FIRST PLACE IS THE GOAL

By Rob Vanstone, Leader-PostSeptember 19, 2009Be the first to post a comment


REGINA — The year was 1976. The United States was celebrating its bicentennial. The Gong Show was a hit television show. The Bay City Rollers were actually popular.

It has been that long since the Saskatchewan Roughriders finished first in the CFL West. When the protracted drought was brought to the attention of Roughriders starting quarterback Darian Durant on Friday, he chuckled and said, “Wow.’’

The 27-year-old Durant was then asked if his parents had even met when the Roughriders last finished the regular season atop their division.

“No, not at all,’’ the perpetually pleasant pivot responded. “I wasn’t even a thought.
“(First place) would be huge for this province and huge for this team. Our fans deserve it. We deserve it. We work hard. That’s our goal.’’

And it is attainable.

Entering this weekend’s play, Saskatchewan and the Calgary Stampeders had 6-4 records and were tied for top spot in the West Division. Technically, the Roughriders were in first, considering that they defeated the Stampeders 24-23 in Calgary on Aug. 1 — courtesy of a late touchdown pass from Durant to Chris Getzlaf, who collaborated on a 65-yarder.

Is this a good omen for Saskatchewan? When the Roughriders last finished in first, they did so on the strength of a last-second TD toss from Ron Lancaster to Rhett Dawson. That major, which gave the Riders a 33-31 victory, was also scored at McMahon Stadium.

Only five current members of the Roughriders — defensive back Eddie Davis (age 36), offensive linemen Jeremy O’Day (35) and Gene Makowsky (36), long-snapper Jocelyn Frenette (33) and fullback Chris Szarka (34) — were alive when Lancaster capped one of his classic comebacks on Nov. 7, 1976.

John Hufnagel, the losing quarterback on that day, is now Calgary’s head coach. Perhaps everything is coming full circle. Maybe, just maybe, the stars are finally aligned in the Roughriders’ favour. Or maybe, just maybe, we are really reaching for an angle.
So (ahem) moving right along …

Since 1976, the Riders have been in first place on three occasions at the 10-game mark — in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Two years ago, the Kent Austin-coached Roughriders led the West at 7-3, but ended up finishing second at 12-6. The B.C. Lions went 14-4, setting a franchise regular-season record for victories, but lost to the visiting Roughriders in the 2007 West final. Saskatchewan went on to win the Grey Cup.

In 2008, the Roughriders were 8-2 after 10 games and enjoyed a four-point cushion on the Stampeders. The Stampeders, then 6-4, proceeded to win seven of their final eight games and nosed out Saskatchewan, which was again 12-6. B.C. then won 33-12 on Taylor Field in the West Division semifinal.

Once again, during their second season under head coach Ken Miller, the Roughriders control their destiny after 10 games.

“We’ve been close,’’ O’Day noted, “but we just haven’t been able to get there.’’

Mind you, the lack of a first-place finish has not prevented the Roughriders from achieving some success. During the aforementioned first-place drought, Ssakatchewan has won two Grey Cups (in 1989 and 2007) and appeared in a third championship game (in 1997). In the latter game, the Toronto Argonauts downed Saskatchewan 47-23, enabling O’Day to earn a Grey Cup ring.

“When I had an opportunity to win my first year, I thought I’d have a whole handful of rings by the time I retired,’’ said O’Day, who signed with the Roughriders as a free agent in 1999. “It took a long time to get another one, so you’ve got to take advantage of these opportunities when they come.’’

Suppose that the Roughriders can seize the opportunity. Imagine what it would be like around here.

“I can’t imagine, but that’s what I want to be a part of,’’ Durant said. “That’s a goal of mine. That’s a goal of this team.

“If we keep playing like we’ve been playing — minimizing turnovers, playing well defensively and taking advantage of every opportunity — there shouldn’t be any reason why there won’t be a West Division final game here.’’

rvanstone@leaderpost.canwest.com