ROBSERVATIONS: Forgotten jersey numbers … the Roughriders’ VE Day connection … and a great trivia question

We begin today’s eruption of wisdom by saluting No. 17, Brett Lauther.

Make that No. 77, Brett Lauther.

What? No. 72, too?! Once upon a time …

Although the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ career field-goal percentage leader is widely known and appreciated as No. 12, he has a documented history with three other numbers as a member of the Green and White.

Lauther was originally No. 17, during a practice-roster stint in 2015.

He returned to the Roughriders, and the practice roster, in 2017. Hello there, No. 77.

Then came May 27, 2018, when Lauther was resplendent in a No. 72 jersey for the Roughriders’ pre-season opener in Edmonton.

“There was no choosing a number back then,” he recalled. “I was just happy to be there.”

The happiness was shared by the Roughriders’ brass after he went 4-for-4 on field-goal attempts, one of which was from 55 yards, at Commonwealth Stadium.

It was a timely performance by Lauther, considering that incumbent kicker Tyler Crapigna would soon undergo season-ending surgery.

Upon making the team, Lauther was given an opportunity to choose from the numbers that remained available. As one who had worn 11 and 12 while playing hockey, he opted for the latter and, well, the rest is history.

Speaking of which …

Historically, there are several instances of prominent players wearing numbers — at least initially — with which they may not be automatically associated.

Dave Ridgway, for example, wore No. 79 during training camp and the pre-season in 1982. Upon making the team, he switched to No. 36. The Roughriders retired the number in his honour on Aug. 11, 1996.

Robokicker is among several Saskatchewan players who, at one point, wore a number that now makes even the most dedicated observer go, “Really?”

Yup, really.

Ray Elgaard was 75 (training camp/pre-season, 1983) and 72 (regular season, 1983) before switching to the trademark 81.

Like Elgaard, Chris DeFrance started out as 75 (1981) before subtracting one from the uniform number and starring as 74 for three seasons. He switched to 20 in 1984. (DeFrance had worn 20 at Bakersfield Junior College and Arizona State.)

Another elite receiver, Hugh Campbell, was given No. 21 when he joined the Roughriders in September of 1963. His familiar number (31) became a thing the following year, when Gluey Hughie registered an even 1,000 receiving yards.

Samuel Emilus, who carries back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons into the 2025 campaign, wore 86 as a rookie (in 2022) before selecting 19.

A fellow Canadian, Rob Bagg, was 81 (spring of 2007) and 24 (spring of 2008) before spending a decade as No. 6.

Saskatchewan’s current No. 81, Mitch Picton, was previously 70 and 83.

Here are a few other number changes of note …

Neal Hughes (familiar number: 32) previously wore 25.

Kevin Glenn (5) was originally 13.

Eddie Lowe (42) debuted at 45.

Chris Szarka (33) added one to his original 32.

Reggie Hunt (9) also moved up a tad, from 8.

Glen Suitor (27) wore 4 during the 1984 training camp and pre-season.

Speaking of No. 4, there is Darian Durant. His numerical history is an item in and of itself, so …

DOUBLES DIGITS

Did you know that “Doubles” was actually “Triples” when it came to numbers?

Durant wore 10 as a little-known rookie during the pre-season of 2006.

His first play as a Roughrider was a 24-yard scramble against the visitors from Edmonton on June 6, 2006.

The first completion? A 14-yarder to fellow freshman Allen Burrell.

(Durant’s final stats from June 6, 2006: Two rushes for 27 yards; two completions in four attempts for 22 yards.)

Once the regular season began, Durant became the No. 14.

He was on the practice roster until being activated for an Aug. 26, 2006 road game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Durant quickly made an impact along the ground, as he had done during the pre-season. On second-and-nine, he ran for 20 yards. He then handed off to Shermar Bracey for an 11-yard TD.

On the second play of the Roughriders’ next possession, Durant registered his first CFL completion — a 14-yarder to Corey Grant.

Six plays (all runs) later, Luca Congi kicked a 10-yard field goal.

With Durant at the controls, Saskatchewan had 10 points to show for his first two CFL possessions. Foreshadowing!

Durant was also in the game for two kneel-downs, whereupon the Roughriders were declared a victor by a 51-8 count.

