Riders QB Trevor Harris: A different viewpoint this November

Article content

Preparing for his first CFL playoff game as the Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback, Trevor Harris said something the other day that’s truly worth revisiting:

“Last year around this time, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get the chance to play again,” said Harris. “Here I am healthy, ready to rock.”

Harris’ comment came late in one of his regular, post-practice scrums with local media. Something almost out of the blue. Wistful, thrown into a discussion about preparation and the importance of veteran leadership on a playoff-bound team.

Article content

It was obviously something Harris had thought about while going through the regular workouts and film-watching sessions preceding Saturday’s West semifinal against the visiting B.C. Lions. Because in November, 2023, Harris wasn’t the only one uncertain about his future. He was 37, recuperating from season-ending knee surgery and the Roughriders had just dumped head coach Craig Dickenson.

Harris was also the highest-paid player in team history, so the question became: Can the Roughriders afford to take another chance on an expensive, old and hobbled quarterback who has never won the Grey Cup as a starter?

The Roughriders quickly showed their intentions.

General manager Jeremy O’Day re-did the second year of Harris’ two-year contract, complete with a reduction to the QB’s $525,000 salary (according to 3Down Nation), and hired Corey Mace as Saskatchewan’s new head coach. Along with new offensive co-ordinator Marc Mueller, Mace immediately started praising Harris’ skills and leadership.

Although nothing was promised, it was evident the new Riders regime was committed to its soon-to-be-38-year-old pivot.

Article content

Article content

The Roughriders won their first four games, although the last 1 1/2 were done without Harris, who would ultimately be sidelined for six contests with an injury to his other knee. The re-signing appeared to be a mistake and it most certainly appeared like this was going to be Harris’ final campaign.

He returned in the middle of a seven-game winless skid and was initially so ineffective that some callers to open-line shows were saying backup Shea Patterson should stay behind centre.

Mace and Mueller were much smarter than that. They knew their on-field leader was back, working harder than ever, and the results showed during a four-game winning streak that clinched a postseason berth and a home playoff game. In those four victories he completed 90 of 112 passes for 1,192 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. With a 7-4 record as a starter, Harris was named the West’s all-star quarterback.

He didn’t play in Saskatchewan’s final contest, an embarrassing 27-12 loss to the lowly Calgary Stampeders. It was a meaningless contest, so the Roughriders rested several starters.

Article content

“I thought I had a good week of practice,” Harris said with a chuckle. “I don’t know why they demoted me to Number 3.”

Sometimes stern, with an endearing penchant for taking humourous jabs at himself, Harris accepts the leadership role thrust upon all quarterbacks. His teammates treat him like a leader and he never hides from praise or criticism. His family regularly attends practices — where his kids play in the Mosaic Stadium corridors — and he has embraced the community to the point of attending events when allowed by the team’s schedule.

There may now be a future in Saskatchewan for Harris who believes, with his typically philosophical approach, his team will bounce back from its poorest performance of the season.

“A lot of times when you exist in the past or present, or the past or the future, you start having these anxieties,” said Harris. “Just remain present, just do the best you can for today. Have a great Day One.

“I’m gonna be crushing film and be great in the moment and tomorrow I’ll come out here and just do my best and have a great day, too.”

Last November, next November, evidently they don’t matter as much as this November.

Article content

The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe.

With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark leaderpost.com and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.

Article content