The legacy of John Herrera

[GreenBlood]

Ok, here's a different thread, and one that might remind us of how good we have it now. :)

For you young 'uns, John Herrera was the Saskatchewan Roughriders' GM during part of the 80's, and almost single handedly ruined this team. He was hung in effigy near the end of his tenure, in the Taylor Field stands (one of the few things the crowd had to cheer about at that time).

What was his single worst move?

Trading one of the most dominating MLB's to ever play the game in Larry Wruck for punter Paul Hicke, who went on to become a HUGE hitter with the 'Esks, comes to mind.

Trading a very popular, and very good punter in Ken Clark to Ottawa, for an absolute nobody in return. This happened a week or so after Clark's father had passed away, yet Clark had insisted on still playing that Labour Day game and had a punt over 100 yards in the Taylor Field wind, also comes to mind (*credit: CRF's memory).

There are many more.

Lets get mad at someone who truly deserves it. :D

Post your memories ...

[klondike mike]

I was fairly young at the time of Herrara, but I do remember that his name was like a swear word around the house for awhile.

Memory of Larry Wruck: he was buddies with my next-door neighbour, a guy who played basketball for the U of S. One day Wruck came over to shoot hoops, but they didn't like using my neighbour's basketball hoop, cause it was regulation height. The hoop in my driveway, meanwhile, was a lot lower, and so they asked if they could play on it, cause with it they could dunk! So I remember watching a future great Saskatchewan-born CFL player use MY hoop - pretty cool for a kid of my age!

[green4life]

I love this "SCREW YOU" thread. I'll throw in some random ones....

-Sun Media/Slam Sports - for covering the Riders and their situations like wildfire when something is negative or controversial; but barely a whisper when things are awesome. It's partly cause there are no Sun papers in Sask. But still...Screw you Slam Sports.
-Curtis Marsh; Westwood jokingly made fun of Saskatchewan. Marsh did it seriously. It's been awhile but Screw you Marsh.
-Daved Braley; good owner. Loves the league. But as a "leader" on the BOG, his spending habits are a slap in the face to CFL fans everywhere. Especially those in small markets. Screw you Braley.
-The Eskimos; I'm going to be honest. I hate the Eskimoes. So many times they define the word hypocritical. Great for the league; but I'll hate them until I die. Screw you Eskimoes.

[Heywood]

Ok, here's a different thread, and one that might remind us of how good we have it now. :)

For you young 'uns, John Herrera was the Saskatchewan Roughriders' GM during part of the 80's, and almost single handedly ruined this team. He was hung in effigy near the end of his tenure, in the Taylor Field stands (one of the few things the crowd had to cheer about at that time).

What was his single worst move?

Releasing one of the most dominating MLB's to ever play the game in Larry Wruck, who went on to become a HUGE hitter with the 'Esks, comes to mind.

Trading a very popular, and very good punter in Ken Clark to Ottawa, for an absolute nobody in return. This happened a week or so after Clark's father had passed away, yet Clark had insisted on still playing that Labour Day game and had a punt over 100 yards in the Taylor Field wind, also comes to mind (*credit: CRF's memory).

There are many more.

Lets get mad at someone who truly deserves it. :)

Post your memories ...

Man, he really Herrera'd our team in the 80's. Seems to me he drove Joey Walters away with brutal treatment and an even more brutal contract offer.

The game you mentioned with Clark, it was actually his mother that died. Not only did he kick a 101 yard punt (longest in Rider history), he also subed for an injured Ridgway late in the game to kick a 35 yard game winner.

[pearljam]

Was he the GM who traded a rookie Willie Pless to Toronto for a crappy D-lineman?

[Rwilco]

Was this the guy with the cowboy hat? The Clark incedent sticks out after reading Dave Ridgway's book... I was too young to know much about management and such at the time. I was a fan in elementary school...my favourite 'rider was Chris DeFrance. I certainly knew the Roughriders had some serious problems...I always got mad with the DBs who would stop chasing recievers on long TD runs. To me the lowest point in Roughrider history was when even the lowly Ottawa Roughriders came to Regina and whooped us sometime during august in '82 or '83. Everyone was calling for Paopao's head at that time...ugly.

