Confetti, champagne and cigars: Roughriders soak up 5th Grey Cup surrounded by loved ones

The Saskatchewan Roughriders credited a "family-like" locker elbow room as vital to their success so it was only when trying on they shared their winning second on Sunday night surrounded by their own families.

Those loved ones blanketed the turf at Princess Auto Stadium with green and white, on a field littered with green and white confetti.

Roughriders general manager Jeremy O'Day stood on the field for a photo with the Grey Cup with his kids.

"It feels awesome. It's long overdue. I got a photo with them when they were little and now I got another one."

Riders get emotional after Grey Cup victory

Moments later, Jameer Thurman did the same with his mother Ayesha, who travelled to Winnipeg from Chicago. She said she was proud to be in the stadium to see her son win the cup.

"I have no words. It's beautiful," Ayesha Thurman said.

C.J. Reavis stood between his mother and sister as he took in the celebrations.

"My family is with me. This is all I've ever wanted and dreamed about."

Head coach Corey Mace shared a kiss and hug with his wife Petra as he left the podium at centre field.

Locker room cam: Coach Corey Mace breaks into dance post Grey Cup win

Regina product Mitch Picton had a large crew of supporters in his No. 81 jersey.

"It's not surprising, they would follow me anywhere to watch me play football."

Roughriders centre and Melfort product Logan Ferland was looking for his 5-foot-4 mother in the crush of green and white clad family and friends on the field.

"It's a blur, all I saw was the green and white confetti and my teammates celebrating. It's what I've dreamed about for a long time," said Ferland.

"I'm just thinking about my family all the sacrifices they made and just looking forward to this time I get to spend with them now."

'Such a brotherhood:' Sask. Native Logan Ferland on Grey Cup win

Brett Lauther said he was thinking of his late grandmother as the confetti rained down.

"I lost my grandmother a year ago almost to the day. She was a mom to me she raised me and my brothers. My dad was a single dad trying to do everything for us. I wish she was here to see it but I know she could see it. She's up looking down at me."

During the celebration, Lauther was able to hold his two-month-old daughter.

"I waited 35 years for this. She waited two months."

One member of the team who knows the club's history is offensive coordinator Marc Mueller. The Reginan was raised on football as the grandson of Roughrider legend Ron Lancaster.

"I grew up and I was around the Riders a lot and people around Regina know (players) who were part of a Grey Cup team to be able to be a part of that. We are the champions forever."

Mueller said his grandpa was with him on the last minute drive in the Western final.

"No one was better on a three-minute drive than Lancaster."

Muller said he watched the teams his grandfather coached make championship memories.

"To have a memory of my own that is really cool."

Through the cigar smoke-filled room, Roughrider family members mixed with the players hugging and soaking up the moment as the champagne and beer splashed on everyone.

Quarterback Trevor Harris had his children pose for a picture with the cup before talking his dad into taking a sip from the historic trophy.

"It couldn't mean more. To have your close friends and loved ones close."

Locker room cam: Trevor Harris celebrates victory with team, kids

Harris pointed to a wristband with the slogan "S.R. Our time."

He said he made them in March and the team lived up to that mantra.

"It was our time."

Now it is time for Saskatchewan to celebrate.

Fans will have two opportunities this week to celebrate with the team including a glimpse of the cup at 1:30 p.m. CST on Monday at Mosaic Stadium and a championship parade through Regina on Tuesday at 2 p.m. CST.

The parade will begin on the Green Mile (Albert Street) and end at the legislative building.

Journalist

Add some “good” to your morning and evening.

---

---