Darian Durant left an enduring signature on the Saskatchewan Roughriders so, fittingly, I caught up with No. 4 while he was autographing footballs and jerseys during a private session on Friday night.
The venue — the Piffles Taylor Boardroom at Mosaic Stadium — was a perfect fit, considering the integral role Durant and his teammates played in building the 33,350-seat, state-of-the-art facility.
Now, Durant didn’t pick up a hammer or do any of the wiring, but he nonetheless helped to establish the foundation for everything we see when we walk into and marvel at the home of the Roughriders.
Friday’s first “Doubles” sighting in the CFL team’s business office — located on Level #4, which seemed to suit the occasion — was shortly after 6 p.m., when he walked off the elevator and the realization hit this grizzled observer that he has not changed one iota.
No. 4 still looks the same (he cannot possibly be 41!) and sounds the same.
It quickly became clear that he hasn’t missed a beat in his interactions with fellow members of the 2013 Roughriders — a team that is to be formally enshrined in the SaskTel Plaza of Honour at halftime of Saturday’s home game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
“It’s great to be back,” said Durant, who will be part of a pre-game public autograph session during Coors Light Legends in the Park (3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Confederation Park).
“It’s great to see everyone. It’s great to feel the love from Rider Nation.
“You realize just how significant that year was by looking back and having everyone come and explain to you how important it was for them as well.
“It has been amazing to be back.”
The timing could not be better. In fact, it almost seems scripted.
Durant and several dozen of his closest friends are reuniting not even a week after the passing of iconic fullback George Reed, in whose honour a celebration of life was held on Friday afternoon at the International Trade Centre.
Another tribute to No. 34 will begin on Saturday at 4:50 p.m., 10 minutes before the scheduled start of Roughriders versus Hamilton.
As much as we love and dearly miss George, the presence of Durant and associates will help us heal and remind us that we are blessed to have so many legends to approach and thank and celebrate, such as the principals in the Roughriders’ second Golden Era.
Reed and quarterback Ron Lancaster were the greatest of the great from 1963 to 1975, when their playing careers coincided.
Their excellence, on and off the field, was such that statues in their honour were unveiled outside Mosaic Stadium 2.0 shortly after its official opening in 2017.
As one who grew up watching the “Ronnie and George Show,” I will always be in awe of what they did for the team and the community.
But my admiration extends to Durant and everyone who will always be synonymous with the prosperous period that culminated in a landmark Grey Cup victory on Nov. 24, 2013.
Durant was Saskatchewan’s starting quarterback in three Grey Cup games over a span of five seasons — a Lancasteresque feat.
Lancaster was behind centre when the Roughriders first won a Grey Cup, in 1966.
Durant was calling signals when the Roughriders first won a Grey Cup at home, nearly a decade ago.
In his first full season as the Roughriders’ starting quarterback, he piloted the 2009 team to top spot in the West Division standings for the first time since 1976, when Lancaster was the quarterback of record.
The Roughriders returned to the big game in 2010, only to lose a second straight heartbreaker to the Montreal Alouettes.
After a regression in 2011, the Roughriders returned to the playoffs in 2012 and lost 36-30 to the host Calgary Stampeders in the West semi-final.
Even then, Durant was a marvel. He threw for 435 yards and four TDs, the last of which helped the Roughriders assume a 30-29 lead with 52 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
He followed up in 2013 by (inhale) throwing a career-high 31 touchdown passes, being named a West All-Star, and enjoying the best post-season stretch of any quarterback in Roughriders history.
Three games, eight touchdown passes, no interceptions, and a career-high 97 rushing yards in the West semi-final against the visiting B.C. Lions. He gained 91 of those yards in the fourth quarter to help Saskatchewan rally from a 25-16 deficit and win 29-25.
Remember, too, that the Roughriders boasted an 8-2 record with Durant as the starter in 2014. If not for a season-ending elbow injury, he could very well have led the Roughriders to another Grey Cup.