[Rossco]

Was this the guy with the cowboy hat? The Clark incedent sticks out after reading Dave Ridgway's book... I was too young to know much about management and such at the time. I was a fan in elementary school...my favourite 'rider was Chris DeFrance. I certainly knew the Roughriders had some serious problems...I always got mad with the DBs who would stop chasing recievers on long TD runs. To me the lowest point in Roughrider history was when even the lowly Ottawa Roughriders came to Regina and whooped us sometime during august in '82 or '83. Everyone was calling for Paopao's head at that time...ugly.

Yes, he was the guy with the cowboy hat (I guess he was a Stamp wanna be). His big claim to fame was the very large record collection he had. He had come out of the Oakland organization and if I remember correctly, he had some association with (according to him anyways) the band CCR.

[dollar]

Get your facts straight. He didn't cut, one of the most dominating NI linebackers of our generation, he wasn't that stupid, he traded him for a punter. :clown: :myohmy: Wasn't he also "Saskatchewan Tough"

[Heywood]

Get your facts straight. He didn't cut, one of the most dominating NI linebackers of our generation, he wasn't that stupid, he traded him for a punter. :clown: :myohmy: Wasn't he also "Saskatchewan Tough"

I think that was Rueben Berry actually.

[GreenBlood]

Get your facts straight. He didn't cut, one of the most dominating NI linebackers of our generation, he wasn't that stupid, he traded him for a punter. :clown: :myohmy: Wasn't he also "Saskatchewan Tough"

Hey, that was a long time ago, and I'm allowed to remember it like I want! :D

He also tried to run Ridgway off the team near the end of his tenure.

Reuben Berry, I thought coined the "Saskatchewan Tough" phrase, based on Bob Poley, and his willingness to do anything for the 'Riders.

[Roughrider Ken]

I think that was Rueben Berry actually.



Rueban Berry was Herrera's coach....and gawd awful at that. He repeated in the media that his favourite tactic was to repeat a successful play on the very next play. I remember always wondering why he would make that public knowledge.

I always though the guy with the cowboy hat was a guy named Quinter or something like that. I never remember seeing Herrara in a cowboy hat. I seem to think he went to the Denver Bronco organization from here.

He was the guy who was big on Homer Jordon as QB.

[Heywood]

Rueban Berry was Herrera's coach....and gawd awful at that. He repeated in the media that his favourite tactic was to repeat a successful play on the very next play. I remember always wondering why he would make that public knowledge.

I always though the guy with the cowboy hat was a guy named Quinter or something like that. I never remember seeing Herrara in a cowboy hat. I seem to think he went to the Denver Bronco organization from here.

He was the guy who was big on Homer Jordon as QB.

I think you are right, trader Bill Quinter.

I almost forgot about Homer Jordan.... too bad. The likes of him and Joe Adams.... those were the days.

[Stephen LaRose]

Was this the guy with the cowboy hat? The Clark incedent sticks out after reading Dave Ridgway's book... I was too young to know much about management and such at the time. I was a fan in elementary school...my favourite 'rider was Chris DeFrance. I certainly knew the Roughriders had some serious problems...I always got mad with the DBs who would stop chasing recievers on long TD runs. To me the lowest point in Roughrider history was when even the lowly Ottawa Roughriders came to Regina and whooped us sometime during august in '82 or '83. Everyone was calling for Paopao's head at that time...ugly.


Bill Quinter was the guy with the cowboy hat.

[EdmontonRiderFan]

I think you are right, trader Bill Quinter.

I almost forgot about Homer Jordan.... too bad. The likes of him and Joe Adams.... those were the days.
Let's never speak of those days again. It's almost as embarrasing as having Al Ford as GM for 10 years.

[GreenBlood]

I just looked it up in Robokicker.

Wruck was traded for punter Paul Hickie.

