Sunday's game prompted Chamblin, Taman firings: Roughriders CEO
Bob Dyce introduced as interim Head Coach, Jeremy O'Day as interim GM
After firing head coach Corey Chamblin and general manager Brendan Taman on Monday evening, Saskatchewan Roughriders president and CEO Craig Reynolds confirmed on Tuesday that the team's 35-13 loss to the Ottawa Redblacks on Sunday was the final factor in the team's decision to clean house.
"We believed they were going to turn it around. We had a belief in Corey and in giving him an opportunity to turn it around. After Sunday, the belief wasn't there anymore," Reynolds said at a Tuesday press conference.
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Chamblin was heavily criticized after his decision to replace quarterback Brett Smith in the second quarter of Sunday's game with the largely ineffective Tino Sunseri.
At that point the Roughriders were losing 14-10, and Smith had thrown his first interception.
Sunseri was also swept away in the house cleaning exercise. On Tuesday afternoon the club, under the new leadership, announced that Sunseri had been released.
Sunday's poor showing was compounded by the fact the Roughriders are 0-9 this season: the first time they've had such a dismal start in the last twenty years.
At Tuesday's press conference, Reynolds emphasized that football is a "results-oriented business."
"What happened was the realization on Sunday that we won't turn this around without a change," Reynolds said.
Stepping in to finish off the rest of the season as interim head coach is Bob Dyce, and Jeremy O'Day will take over as interim general manager.
At Tuesday's press conference, Dyce said he was thankful and humble, especially as a Canadian, to be taking on the lead role.
"I've been in Saskatchewan here for a while now, since 2010. And I know the veteran players, and I know the new guys. So I feel I have a good command of the guys who are here, and a good understanding of the new guys," he said.
The 15-year coaching vet is in his sixth season with the Roughriders.
Prior to joining the CFL as a coach, Dyce spent seven seasons as a receivers coach with the University of Manitoba Bisons.
The Roughriders' 2015 season was a struggle from week one when starting quarterback Darian Durant went down with a season-ending injury. Veteran backup Kevin Glenn followed Durant with an injury, leaving rookie Brett Smith to try and muster a comeback for the season.
Chamblin joined the Riders in 2012 and went 29-34.
