Perry Lefko

Perry Lefko keeps you connected to all the news in the CFL on Sportsnet.ca.

He has been called The Wizard Of Oz by a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders organization because of what he has been doing behind the curtain, or, to be more precise, from his home this year.

Eric Tillman, the general manager of the Roughriders, has not been to one of his team's games all season, let alone a practice. He has built the team, which will play the Montreal Alouettes this Sunday in the Grey Cup at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, from his home, a mere three minutes from where the Roughriders play. Instead of huddling with his staff in the football operations offices, they have come to his home or communicated via telephone or email.

Tillman has been on a paid administrative leave since Feb. 3 pending a summary charge of sexual assault and a trial scheduled for Jan. 3. The charge stems from an alleged incident with a 16-year-old girl on Aug. 6, 2008.

Whatever crime Tillman has been accused of has not been reported, yet there has been no shortage or rumours, innuendos and accusations. Such is life when you are the GM of the Roughriders, perhaps on par in that province with the premier. Tillman hasn’t commented publicly since a news conference back in February when he asked that he be judged at trial and not in the media.

There will be reams of stories told about the players, the coaches and the teams in this year's Cup, and had Tillman been here he would have supplied ample information. Tillman revels in these moments. He is a walking, talking quote machine, available at any time to assist and dispense information to the media.

Roughriders president Jim Hopson told a Regina newspaper that Tillman was invited to accompany the team this week, but he declined. Had he come, his story would have overshadowed the team's, and clearly he had to know that. So in this situation, you could say he's taking one for the team, preventing any sideshow distraction.

Putting all that aside, Tillman's contributions to the Roughriders since his hiring in September, 2006 are to be applauded and commended. He inherited a team that had grossly exceeded the salary cap and underperformed. He set out with a plan to dump salaries, even if it meant trading or releasing star players, adopting a philosophy to build through inexpensive American players and beefing up Canadian talent.

In his first full season, he led the Riders on an improbable journey that took them to the Cup and ended in victory, the team's first in 18 years. For that, he was hailed as a hero.

It only took a turbulent off-season for Tillman's profile to change dramatically. By allowing the team's head coach, Kent Austin, whom he had hired the year before, to walk away from his contract so he could sign with Ole Miss of the NCAA as offensive co-ordinator, Tillman opened himself up to criticism. And the loyal followers of the team -- Rider Nation -- aired their opinions in a clear demonstration of disapproval.

When, in March, 2008, Tillman traded quarterback Kerry Joseph, the Most Outstanding Player Award winner the year before, it further ignited the fans' ire. Tillman had decided Joseph wanted too much money and the team didn't need him at the asking price.

The controversial trade that sent Joseph to Toronto for players and draft picks allowed Tillman to invest in the future, the results of which are key elements of this year's team. Some of the direct or byproducts of the deal, include defensive tackle Keith Shologan and cornerback Donovan Alexander, a couple of the team's strong, young Canadians.

Then there is quarterback Darian Durant, one of Joseph's understudies. He worked his way up the depth chart following the Joseph trade and started every game this year. He shows all the promise of becoming a star.

You can look at other player transactions Tillman has made in his three years and point to his specific plan and how it has worked. The Roughriders have shed a lot of high-priced talent, and yet it has not impacted the team's performance. They finished first in the division this year for the first time since 1976. They overcame a decimated offensive line that lost four tackles through injury. They lost a key import receiver, but filled the gap with backups. Their receiving corps is almost exclusively Canadian which is a rarity in the CFL in which the skilled-player positions are routinely manned by imports

And they have done this with a virtual no-name head coach, Ken Miller, who had been an assistant under Austin in Toronto and then Regina. Tillman resisted the urge to hire a proven head coach following Austin's departure to sign someone who had been a career assistant. That move created consternation among the Rider zealots, and yet Miller has had a winning record in both of his two seasons as Rider head coach and has made it to the Cup.

The on-field success of the Riders has resulted in record profits for the organization, which had been on the brink of bankruptcy in 1997. Now the Green Riders are rolling in green, literally and figuratively. They cannot stock merchandise quickly enough. The home games are routinely sold out and there is a movement that could lead to a domed stadium.

All this is because the team has put forward a winning product directly resulting from Tillman. Two Grey Cup appearances in three years is quite an accomplishment. Win or lose on Sunday, the Riders are a success story.

Tillman is a story in his absence from this year's Cup. While he may not be physically in attendance, The Wizard Of Oz is definitely part of why the Roughriders are here.