A retired nun in Saskatoon suspects God could be wearing a Saskatchewan Roughriders jersey and a watermelon helmet when the Riders meet the Toronto Argonauts in this weekend’s Canadian Football League Eastern Conference final.
Sister Rosetta Reiniger is one of a group of nuns who believe God will be on Saskatchewan’s side when the teams kick off Sunday at BMO Field for the right to go to the Grey Cup in Ottawa on Nov. 26.
She told a Saskatoon radio station this week that while God loves every team, there’s only one colour the Holy Spirit wears – and that’s green.
Sister Rosetta is a superfan who has been cheering for the Roughriders for more than five decades, and has been witness to many of the team’s highs and lows.
After three tough years that saw the club miss the playoffs, she believes the green and white are ready to return to glory.
Sister Rosetta may also have an ear to the great huddle in the sky, because she says Saskatchewan is also going to win the Grey Cup.
“I just feel like they’re on a roll right now,” she told CKOM’s The Brent Loucks show on Wednesday. “They’ve come through some difficult times. Now our players are playing well together.”
Sister Rosetta used to make the trip to Regina once a year for a game. Now, she and her fellow nuns cheer on the team from their convent’s retirement home, which on game days looks like a miniature Riders shrine.
Popcorn and a special prayer for the players before each game are part of their tradition.
Even a small version of the club’s mascot plays somewhat of a divine role.
“We still have Gainer the Gopher sitting on my TV. He watches every game with me,” said the devout fan.
She also has a football signed by the entire team that was given to her by former Saskatchewan coach Ken Miller in 2009.
“Yeah, I think we have a very good chance, and we are going to win (Sunday)” she said.