One day, as an esteemed member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ alumni, Trevor Harris will be enshrined in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
The Plaza of Honour is also a given for the fifth Grey Cup-winning starting quarterback in franchise history.
The inevitable inductions will be well-deserved. But let’s put them off as long as possible, shall we? How about, say, a decade from now?
All of this came to mind as I watched Harris and his teammates interact with and welcome 22 former Roughriders on Friday at Mosaic Stadium.
On Alumni Day, three of the 22 guests of honour were younger than Harris. He turned 40 on May 31. Josiah St. John, drafted first overall a decade ago, is 34.
“Perspective is everything,” Harris said on Friday. “Seeing Josiah out there, he was a rookie in 2016 and I’m like, ‘Man, he was a rookie in my fifth year.’ It’s insane to see how fast it goes.
“The other day, Tommy (Stevens) was saying, ‘I’m starting to get into the upper echelon of age on the team.’ I said, ‘Just wait, buddy. It happens fast.’
“That’s why you don’t count the days. You make the days count. This is one of those things where you pinch yourself — and I still do, to this day — that you’re a professional football player. It still blows my mind.
“I’m just grateful to be able to don the green and white, especially, and to have the opportunity (on Saturday) to come out and play this game that we all love.”
The Roughriders are poised to oppose the Toronto Argonauts, with whom Harris was introduced to the CFL in 2012. His rookie season culminated in a Grey Cup championship. So did his 2025 season, which was punctuated by Saskatchewan’s 25-17 victory over the Montreal Alouettes in Winnipeg.
Part of the post-game pandemonium included the presentation to Harris of Grey Cup MVP honours.
It had the makings of a storybook ending. Harris could have retired as a champion after winning the Grey Cup for the first time as a starter. But he never gave serious or extended thought to retirement.
“A lot of times, people can force narratives on your life, such as, ‘Now is a good time to bow out,’ ” Harris said. “I thought it was a cowardly time to bow out.
“People said, ‘You finally did this thing that everybody said you couldn’t do and now you get the last laugh.’ My mindset was, ‘I’m going to do it again.’
“I’ve always been the type of person who doesn’t just want to climb the mountain. I want to climb the mountain, stand there, and say, ‘There’s nothing you can do about it.’ ”
Here’s what we can do about it: Sit back and enjoy the show.
How often do we have the privilege of watching a legend in action?
Not since Ron Lancaster have the Roughriders fielded a team that includes a sure-fire Canadian Football Hall of Fame quarterback.
Please do not misinterpret that. Post-Lancaster, the Roughriders have employed several elite QBs.
Kent Austin, Darian Durant and Kevin Glenn all have Hall of Fame-worthy credentials but have not yet been inducted.
Henry Burris, a Roughrider for 2½ seasons before turning 30, was a first-ballot inductee in 2020. (Selfish aside: I told you he would be a great one!)
In 2007, Kerry Joseph joined Lancaster (1970, 1976) and George Reed (1965) as the only Roughriders to be named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.
Zach Collaros, who like Harris entered the three-down ranks with the 2012 Argonauts, emerged as a mortal lock for Hall of Fame enshrinement after joining the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2019.
Let’s not forget Cody Fajardo and everything he accomplished here, especially during a magical 2019 season.
All that being noted, Harris is still unique among Roughriders quarterbacks who have succeeded Lancaster. With Harris, it isn’t a matter of if he will be called to Hall, but when.
If there was any doubt, it was erased on the final Sunday of last November.
As we prepare for the final Sunday of August 2026, Harris has 21 touchdown passes for the 6-4 Roughriders. He is on pace for 38. Austin set the franchise record of 35 in 1992.
If Harris can maintain his average of 321.8 passing yards per game, he will finish this season with 5,792 — third best in team history, behind Austin (6,225 in 1992) and Austin (5,754 in 1993) and ahead of Durant (5,542 in 2010).
More fun with numbers: Harris needs just 440 passing yards to tie Doug Flutie for 10th All-Time in the CFL.
Flutie, who won the MOP award an unrivalled six times, passed for 41,355 yards over eight seasons (1990-97).
The likelihood is that Harris will surpass Flutie during one of the next two home games — Saturday against Toronto or Sept. 6 versus the Blue Bombers.
When Harris cracks the top 10, we will have another opportunity to celebrate a storied career, an exemplary Roughrider, and his status as a future member of the alumni.
But why wait for the milestones? Savour everything.
Every day, every play, with Trevor Harris as the Roughriders’ marquee quarterback is a gift to all of us.
SASKIE SPOTLIGHT
The Roughriders are poised to start two Saskatchewan-born receivers for the first time in precisely 1,400 days.
Saturday’s home-grown pass-catching duo will consist of D’Sean Mimbs (born in Regina) and Daniel Wiebe (Rosetown).
What does that say about the football feeder system in our province?
“It’s the real deal,” Wiebe said. “A lot of good players come from Saskatchewan. The football programs, which have been increasing in the province, have been amazing.
“A lot of effort is put into growing football in Saskatchewan. It’s awesome.”
The 26-year-old son of former Roughriders running back Robert Mimbs is about to make his fifth CFL start. D’Sean Mimbs is a product of the University of Regina Rams.
Wiebe is about to start for the second time in the pro ranks — and the first time at Mosaic Stadium.
“It’s really cool,” the former University of Saskatchewan Huskies sensation said. “I’ve got some family and friends coming out for the game, so it’s awesome.
“The support is always unreal here from family, friends and fans in general. I heard it’s going to be a good crowd, too, and that’s super-exciting.”
