DURANT HAD A PLAN

By Rob Vanstone, Leader-PostNovember 22, 2009
REGINA — Darian Durant cherishes the Grey Cup ring he won in 2007, but the Cup was only half-full.

As elated as he was two years ago when the Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-19, there was a void because he had watched the entire game from the sideline at Toronto's Rogers Centre.

"After we won the Grey Cup, I took a knee on the field and I told myself that when I had the opportunity, I was going to make it back,'' Durant said Sunday after quarterbacking the Roughriders to a 27-17 victory over the visiting Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League's West Division final.
"I'm just glad we made it back, but it's not finished. We have to win it.''

Durant and the Roughriders are destined for Calgary, where they are to oppose the Montreal Alouettes in Sunday's Grey Cup.

The last time Saskatchewan played for a championship, Kerry Joseph — whom Durant considers a dear friend and an invaluable mentor — was the Roughriders' starting quarterback. After Joseph was traded to the Toronto Argonauts in 2008, Durant was quick to claim jersey No. 4. Now he would like to further emulate Joseph by winning the big game, bringing the Roughriders championship No. 4 in the process.

"Everyone wants to have a helping hand in the Grey Cup,'' said Durant, who wore No. 14 while serving as an understudy to Joseph and Marcus Crandell in 2007. "I want to be able to play my role and do what I can do for my team and bring a Grey Cup back home to Saskatchewan.''

For Durant, "home'' is actually Florence, S.C., from which his parents (Betty and Israel) travelled to watch Sunday's game. However, the 27-year-old quarterback has also found a second home in Saskatchewan, given his remarkable accomplishments during his first full season as a starter.

Although Durant earned West all-star honours en route to quarterbacking Saskatchewan to a Grey Cup berth, this season has not been a complete joyride for the former University of North Carolina star.
His detractors made themselves heard loud and clear — not lately, mind you — and there were a couple of occasions when the Roughriders' quarterbacking situation appeared to be an issue.

So much for that angle. When last seen at Mosaic Stadium, Durant was high-fiving fans and rejoicing over a Roughriders victory in the first Regina-based West final since 1976.

"It's about letting fans have confidence in you and making them realize that sometimes there are going to be down points during the season, but you don't have to call for my head,'' Durant said.

"It is going to be like that sometimes and it may be like that in the Grey Cup. Who knows? I'm not saying that, but I just wanted them to know that with all that has been said about me, I love the fans here. I love playing here. We're going to try to bring this thing home.''

If that objective can be attained, Durant will be in ultra-exclusive company. In nearly 100 years since the formation of the Roughriders — the Regina Rugby Club at the time of inception — only three men have earned the distinction of Grey Cup-winning quarterback: Joseph, Ron Lancaster and Kent Austin.

"It's great company to be in,'' Durant said. "One thing all those guys have is a Grey Cup ring. Even though I have one, I don't have one as a starter, and that's my goal.''

Once again, Durant and the Roughriders are bound to encounter skeptics.

After all, Montreal is coming off a regular season in which it posted a league-best 15-3 record. For good

measure, the Alouettes advanced to the Grey Cup by emulsifying the B.C. Lions 56-18 in Sunday's East Division final.

Later in the day, it was the Roughriders' turn to celebrate. As the clock struck zero at Mosaic Stadium and the jubilant fans chanted "Grey Cup,'' Durant had one thing on his mind.

"Montreal,'' he stated. "I've been telling you all year that it's Grey Cup or bust. That's our mentality.
"We're not just happy to be there. We're going there to win.''

rvanstone@leaderpost.canwest.com
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