“I really feel like our era was the best in Rider history,” Durant, who was also a member of the 2007 Grey Cup champions, said on Friday.
“I don’t know much about the others, but during the time I was here we went to four Grey Cups, we won two, we had countless home playoff games and not very many losing seasons.
“We transitioned over into a brand-new stadium because attendance was at an all-time high and the buzz around what we did during my time was at an all-time high.
“Being back really makes you understand what happened and what kind of run we had.”
The catalyst was a transformative 2007 season, during which Roughriders quarterback Kerry Joseph was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.
Saskatchewan’s Kent Austin was named the league’s Coach of the Year on Feb. 27, 2008. By then, he had already left the Roughriders to become the Co-ordinator at his alma mater, the University of Mississippi.
A week after Austin was recognized as the league’s top coach, Joseph was shockingly traded to the Toronto Argonauts.
During the season that followed, Durant was part of a quarterbacking carousel. The Roughriders won all four games he started in 2008 and, after being handed the reins on a full-time basis one year later, he became the marquee player on the CFL’s flagship franchise.
Late in the life of historic Mosaic Stadium, a giant photo of Durant was displayed on the facing of the west grandstand.
After the final CFL game to be played at dear old Taylor Field, Durant was among four players who participated in the closing ceremonies. He was the last to be introduced, following Reed, Roger Aldag and Gene Makowsky.
The company Durant kept on Oct. 29, 2016, and over the preceding decade, is reflective of his stratospheric status in Riderville — a place he understood and embraced from the moment he arrived.
“I pride myself in being somewhat of a historian and you have to understand the guys before you,” Durant said. “You have to understand your environment.
“It’s hard being a quarterback here in Saskatchewan, so you kind of look back on some of the other guys and not necessarily lean on their experience, but you know that other quarterbacks have struggled in the past. They’ve been through some of the hardships and some of the things that you’ve been through, being in such a passionate city and CFL town.
“Looking at Ronnie and all he accomplished and understanding the things that Kent accomplished, it kind of helped me grow a little bit faster, because you understand now that some of the all-time greats — not only players, but in life — have been through some of the same things that you have.
“It’s just a part of growing up and becoming a man.”
In a way, Durant grew up before our eyes. Mind you, few eyes were on him when he arrived in Saskatchewan in 2006.
He was a seeming afterthought in an April 12, 2006 trade that ultimately brought two future Grey Cup-winning quarterbacks — Joseph and Durant — to Saskatchewan.
Over Durant’s first two seasons as a Roughrider, he threw only one pass (a 14-yard completion to Shermar Bracey, for the record) while serving as an understudy to Joseph and Marcus Crandell.
Given a long-awaited opportunity in 2008, Durant quickly showcased the skills that enabled him to become a legend.
“When I talk to my teammates and I talk to some of the fans, they kind of let me know how important and what kind of figure I am here,” Durant said.
“I try to humble myself somewhat and not look at myself as an all-time great or a guy who should be in the same breath and talked about like George or Ronnie.
“With George, he was a great ambassador for the team. He was great for the city and it was always good to have him around.
“With him passing on, and especially being back here, I really thought about my life moving forward and how I would like to be more a part of Saskatchewan, being one of the only guys to have two Grey Cup rings.”
It would be wonderful for it to unfold in that fashion, considering the line of succession.
Three months after Ronnie died in 2008, it was announced that George was moving back to Regina to work for the Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation.
And now, as we remember George, Darian has returned to be among us, to comfort us, and to give us something to cheer in robust fashion. That will be a tonic after a very sad and stressful week.
Keep in mind that Durant was front and centre in the Roughriders’ first home game — also on a Saturday — after we lost Ronnie.
Michael Bishop started at quarterback for Saskatchewan, only to struggle in the early going and be replaced by Durant against the visiting B.C. Lions on Sept. 20, 2008. Ronnie had passed away only two days earlier.