Wiebe and Mimbs will be the Roughriders’ first Saskatchewan-born first-unit receiving tandem since Oct. 29, 2022, when Mitch Picton and Brayden Lenius (both from Regina) started against the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium.
Picton and Lenius were in the starting lineup together nine times in 2021 and on three occasions in 2022.
Before that, the Roughriders had not started two Saskatchewan-born receivers in the same game since Aug. 19, 2012. Chris Getzlaf and Jordan Sisco, both of Regina, were part of the starting lineup against the host B.C. Lions.
Mimbs, Wiebe, Picton, Lenius, Getzlaf and Sisco are among 19 Saskatchewan-born starting receivers in the post-Second World War era.
The others: Rob Bresciani, Jason Clermont, Dan Farthing, Gerry Fellner, Alan Ford, Steve Mazurak and Brian O’Hara, all of whom were born in Regina; Gord Barwell, Scott McHenry and Lawrie Skolrood, all of Saskatoon; Ron Dundas (McKague); Greg Fieger (Beechy); and, Dale West (Cabri).
Farthing and West grew up in Saskatoon after being born elsewhere.
Barwell and Ford both started for Saskatchewan in its 1966 Grey Cup victory.
Mazurak scored the Roughriders’ first TD in the 1976 Grey Cup Game.
Getzlaf and Clermont started in the 2010 Grey Cup Game. Getzlaf was named the Grey Cup’s Most Valuable Canadian in 2013.
O’Hara caught Lancaster’s final pass (Oct. 29, 1978 at Commonwealth Stadium).
34 YEARS AGO TODAY, PART 1 …
It is hard to believe, but today’s game is the Roughriders’ first on Aug. 29 since 1992.
Only three current members of the Roughriders’ active roster — Harris, offensive tackle Jermarcus Hardrick and long snapper Mike Benson — were alive at the time.
Thirty-four years ago today, the Roughriders defeated the B.C. Lions 47-36 at Taylor Field.
Austin, the victorious starting quarterback, completed 24 of 33 passes for 492 yards and four touchdowns — in only three quarters!
Playing on his 33rd birthday, Ray Elgaard caught eight passes for 207 yards and one TD.
Jeff Fairholm added four receptions for 160 yards and two TDs.
And what a day for Lucius Floyd! The Roughriders’ all-purpose running back rushed 13 times for 116 yards and two TDs, adding seven catches for 77 yards.
Saskatchewan led 32-3 at halftime and 40-14 after 45 minutes, whereupon Warren Jones took over for Austin at quarterback.
Behind centre on that day were two future Roughriders Head Coaches — Austin (2007) and the Lions’ Danny Barrett (2000-06).
One more note about the date: The Roughriders’ ninth Aug. 29 game is imminent.
The previous 8/29 games were held in 1952, 1953, 1955, 1959, 1960, 1973, 1982 and 1992.
Saskatchewan has won its last three Aug. 29 games.
34 YEARS AGO TODAY, PART 2 …
Also on Aug. 29, 1992: Papa Shango defeated Tito Santana in the second of 11 matches during the WWE’s SummerSlam mega-card at Wembley Stadium in London.
Santana’s real name: Merced Solis.
Solis, a former tight end, played in 13 games with B.C. in 1976.
In fact, his first CFL game was against Saskatchewan (July 22, 1976 at Empire Stadium in Vancouver).
He didn’t catch a pass that day, but he was hardly alone in that respect. The Lions completed only three passes during their 1976 season opener.
The most memorable reception was a 10-yard TD catch by Lui Passaglia, making his CFL debut.
Lou Harris added a six-yard catch.
The Lions’ other reception was made by Mike Strickland. His 15-yard gain was the longest aerial advance of the day in a 35-8 loss to Saskatchewan.
Strickland, a Roughrider in 1978 and 1979, was part of the Alumni Day festivities on Friday.
THE EAGLE’S SURE-HANDED
Before fielding questions from the media on Friday, Harris was advised that former defensive back Dave Thomas — now CKRM’s voice of the Roughriders — amassed eight interceptions during his graduating season with the Weyburn Eagles high school team.
“So Mueller was the other quarterback?” Harris responded, referencing Roughriders Offensive Co-ordinator Marc Mueller.
Mueller, for the uninitiated, quarterbacked the Sheldon-Williams Spartans and U of R Rams before going into coaching.
THREE CHEERS TO THE SSHF
The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame’s latest exhibit — celebrating the 65-year history of Roughriders cheerleaders — opened on Friday.
Until Nov. 2, “More Than Pompoms: The Story of Rider Cheerleading” will showcase the uniforms, memorabilia, photographs, and the voices of those who lived it,” according to the Hall’s website.
For more information, CLICK HERE.
HERE is CTV Regina’s story on the new exhibit.
ROLL CREDITS …
• Nice people who deserve a plug: Cindy Fuchs, Trevor Harris, Stuart Skinner, Dallas Hanson, Aaron Patrick, Dylan Kurtz, Larry Vandelinden, Lawrence Vandelinden, Shemar Bridges, Steve Daniel, Benoit Marion, Dhel Duncan-Busby, Melique Straker, Wes Cates, Jaxon Ford, Seyi Oladipo Jr., Daniel Wiebe, Chris Wiebe, Dave Thomas, Marc Mueller, James Shewaga, Joe Couch, Dr. Kobus de Witt, Albert Awachie and, celebrating his 67th birthday today, Ray Elgaard.