Ridgway, from Robokicker: "The fans' ire eventually boiled over, and they hung Herrera in effigy from the West-side upper deck of the stadium. It was a nice ceremony." :ROFL:

[GreenBlood]

Let's never speak of those days again. It's almost as embarrasing as having Al Ford as GM for 10 years.

Al Ford in many ways saved the team, that Herrera almost succeeded to destroy ...

[EdmontonRiderFan]

Al Ford in many ways saved the team, that Herrera almost succeeded to destroy ...
Bill Baker saved the team, then handed it over to Ford.

[Heywood]

Let's never speak of those days again. It's almost as embarrasing as having Al Ford as GM for 10 years.

Say what you want about Al, but he kept the team afloat during times when we paid more sallaries to other teams players than our own.

He was maybe a little too frugal, but he did give Austin about $200,000/year to try and keep him.

Even though other teams were completely ignoring it, Al felt we had to stay below the cap and really was a victim of ZERO cap enforcement. Good thing for the CFL, we ended up having a little extra money sitting around to bail out other teams :sick:

[rickyg]

I have never understood how people thought Ford was a good money man. The team was less than $200,000 in debt when he took over. Much fundraising and a telethon later the team was almost out of business.

[ridersrule]

What I remember about Wruck the most is the energy he had on special teams, he seemed to be the first guy downfield everytime and made the tackle. I don't think he was a starter when he was here, but I remember thinking how crazy it was to get rid of him when they did.

[StubbleJumper]

I don't have any interesting memories of Herrera so I'll just put in a plug for being pissed off at itchy pants.

[Heywood]

I have never understood how people thought Ford was a good money man. The team was less than $200,000 in debt when he took over. Much fundraising and a telethon later the team was almost out of business.

The thing is we helped bail out almost every other team in the league (save Edmonton and Wpg) during that time. He did well to keep the team from going out of business.

[GreenGreg]

I'm proud to say I sit with the guys that hung Herrara in effigy. They've tried other things in recent years, including a blow up doll with her panties on her head at Grey Cup 2003, but the morality police came and stopped them.

:ROFL: :ROFL:

[GangGreen]

they even called him Cowboy Bill Quinter in the media. It was quite a blur of bad GM's/coaches for quite awhile and I know I've been told to never speak of him again here but in that same blur was Jack Gotta. I apologize in advance for doing that. sorry

I agree EdmontonRiderFan
Bill Baker saved the team, then handed it over to Ford.

[Piffles]

Yes, he was the guy with the cowboy hat
No, he wasn't.

That was Quinter.

[Piffles]

I'm proud to say I sit with the guys that hung Herrara in effigy. They've tried other things in recent years, including a blow up doll with her panties on her head at Grey Cup 2003, but the morality police came and stopped them.
Are you sure it wasn't the good taste police?

[Piffles]

What I remember most about Herrera is that he had zero qualifications, but acted as if he was the brightest guy in football. He always had "blue chip prospects" - meaning anyone who played NCAA ball & was willing to return his phone calls. I honestly do not remember Wruck ever playing for us - and I don't see his name anywhere in the 'Rider fact book I have - was he just here for one training camp & pre-season or something? I was always ticked off enough that Wruck was a great SK-born & bred player who helped the Eskimos; now I'll be even more ticked if it turns out we actually had him & traded him away.

Herrera was truly the biggest loser (in every sense of the word) this franchise has ever seen.

[dollar]

What I remember most about Herrera is that he had zero qualifications, but acted as if he was the brightest guy in football. He always had "blue chip prospects" - meaning anyone who played NCAA ball & was willing to return his phone calls. I honestly do not remember Wruck ever playing for us - and I don't see his name anywhere in the 'Rider fact book I have - was he just here for one training camp & pre-season or something? I was always ticked off enough that Wruck was a great SK-born & bred player who helped the Eskimos; now I'll be even more ticked if it turns out we actually had him & traded him away.

Herrera was truly the biggest loser (in every sense of the word) this franchise has ever seen.
We certainly held his rights but I think we traded him before he ever suited up. You can never pay to much for a punter!

[Real Canadian]

Ahh, the memories.

