Not long after the Saskatchewan Roughriders celebrated their 2025 Grey Cup championship on the streets of Regina, there was another parade — to Mosaic Stadium’s workout facility.
“I think I saw Trevor Harris and A.J. Ouellette in the gym two days after we won the Grey Cup,” Vice-President of Football Operations and General Manager Jeremy O’Day said on Wednesday. “They were already working out.
“You’ve got to flip the page and understand that it’s not like (the Skins Game in) golf. You don’t get to carry over the last hole. You’ve got to focus on the next season, so that’s what we’re focused on — while still being proud of what we accomplished.”
Reminders are everywhere.
Representatives of the reigning CFL champions have scoured the province as part of the Grey Cup Community Tour.
The Cup has also had a residency at Mosaic Stadium after the fifth championship season in franchise history. The trophy will be returned to the league in April, roughly a month before training camps begin across the nine-team circuit.
At the same, there is a laser-focus on 2026 and the objective of repeating.
“It’s a little bit of a toe-in, toe-out kind of deal,” Head Coach Corey Mace said, “but we’re on to ’26.”
That doesn’t detract from the enjoyment derived from the aftermath of a season that will long be cherished.
“You work hard to get the trophy,” O’Day said. “Everyone works hard for it. Our fan base, our community, our province, they deserve to see it and they deserve to celebrate it.
“It’s a little bit tricky (to balance 2025 and 2026). You’re just trying to navigate where you’re focused in on the future but also understanding the importance of what we accomplished last year.
“The Grey Cup has been everywhere. Every time you turn your head, it’s somewhere else or you’re at a function with it. I will say that it never gets old seeing it at a function.
“But, in this role, you quickly turn the page and you have to start focusing on ’26. It’s nice to hear that the players are doing that as well.”
Consider the sentiments articulated by Harris last week.
“I was over the Grey Cup 48 hours after it,” the Roughriders’ starting quarterback said. “I was just like, ‘OK, cool. We won. Awesome. Let’s see what new heights we can find as people, as a team, as an organization.’ ”
The head coach is completely on board with that line of thinking.
“To speak to Trevor’s mindset, I think that’s always how he has been wired and what makes him successful,” Mace said from Edmonton during a media availability leading up to the CFL Combine.
“I think there’s a fine line. I’m glad he said 48 hours and not two hours, because you want to enjoy a little bit of it.
“But that’s just the reality of sport. You can’t sit there and love on it too long because you’ve got work to do. We’re all hired to do a job and we’re on to ’26.”