We are deeply saddened to report that legendary linebacker Bill Manchuk passed away on Friday — 49 years to the day after arguably his finest of many great games as a Saskatchewan Roughrider.

On Sept. 12, 1976, Manchuk helped the Green and White win 34-7 at Edmonton’s Clarke Stadium by:

• Returning an interception 27 yards for a touchdown.

• Tipping a pass that resulted in another one of the Roughriders’ six interceptions.

• Stopping fullback Steve Ferrughelli for no gain on a third-and-one gamble.

• Hitting Tom Wilkinson so thunderously that the Edmonton quarterback was forced to leave the game.

On top of that, the game was played in Manchuk’s hometown.

“He is a complete player,” defensive co-ordinator Jim Eddy said in a post-game interview with Bob Hughes of the Regina Leader-Post. “He is a very emotional type of player. He is always ready. We never worry about Bill. He just does what we ask.”’

The 1976 season was the first as a trio for an all-Plaza of Honour linebacking corps, consisting of Manchuk (who entered the Riders’ shrine in 2001), Roger Goree (1998) and Cleveland Vann (2000).

Manchuk had joined the Roughriders in 1971, followed by Goree (1975) and Vann (1976).

They were cornerstone players on a ’76 powerhouse that finished first in the West and allowed only 14.9 points per game.

All three of them received a prestigious honour in 1976. Goree made the All-CFL team. Manchuk earned divisional honours. Vann was named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player in the 64th Grey Cup Game.

Manchuk was the lone Canadian in the group — an athletic marvel who was drafted in the first round (sixth overall) in 1971.

With the Edmonton Huskies, he was an Alberta Junior Football League all-star in 1966 after excelling as a receiver and a placekicker.

On one typical day at the office — Oct. 2, 1966 — he caught a touchdown pass and added the convert.

Manchuk was recruited by Idaho State University in 1967, at a time when newcomers were not eligible to play for the varsity.

He helped ISU’s 1967 freshman team cap an undefeated season (4-0) with a six-catch, 105-yard performance against Montana.

He returned to the Canadian junior ranks in impressive fashion in 1968. Huskies head coach Gary Naylor told the Edmonton Journal that “there just isn’t any way he isn’t the best tight end in Canadian junior football.”

Manchuk’s trademark excellence carried over into university football.

He was a Western Canadian Intercollegiate Football League all-star offensive end with the University of Alberta Golden Bears in 1969.

In 1970, he was moved to linebacker and continued to be a force. The leadership skills, which would be celebrated during his time with the Roughriders, led to him being named the defensive captain.

Manchuk’s versatility was also on display when he ascended to the CFL. In addition to playing linebacker, he caught seven passes for 85 yards and one TD during his rookie season of 1971.

He had a career-high three interceptions — all in one game! — in 1972, adding one reception for 23 yards on a fake punt. After a three-catch, two-interception season in 1973, he was exclusively a linebacker — one of the best we have ever seen.

Manchuk’s staying power such that he registered a career-best two TDs in 1980 and finished in a four-way tie for fourth in scoring on team … as a 33-year-old linebacker!

He scored on a blocked field goal return against the host B.C. Lions in the 1980 season opener and, just 22 days later, reached the end zone to complete a 55-yard interception return against the Tiger-Cats in Hamilton.

Coincidentally enough, both his career pick-sixes resulted from passes thrown by the same quarterback (Bruce Lemmerman).

Early in 1981, Manchuk was traded to Edmonton and was able to cap a lengthy, exemplary playing career with back-to-back Grey Cup championships.

He spent the rest of his life — which spanned 78 years — in the Alberta capital, where enjoyed success in commercial and home real estate and was, above all, was a proud father.

“My dad had my brother Damien (with Iva and their two kids) and me (with Jenny),” Williem Manchuk said via e-mail. “He was such a kind soul, surrounded by friends who truly loved him.

“I’m going to miss him more than I can ever put into words. Losing him feels like losing a part of myself.”