Jack Gotta: worst head coach in Rider history
John Herrera: worst GM in Rider history

and then there was Ken Clark: the best punter in CFL history. To understand this, you had to have seen this guy play. He was a monster ... for a punter anyways...

[Piffles]

Nah, I think Jim Eddy had something on Gotta for that distinction.

[GangGreen]

I honestly do not remember Wruck ever playing for us - and I don't see his name anywhere in the 'Rider fact book I have - was he just here for one training camp & pre-season or something?

I don't remember him suiting up either but do think he was at Rider training camp at least once

[GangGreen]

Ahh, the memories.

Jack Gotta: worst head coach in Rider history
John Herrera: worst GM in Rider history

and then there was Ken Clark: the best punter in CFL history. To understand this, you had to have seen this guy play. He was a monster ... for a punter anyways...

Gotta's slot is definitely up for debate, I think Herrera was hated the most at the GM spot, but you hit the nail on the head with Clark. I hated when we traded him, stupide stupide stupide

[GreenBlood]

What I remember most about Herrera is that he had zero qualifications, but acted as if he was the brightest guy in football. He always had "blue chip prospects" - meaning anyone who played NCAA ball & was willing to return his phone calls. I honestly do not remember Wruck ever playing for us - and I don't see his name anywhere in the 'Rider fact book I have - was he just here for one training camp & pre-season or something? I was always ticked off enough that Wruck was a great SK-born & bred player who helped the Eskimos; now I'll be even more ticked if it turns out we actually had him & traded him away.

Herrera was truly the biggest loser (in every sense of the word) this franchise has ever seen.

It looks like it was the 3rd or so game of the 1984 campaign, when this deal got done (Robokicker). No mention of it in in Green Grit.

I'll always remember that he played here, because my father was absolutely livid of this trade (he's usually pretty mellow).

He's been right about a few other things in life, in hindsight, also ... :)

[Rider Rooter]

According to Wruck's bio in the '88 CFL Facts, Figures and Record Book, he signed as FA with Edmonton in '85. No mention of him ever being a member of the Riders.

[GreenBlood]

Ahh, the memories.

Jack Gotta: worst head coach in Rider history
John Herrera: worst GM in Rider history

and then there was Ken Clark: the best punter in CFL history. To understand this, you had to have seen this guy play. He was a monster ... for a punter anyways...

Jack Gotta as the sharks were circling, and was about to get sacked: "They crucified Christ - you think they're not going to get a goof like me?"

[Rider Rooter]

In the '82 Fact Book, Wruck is listed on the roster, but he doesn't appear elsewhere (ie: no bio or anything).

Looks like he may have been on the PR for a couple of years and then went to Edmonton.

[GreenBlood]

In the '82 Fact Book, Wruck is listed on the roster, but he doesn't appear elsewhere (ie: no bio or anything).

Looks like he may have been on the PR for a couple of years and then went to Edmonton.

In Ridgway's book (pg 107), it does clearly indicate the trade though, which would negate the FA signing of the other source.

Someone's wrong.

[Rider Rooter]

In Ridgway's book (pg 107), it does clearly indicate the trade though, which would negate the FA signing of the other source.

Someone's wrong.

Just checked an old Eskimo fact book, and it says he was traded for Hickie, so Ridgway was right.

[GreenBlood]

Just checked an old Eskimo fact book, and it says he was traded for Hickie, so Ridgway was right.

Whatever you're doing with any 'Eskimo literature (unless it has something to do with the 16-2, 1989 season o' dreams), it'd better be for the emergency of running out of toilet paper!

:lol:

BTW, thanks RR. :)

[diablomix]

I have never understood how people thought Ford was a good money man. The team was less than $200,000 in debt when he took over. Much fundraising and a telethon later the team was almost out of business.

for much of the 80's we weren't exactly packing the park

[rickyg]

Don't blame me I was there in the 80's. DeFrance, Walters, Elgaard in his prime, Narco, and bad coaching. I remember those games well.