The Lions won 27-21 despite scoring only one touchdown — on a 12-yard reception by Geroy Simon.
Five years later, Simon was a Roughrider.
In fact, he caught the first two of Durant’s three touchdown passes in a 45-23 Grey Cup victory over Hamilton.
Simon, a 2017 inductee into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, will also be welcomed back at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday night.
Legends Night.
Give it up for every one of them.
THANK YOU, 2013 ROUGHRIDERS
It is important to acknowledge all the people who contributed to the 2013 championship season, which is being celebrated by the Plaza of Honour induction.
With that in mind, here is a full listing of the Roughriders’ personnel from 10 years ago.
Players: Dwight Anderson (17 regular-season games); Alex Anthony (1); Rob Bagg (17); Chris Best (9); Tristan Black (15); Tyron Brackenridge (18); Weldon Brown (14); Craig Butler (18); Greg Carr (1); John Chick (18); Dan Clark (18); Antonio Coleman (1); Will Davis (3); Weston Dressler (17); Darian Durant (18); Zack Evans (8); Diamond Ferri (13); Ricky Foley (18); Xavier Fulton (17); Chris Garrett (3); Tearrius George (14); Chris Getzlaf (17); Alex Hall (4); Macho Harris (8); Ben Heenan (16); Cory Huclack (12); Neal Hughes (13); Sam Hurl (7); Tristan Jackson (10); Kierrie Johnson (1); Abraham Kromah (1); E.J. Kuale (3); Brendon LaBatte (18); James Lee (1); Terrell Maze (13); Mike McCullough (9); Jermaine McElveen (15); Scott McHenry (15); Prince Miller (14); Chris Milo (18); Spencer Moore (11); Patrick Neufeld (3); Graig Newman (15); Brian Peters (11); Dominic Picard (18); Kevin Regimbald-Gagne (6); Eron Riley (4); Eddie Russ (4); Jock Sanders (12); Ricky Schmitt (18); Kory Sheets (15); Keith Shologan (18); Geroy Simon (15); Jordan Sisco (2); Taj Smith (18); Levi Steinhauer (15); Daryl Stephenson (8); Tino Sunseri (18); Hilee Taylor (7); Carlos Thomas (10); Woodny Turenne (3); Devin Tyler (8); Corey Watman (17); Rey Williams (10); Rod Williams (1); Drew Willy (18); Paul Woldu (18).
Board of Directors: Roger Brandvold (Chair); Rory Picklyk; Doug Emsley; Paul Hill; Robert Leurer; Twyla Meredith; Wayne Morsky; Dennis Mulvihill; Laurie Powers; Jeff Stusek; Joel Teal.
President-CEO: Jim Hopson.
General Manager and Vice-President of Football Operations: Brendan Taman.
Assistant General Manager: Jeremy O’Day.
Director of Player Personnel: Craig Smith.
Head Coach: Corey Chamblin.
Assistant Coaches: George Cortez (Offensive Co-ordinator); Bob Dyce (Special Teams Co-ordinator); Richie Hall (Defensive Co-ordinator/linebackers); Todd Howard (Defensive Line); Chad Hudson (Quality Control); Khari Jones (Quarterbacks); Richard Kent (Defensive Backs); Doug Malone (Offensive Line); Barron Miles (Defensive Backs); Jason Tucker (Receivers); Cory McDiarmid (Special Teams Assistant).
Equipment Manager: Gordon Gilroy.
Assistant Equipment Managers: Mike MacNeil; Tanner Exner.
Athletic Therapist: Ivan Gutfriend.
Assistant Athletic Therapists: Dale Pitura; Alistair Wilson; Trevor Len.
Strength and Conditioning Co-ordinator: Dan Farthing.
Quality Control/Football Operations Assistant: Chad Hudson.
Executive Assistant, Football Operations: Cheryl McLean-Keil.
