There are distinct commonalities among the SaskTel Plaza of Honour inductees who will be celebrated at Mosaic Stadium on Sept. 13.<\/p>\n
Chris Best, Alex Smith Sr. and the late Steve Molnar<\/a> all spent at least 10 seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders as Canadian-born contributors to the community-owned team.<\/p>\n Now they are being thanked in grand style and well-deserved fashion.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s incredible,\u201d Best, 42, said on Monday. \u201cThis is the Canadian Football League. We really are about our Canadian content.\u201d<\/p>\n Best and Smith Sr. \u2014\u00a0the newest members of the Roughriders\u2019 shrine \u2014 were both part of the 2007 Grey Cup championship team. Best earned a second Grey Cup ring in 2013.<\/p>\n The induction of Molnar was announced last year, only to be deferred because of an illness in the family<\/a>. Molnar played for Saskatchewan in three Grey Cup Games.<\/p>\n Best, Smith Sr. and Molnar comprise the Plaza\u2019s first all-Canadian group since 2004 \u2014 and the fourth overall. The Plaza was established in 1987.<\/p>\n Smith Sr. is the 19th Plaza honouree to have been an assistant or head coach with the Roughriders. However, he is the first to be recognized solely for contributions as an assistant coach.<\/p>\n He served in that role from 1997 to 2012, becoming the longest-serving coach in Roughriders history. He helped the team win four West Division championships and, over 16 seasons, worked with seven head coaches.<\/p>\n Beyond that, he was a dedicated and successful coach at the university and high school levels. The Plaza induction is a time to commemorate his impact on the game and his community at several levels.<\/p>\n \u201cFor a Regina boy who grew up about four or five blocks from Taylor Field, it\u2019s a big deal,\u201d said Smith Sr., 81, who coached football as recently as 2023 \u2014\u00a0with the Campbell Tartans.<\/p>\n When the Roughriders last won a championship, Best was a key member of a formidable offensive line that helped running back Kory Sheets enjoy a banner season while providing airtight protection for Darian Durant<\/a> as he threw a career-high 31 touchdown passes.<\/p>\n Saskatchewan had a 10-2 record with Best in the lineup in 2013. That season culminated in a historic home-field win, with Sheets rushing for a Grey Cup-record 197 yards as the Roughriders downed the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 45-23.<\/p>\n \u201cI was lucky to be on a bunch of good teams, but the 2013 team was a very special one to be a part of,\u201d Best reflected.<\/p>\n