EVAN DAUM
The Gateway (University of Alberta)

EDMONTON (CUP) — Eric Tillman has a big mess to deal with as the new Edmonton Eskimos general manager and some personal demons to cast aside along the way.

The former Saskatchewan Roughriders GM endured an unceremonious departure from Regina in January 2010 after he plead guilty to a sexual assault in a case involving his family’s 16-year-old babysitter.

While Tillman was granted an absolute discharge with no criminal record earlier this year, the two-time Grey Cup winner resigned from his position as Riders GM nearly eight months ago and faded into football oblivion — until now that is.

The floundering 2-8 Eskimos hired the longtime football manager this week to fill a position left empty after the firing of Danny Maciocia back in July. For a franchise that has already seen fan support shrink over the last several seasons, which has been hurt more by a poor season this year, hiring a man with a tainted past may seem like organizational suicide. But it’s far from it.

There’s no debating Tillman’s football resume, having won a Grey Cup with three different franchises, including his most recent triumph in 2007 when he handed the Rider Nation only its third championship

Whether or not Tillman has the capability to turn around the woefully-bad Eskimos has never been the issue here. The baggage Tillman brings with him makes his hiring about more than just football for the Eskimos and CEO Rick LeLacheur.

Tillman’s past was what LeLacheur and the Eskimos board of directors needed to consider most carefully with this hiring, and whether Tillman can deliver the city another Grey Cup.

The Green and Gold have opened themselves up to even further criticism and frustration from an already exasperated fan base. They knew his hiring would come with its fair share of public disdain — LeLacheur has already pegged about 60 to 65 per cent of the fan response he’s received on the hiring as negative.

This move is bigger than just a football story; it’s a story of forgiveness, second chances and what it takes to make things right.

As LeLacheur said at the announcement, “Do I believe in giving people a second chance? Yes, I do. Do I believe that Eric Tillman deserves that chance? Yes, I do. Will people in this community give him that chance? We’re asking them to.”

The babysitter’s family has since accepted Tillman’s apologies, as did the judge in the case. That counts for something, as does Tillman’s sincere remorse.

His regrets don’t mean Tillman deserves a free pass from Edmontonians, as they welcome him into his very public role on a community-owned franchise. But at the very least, it’s time for Edmonton to find out who Eric Tillman is as the team moves forward.

In a very emotional and honest press conference, Tillman talked football, of course, but the most telling moments came in reference to the incident that will stick with Tillman forever.

“If you want to look at people and judge them by their worst moments and their worst quality, you’re not going to like and respect many people,” Tillman said.

We’ve spent the last few days now looking at Tillman’s worst moments and the picture hasn’t been a pretty one. Tillman isn’t the perfect man for the job — that man doesn’t exist.

Everybody has moments that they wish they could have back but it’s time to turn the page and let Eric Tillman write the rest of his story.