily because of the self-belief generated by Austin. His leadership showed from the opening days of training camp, when there seemed to be an aura around the new head coach everywhere he wandered, and his inspiring message became a favourite topic of his Cup-winning players.

Mace has a similar aura, a positive, self-confident feeling of two-way respect and commitment that’s evident between the head coach and his players.

“His maturation process is amazing,” said Riders defensive tackle Micah Johnson, a CFL veteran whose friendship with Mace dates back to winning the 2014 Grey Cup as players with the Calgary Stampeders. “It’s real inspiring.

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“In a lot of ways he was the same because he was like a player-coach, got everybody going the right way. He pretty well ran the meeting rooms so he’s always been the leader, he’s always been that guy.”

After retiring as a player, Mace became Calgary’s defensive line coach. He won another Grey Cup in 2018 before moving to Toronto and winning a third Grey Cup in 2022. Mace has two children with his wife, Petra, and the younger one is named Micah. Little wonder that Johnson rejoined the Roughriders to be reunited with Mace. That’s a persistent theme among the newcomers and the returnees — Mace’s demeanour made it appealing to be a Roughrider.

“He hasn’t had to tell us anything,” said Riders quarterback Trevor Harris. “You would never know this is his first training camp as a head coach. He’s a football guy; he’s a stud and we’re lucky to have him guiding us. He’s the kind of guy that’s easy to follow because of his temperament, his enthusiasm, and he understands what it’s like to be in our shoes.

“When he gets after us, guys listen. He’s been able to use his inflection, he’s supportive and loving of us. But when we need that jolt, that kick in the butt, he’s gonna be able to give that to us. It’s more important to be respected than liked. And you can do both. He commands that respect by his general nature.”

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With almost 100 players on a football field, it’s difficult to keep them all busy during a 200-minute workout, capped by an impromptu dance competition for rookies at the conclusion of the opening session. There were lots of laughs, hollers and good-natured taunting, which is a noticeable change from last year’s practices.

There were also occasional lulls, understandable considering Mace has a new coaching staff teaching offensive and defensive systems that quickly need to be implemented for Monday’s pre-season game against the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Mace wandered among the position groups, usually by himself, stopping to check with the linebackers or offensive linemen and offering some advice, or a general reprimand when the group wasn’t taking its stretching exercises seriously enough. There’s no doubt he’s in charge of everything, from schedules to attitudes to motivation.

“I’m a piece of it but the heaviest motivation comes within the players,” said Mace, who is also the defensive co-ordinator. “That’s something that I’m pushing these guys for, is leadership needs to be heaviest in the locker room. Certainly it’s the fire-starter, it’s gotta start somewhere so I’ve got no problem with that.”

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