MEMORIES OF MOLNAR

It is fitting that the Roughriders are poised to meet the Montreal Alouettes on Legends Night.

One of the legends — 2025 Plaza inductee Steve Molnar — made a trademark unsung-hero play when the Roughriders opposed the Alouettes 50 years ago.

Saskatchewan’s July 29, 1975 visit to Montreal’s Autostade is best remembered for a game-winning, 85-yard touchdown pass from Ron Lancaster to Rhett Dawson. He crossed the goal line with 1:09 left in the fourth quarter, whereupon Brian Berg’s convert completed the scoring in a 24-20 Roughriders victory.

The good name of Steve Molnar, No. 19, does not appear in the scoring summary. But he played an integral role in the six points that were credited to Dawson — and the two points Saskatchewan received for the victory.

After Dawson made a leaping catch, he evaded a would-be tackler and took off toward the end zone. Only one Montreal player had a chance to catch the Roughriders receiver, who was completely in the clear following a resounding block by Molnar.

Footage of the long-distance game winner was shown in 2006, when Dawson entered the Plaza. Lancaster, of course, was one of the 10 charter inductees in 1987.

Molnar, who was 73 when he passed away in 2021, will be honoured tonight at halftime alongside fellow enshrinees Chris Best (offensive lineman, 2007 to 2016) and Alex Smith Sr. (assistant coach, 1997 to 2012).

Steve’s wife (Joannee) and three of his children (Jeremy, Adam and Allyson) are in Regina for the Plaza celebration, which kicked off on Thursday when a new cairn was unveiled outside Mosaic Stadium.

“I think it means everything,” Jeremy Molnar said while being interviewed in front of the Plaza. “If you have anything, it’s history, right?

“Considering what the team means to the community, what the players mean to the community, what the fans mean to the community, it’s nice to have a place that you can rally around.

“Seeing some of the names on the placards, you’re able to say, ‘This is what it meant to me growing up,’ and reflect on the meaning of that player in their lives and what they meant to the community.’ ”

Steve Molnar was a Saskatchewanian through and through. The connection extends to Steve Molnar Sr., who was an outside wing with the Roughriders in 1941.

Steve Jr. was an all-around sporting star at Saskatoon’s Aden Bowman Collegiate before attending the University of Utah. Then came 10 seasons with the Roughriders.

Now, nearly 47 years after Molnar’s final game, his good name has been engraved on a monument as part of the Plaza.

“It honestly brings a bit of a tear to my eyes, seeing my dad’s name up there,” Jeremy Molnar said. “He didn’t talk a lot about football, but now to see it come to life, what it meant to the community, what he meant to the team, it has been really emotional.”

BEST OF TIMES

Best is celebrating a Plaza of Honour hat trick.

He has been enshrined as part of a team — he played on the 2007 and 2013 Grey Cup champions — and now as an individual.

“In 2007, I think I played 11 plays — mostly on field goals,” Best, 42, said with a laugh. “My job was mostly to get the defence ready, but to be part of the 2007 team was incredible. The 2013 team, that was just a dream come true.”

Ivan Gutfriend, who was on hand for Thursday’s ceremony, is the only four-time inductee. The athletic therapist during the championship seasons of 1989, 2007 and 2013, Gutfriend entered the Plaza as an individual in 2016.

Best and four teammates — Darian Durant, Chris Getzlaf, Neal Hughes and Mike McCullough — have been honoured individually and as part of the 2007 and 2013 teams.

The other three-time inductees, as players and/or builders, are:

• Kent Austin (individually in 1999; 1989 and 2007 teams).

• Norm Fong (individually in 2009; 1989 and 2007 teams).

• Alan Ford (individually in 1992; 1966 and 1989 teams).

• Jim Hopson (individually in 2018; 2007 and 2013 teams).

• Steve Mazurak (individually in 2004; 2007 and 2013 teams).

“This is such a cool thing we’ve got here, with such incredible players,” Best marvelled. “I recognize a lot of these guys — guys I played with, guys I met in the past.