[Tisdale Rider Fan]

Memory of John Herrera....we were at a Rider pre game party Saturday night..Beers were flowing the band was rockin and we were having a blast..then John Herrera decided he wanted to play the drums ..he got banging away and about 50 guys started throwin beer glasses at him..Now that was fun!

[ibleed4green]

The Herrara days...the 80's just a blur of a decade of mostly bad football....I remember Ken McEachern as our safety who was a real hitter and could catch, but not the fastest guy...traded/cut him and after he had spent 2 years elsewhere we bring him back to finish his career here-still 2nd all time on Riders for Ints-That was the end of Papa Joe and Reuben Berry's short stint as HC-83-84?.

[GangGreen]

The Herrara days...the 80's just a blur of a decade of mostly bad football....I remember Ken McEachern as our safety who was a real hitter and could catch, but not the fastest guy...traded/cut him and after he had spent 2 years elsewhere we bring him back to finish his career here-still 2nd all time on Riders for Ints-That was the end of Papa Joe and Reuben Berry's short stint as HC-83-84?.

Papa Joe won Coach of the Year in 1981 when the Riders went 9-7 finishing 4th in the West and misseing the playoffs while Montreal finished third in the East at 3-13 and made the playoffs. Cue the cross-over playoff format music

[GreenBlood]

Papa Joe won Coach of the Year in 1981 when the Riders went 9-7 finishing 4th in the West and misseing the playoffs while Montreal finished third in the East at 3-13 and made the playoffs. Cue the cross-over playoff format music

That brings back "The night of 1000 knives" (one of the very few times I will ever quote Bob Hughes) memories of Faragalli's firing (1983 IIRC), which is just another in the looooong list of Herrera's legacies ...

[GangGreen]

one of the very few times I will ever quote Bob Hughes

We'll have to keep the Hughes' quotes down though I think I indvertently quoted Huges with a "Spanish Johnny Herrera" reference. My apologies. Hughes' Rider coverage used to really bug me

[GreenBlood]

We'll have to keep the Hughes' quotes down though I think I indvertently quoted Huges with a "Spanish Johnny Herrera" reference. My apologies. Hughes' Rider coverage used to really bug me

"Up on Cougar Creek" might bring back a few unwelcome memories as well ... :cringe:

But hey, he's discovered that cats poop now, so 'ol Bobby has a new mission! :myohmy: :myohmy:

[go riders]

Man, he really Herrera'd our team in the 80's. Seems to me he drove Joey Walters away with brutal treatment and an even more brutal contract offer.


Walters left to play for big bucks (at the time) for Ray Jauch and the Washington Federals of the USFL.

Did Herrera follow Spavital? Spav spent his last season in Regina building for the Michigan Panthers the next year. Did Walters stay one more year in Regina before leaving for the USFL?

[go riders]

Memory of John Herrera....we were at a Rider pre game party Saturday night..Beers were flowing the band was rockin and we were having a blast..then John Herrera decided he wanted to play the drums ..he got banging away and about 50 guys started throwin beer glasses at him..Now that was fun!

I remember going out to the Saturday night pre-game parties at Ipsco. They were great (tons of beer drank there)...When did the team stop doing them?

[Rider Rooter]

Did Herrera follow Spavital? Spav spent his last season in Regina building for the Michigan Panthers the next year. Did Walters stay one more year in Regina before leaving for the USFL?
Spavital 1980-82
Herrera 1983-84
Quinter 1985-86

Dark days indeed.

[go riders]

Spavital 1980-82
Herrera 1983-84
Quinter 1985-86

Dark days indeed.

Spav was a decent GM. But, as I said, he spent '82 building for the Panthers for the opening season (1983) of the USFL.

[Heywood]

Walters left to play for big bucks (at the time) for Ray Jauch and the Washington Federals of the USFL.

Did Herrera follow Spavital? Spav spent his last season in Regina building for the Michigan Panthers the next year. Did Walters stay one more year in Regina before leaving for the USFL?

I recall hearing that the contract offer we made Walters was very close to the USFL offer he had. He came back and said if we'd match he'd preffer to stay here and Herrara told him to pack his bags.