Running the Riders: My Decade as CEO of Canada's Team

by Jim Hopson

The Saskatchewan Roughriders were mired in mediocrity, a decent football team that couldn’t advance to the Grey Cup as the franchise worked its way out of financial distress and tried to reconnect with its fan base. In 2004, offensive lineman-turned-educator Jim Hopson was hopeful that the Roughriders directors would hire him as the team’s first full-time president and CEO. He believed that the team, with its incredible fan base, could become a successful business that consistently posted strong annual profits while playing in and winning multiple Grey Cups.

And it happened. After a decade under Hopson’s leadership (2005 to 2015), the Roughriders became the Canadian Football League’s strongest franchise, appearing in four Grey Cup games (winning twice) and selling more team merchandise than the other eight CFL franchises combined. They obliterated their debt and posted a record-setting profit of $10.4 million after winning a hometown Grey Cup in 2013, which has been described as the biggest moment in the 105-year-old team’s history.

Hopson’s book, with the assistance of Darrell Davis (an author and long-time sports writer and Roughriders beat writer at the Regina Leader-Post), describes Hopson’s business plans, the resistance to change within the organization, the interplay with the fans of Rider Nation, difficult decisions made, and the euphoria of winning two league championships. An emotional man with a firm disposition, Jim Hopson describes the highs and lows that went along with the job and the path he took, professionally and personally, to the biggest office with the franchise known as “Canada’s Team.”

224 pages, Paperback

Published October 30, 2015

Reviews

[Kaden Harty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book right before the team won the Grey Cup. The book took me just over a week to finish just because I haven't been reading consistently this week in general. It's an amazing book. Hopson signed this book. And so did Daryl Davis, and so did Charleston Hughes? So this book is definitely a keeper. Not only is it sentimental to me, but it is a great book. And the great story of a great man.

[Yvette Beutel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This chronology of the most successful decade in Rider history provides the insider perspective to fans like me who lived it. As a admirer of Riders slotback Weston Dressler, I am mystified that Hopson and Davies neglected to mention his breakout season in their account of the 2008 season. Beginning with the Riders as a punt returner, he was propelled into a critical role when many of the star receivers fell victim to the epidemic of broken legs that the authors describe. He became the go-to receiver, and won the CFL Rookie-of-the Rear that year. In my view, Darian Durant does not get the credit he deserves for stringing together several key wins after the starting quarterback, Marcus Crandell, was hurt, before suffering a rib injury himself that kept him out of the line-up for many weeks. I don't understand why those details were not provided when Hopeson and Davies got to great lengths to acknowledge by name the contributions of many individuals to the organization.

[Jason Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book! Jim played an instrumental role in turning the Riders into the juggernaut they are today. He tells the story as any true Saskatchewan person would, straight forward and to the point

[Sam Maciag · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great historical record of this time period in Rider history.