What's old is new again, but with a couple of slight alterations.
The new-look uniforms unveiled by the Regina Riot on Tuesday share many similarities to the jerseys worn by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in that franchise's infancy stages, especially when it comes to the colour scheme. The Riot will don jerseys that feature a black base with cardinal red on the front, with black shoulders and silver lining on the sides. It's a look similar to what the Riders - then known as the Regina Rugby Club and Regina Roughriders - displayed from 1912 to 1947.
The CFL franchise brought back those retro uniforms during the team's centennialcelebration season two years ago.
"Saskatchewan is a province with football pride," explained Riot player Melissa Park. "Yes, it's known for the green and white logos, but (black, red and silver) are still a part of the football origins here.
"It was very important for us to incorporate those colours into our look."
The Riot, now playing in its second season in the Western Women's Canadian Football League, wore a jersey with the same colours during its inaugural campaign in 2011.
The Riot, now playing in its second season in the Western Women's Canadian Football League, wore a jersey with the same colours during its inaugural campaign in 2011.
Originally, the Riot wanted to go with the more familiar green and white uniform. However, the Saskatoon Valykries, the Riot's opponent in the WWCFL, laid claim to those colours.
While thankful and honoured to have Roughriders replica jerseys donated to them last season, players on the Riot wanted to improve their look this year.
"Last year's jerseys were the kind of jerseys you could buy in the store ... jerseys meant more for fans than for playing in an actual game," Park said.
"The material wasn't what you need in a real jersey. Plus, they were really big and baggy and bulky and they just didn't feel right."
This year's model, while continuing with the same colouring, has a sleeker look with a better feel.
"The ones we had last year were pretty big and it made it easy for opponents to grab a hold of you and pull you down," explained Riot quarterback Aimee Kowalski.
"They didn't really fit the way a football jersey should fit. These new jerseys are a lot better."
With the new look, players on the Riot hope that translates into a rejuvenated attitude. The Riot dropped its 2012 WWCFL opener 36-6 on May 13 to the Valykries. Regina is scheduled to take on the Manitoba Fearless on Sunday afternoon in Brandon.
"Hopefully (the new jerseys) instills a new passion and a new fire," Park said.
"You definitely play better when you feel comfortable with what you're wearing. That's true for most things, even outside of sports."
"If you look good then you feel good. Hopefully you play good, too," Kowalski added. "(The new uniforms) have a different feel to them ... and they look really sharp."
- Kowalski is one of 12 Riot players to make Team Saskatchewan, the first women's tackle football team. This club, which held tryouts over the weekend at Mosaic Stadium, will compete against teams from Alberta, Manitoba,Quebec and the Atlantic provinces at the Team Canada Challenge Cup.
This isn't the first time Kowalski will represent Saskatchewan at a national event.
In 2005 in Regina, she competed for Team Sask in softball at the Canada Games.
The Challenge Cup is slated for Aug. 2-6 in Montreal, where coaches will select a roster for the the 2013 Canadian women's team.
cslater@leaderpost.com