“To be here with these people and on the same (cairn) with these people, it’s a dream come true.”

The same can be said of the 2013 Grey Cup win — the only one on home turf — for Rider Nation as a whole.

Best was part of a formidable offensive line that cleared holes for Grey Cup MVP Kory Sheets, who rushed for 197 yards (a championship game record) as the Roughriders defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 45-23 on Nov. 24, 2013.

Saskatchewan had a 10-2 record (playoffs included) with Best in the lineup in 2013. The Roughriders advanced to the 101st Grey Cup Game by defeating the Calgary Stampeders 35-13 in Best’s hometown.

“I grew up in Calgary as a Stampeders fan, so I was definitely not sure about going into the Riders’ Plaza of Honour at the time,” he admitted. “Don’t worry! I lost that very quickly.

“One of my first pre-season games in ’07 was against the Stampeders and some guy punched me in the face right off the bat. Immediately, it was, ‘I bleed green now. It’s official.’ No cheering for the Stampeders for me.

“To have a chance to be a professional football player was just a dream. And then to actually have this sort of thing on top of that, it’s incredible. I definitely didn’t ever expect this. I was just happy to be around and be part of the guys and part of the team and play with some amazing teammates.

“This is just an incredible honour.”

AN INCREDIBLE COACH

Smith Sr. is the longest-tenured coach in Roughriders history, having been a member of the staff for 16 seasons.

That expanse of time, as impressive as it is, represents only a fraction of a remarkable coaching career that began in 1961 and concluded just two years ago.

“I still come to (Roughriders) practice,” noted Smith Sr., 82. “I try to get here at least once a week.

“My last coaching gig was at Campbell Collegiate in 2023. When I went back in the spring of 2024 and spent the week there, I knew that it was time. It was over.

“I would still love to coach, but the energy level is not there.”

Looking at the entire equation, though, his energy level was unsurpassed — much like his passion for the sport in general.

“When I was playing with the Rams, my high school coach phoned me up and asked if I’d be interested in coaching the Grade 9 and 10 team at Scott Collegiate,” Smith Sr. recalled. “I did that for a number of years until I started teaching full-time in the city.

“But it was really in 1970 that I really started coaching on a serious basis, because I got a job in high school.”

Smith spent 17 years teaching and coaching at Thom Collegiate, where the Trojans’ football team enjoyed great success. He also coached in the high school ranks at Scott, Balfour and Johnson.

Post-CFL, he coached with the Rams’ university team and with the PFC’s Regina Thunder before coming full circle with a return to the high school ranks.

Our paths first crossed in September of 1988, when Smith Sr. was Thom’s head coach and yours truly was, unfathomably now, a young reporter with the Leader-Post.

In a season-preview story, he offered this early assessment of the ’88 Trojans: “We look pretty good against the bags and the air, but you never know for sure until the bodies start flying.”

Great quote from a legendary coach.

A FANTASTIC FAN

Condolences to the family members and many friends of Virginia Eberle, who was 89 when she passed away on Aug. 30 in Regina.

She was a Roughriders season-ticket member for more than 50 years.

“For my auntie, her life was all about family, church — St George’s Romanian Orthodox Church — and the Riders,” Greg Buchanan wrote from Lloydminster.

“She cheered on the Riders 365 days a year and always had something green on. In fact, at her funeral most of those attending wore Riders gear.

“I have never seen a bigger fan than her.”

ROLL CREDITS …

• Nice people who deserve a plug: Jeremy Molnar, Joannee Molnar, Adam Molnar, Allyson Wellstead, Alex Smith Sr., Alex Smith Jr., Chris Best, Roger Aldag, Kyra Klassen, Benoit Marion, Benny Sapp III, Corey Bacon, Marc Mueller, Brian Schatz, Greg Buchanan, Steve Daniel, Ed White, Greg Campbell, Barney Shynkaruk, Tommy Stevens, Leah Quick, Trevor Harris, Tia Spirito and Joe Ralko.