Team Physicians: Dr. Robert McDougall (Head Physician); Dr. William Elliott; Dr. James Fraser; Dr. Marty Heroux.
Team Dentist: Dr. Dean Zimmer.
Manager, Video Systems: Dave Dunster.
Head Video Assistant: Alex Smith Jr.
Video Assistant: Chris Rewniak.
Manager, Video Production: Gord West.
Senior Vice-President/Chief Financial Officer: Craig Reynolds.
Vice-President, Sales and Partnerships: Steve Mazurak.
Vice-President, Business Development and Marketing: Gregg Sauter.
Director, Business Administration: Rod Guy.
Director, Retail Operations: Mark Habicht.
Director, Finance: Tina Holtby.
Director, Partnerships, and Game Day Operations: Bill Wright.
Director, Ticket Operations: Gail Mund.
Assistant Manager, Ticket Operations: Tia Hutchinson.
Ticket Control Officer: Carol Hoeving.
Ticket Systems Co-ordinator: Jenn Senger.
Executive Assistant/Office Co-ordinator: LaVerne Cuddington.
Director, Communications: Ryan Whippler.
Manager, Communications: Ryan Pollock.
Communications Assistant: Reid Lambden.
Digital Media Co-ordinator: Cara Hull.
Manager, Community Relations: Dan Plaster.
Community Relations Assistant: Andrew Craig.
Manager, Facilities and Stadium Operations: Hugh McKay.
Manager, Human Resources: Kim Mealing (now Gallagher).
Corporate Partnerships: Kevin Clive.
Financial Reporting Analyst: Aaron Thompson.
Accountant: Doretta Arnold.
Retail Operations Co-ordinator: Tina Koshman.
Retail Operations Assistant: Megan Sisco.
Retail Store Manager, Mosaic Stadium: Kevin Flood.
Retail Assistant Manager, Mosaic Stadium: Melissa Reynolds.
Retail Store Manager, Grasslands: Karen Magnus.
Retail Assistant Manager, Grasslands: Pat Schmidthiesler.
Retail Store Manager, Northgate Mall: Christa Tomyn.
Retail Assistant Manager, Northgate Mall: Jesse Ell-Schwartz.
Retail Store Manager, Saskatoon: Jack Ferwerda.
Assistant Director, Retail Operations: Charlene Oancia.
Manager, Online Retail: Yaya Wang.
Warehouse Lead: Carol Csenar.
Marketing Services Administrator: Tabitha Goodman.
Custodian: Tim McFadden.
Receptionist, Mosaic Stadium: Shelly Crooks.
Receptionist, Business Office: Charlee Patton.
Wendy Kelly, the first female Board member in Roughriders history, completes this year’s list of Plaza inductees. She is being posthumously enshrined as a builder.
Before and after her time on the Board — she served from 1993 to 1995 — she contributed to the Roughriders and our community in myriad ways.
She also has a tie to that magical year, 2013.
Wendy was the Production Manager of the Grey Cup Gala, 10 years ago.
ROLL CREDITS …
- Nice people who deserve a plug: Angie Reed, Keith Reed, Georgette Reed, Vicki Reed, Wayne Morsky, Pat Kelly, Gerry Kelly, Ed McQuarters, Geroy Simon, Angie Peterson, Lana Mueller, Darian Durant, Steve Mazurak, Brenden Purdy, Libby Giesbrecht, Kayleen Sawatzky, Curtis Kleisinger, Faye Matt, Grant Wasnik, Lyall Woznesensky, Ken Schneider, Ewen Huet, Gary Field, George Cortez, Doug Folk, Selmar Odelein, Ian Hamilton, Carolyn Hamilton, Andrew Hamilton, Frank Kovacs, Chris Hodges, Marlene Hoffman, John Hoffman, Wayne Smith, Jackie Lazar, Dale Derkatch, Dayce Derkatch, Ron Bailey, Tim Iannone, Darren Veitch, Bob Strumm and Dante De Caria.