Let’s call it 4-shadowing.

Hamilton was also the site of Durant’s first CFL start, on July 12, 2008.

Wearing the now-familiar No. 4, which became available after Kerry Joseph was traded, Durant threw for 339 yards and two TDs to help Saskatchewan post a 33-28 comeback victory at Ivor Wynne Stadium.

That game, like the one in which Durant first appeared, ended with him behind centre in the victory formation.

It was clear, from that point forward, that No. 4 — a legend in the making — deserved to be No. 1 on the depth chart.

LINDSAY’S LEGACY

Only once in Roughriders history have they had co-coaches.

That was back in 1945, when Lindsay Holt and Don King shared the responsibilities.

Both gentlemen put the team through the paces on Sept. 10, 1945, when the Regina Roughriders practised for the first time since 1941.

Military teams had been fielded in 1942 and 1943, during the Second World War. There wasn’t organized football in this area in 1944.

Then came Victory in Europe Day — May 8, 1945.

The 80th anniversary of VE Day will be commemorated on Thursday.

Holt served overseas in the Canadian Armed Forces and helped the Allies prevail.

After being discharged in July of 1945, Holt was interviewed by the Regina Leader-Post’s Dave Dryburgh and expressed a desire to enjoy “just one good season with the old team.”

Born in Govan in 1917, Holt had played end and halfback for the Roughriders in 1937, 1938, 1939 and 1940.

Research by historian Dale Richter revealed that Holt was the first member of the Roughriders to enlist after the War began in September of 1939.

He initially joined the 10^th Field Ambulance Unit before becoming a member of the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. Subsequently, he became a paratrooper.

Despite the military commitments, Holt was able to suit up for the Roughriders in 1940.

“While training with the army in Dundurn, Holt and several of his teammates were permitted to travel to Regina on weekends to practise with the team as it was preparing for a new season,” Richter wrote.

“Holt was able to play in the first two games of the season, including a Labour Day win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.”

Military obligations forced Holt to leave the Roughriders in mid-September of 1940. He soon headed overseas and into battle.

Lieutenant Holt did spend some time in Canada during the War. For example, he played in a football game with the Winnipeg Army Grenades in October of 1944. That was the first game he had played since enlisting.

Upon rejoining the Roughriders in 1945, Holt served as a playing co-coach, as did King.

Leader-Post legend Tom (Scotty) Melville credited that duo for being “the driving power behind football’s comeback” in Regina.

The coaching reins were assumed by Ken Preston on Aug. 15, 1946, leaving Holt to concentrate on playing.

Having cited a desire for “one good season,” Holt played an additional year. He suited up for eight games in 1946, representing the first edition of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

In 1947, Holt became the first head coach of a newly formed junior football team, the Saskatoon Hilltops.

He was primarily a rugby official for the next three seasons before returning to the Hilltops and coaching them to the Western Canada final in 1951 and 1952.

He resigned early in 1953, citing “business and personal commitments.”

Holt went on to enjoy a long career with Eaton’s and eventually worked for the department store in Winnipeg.

In the 1970s, he served on the Blue Bombers’ executive.

Holt was 85 when he died in Burnaby, B.C., on April 11, 2002. His wife, Jules, had passed away five days earlier.

TRIVIA TIME

This one is brought to you by Roughriders fan Conrad Hildebrandt: Which three players from the 2007 Grey Cup champions caught passes from Doug Flutie?

I responded instantaneously by naming one member of that exclusive troika: Jeremy O’Day, the Roughriders’ starting centre throughout their third championship season, caught a TD pass from Flutie with the Toronto Argonauts in 1996.

As for the other two …

Ummm …

Conrad subsequently passed along the identity of a second player: Kerry Joseph.

Joseph, who was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player in 2007, was a defensive back with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks from 1998 to 2001. In 1999, he registered three interceptions, one of which was at the expense of Flutie and the Buffalo Bills.

Ahhhh! There’s the catch. I kept thinking about receptions, not interceptions.

With a new door opened, who else could have intercepted Flutie.

It had to be Eddie Davis, right?

Right!

As a member of the Calgary Stampeders, Davis stepped in front of a pass Flutie threw for the Toronto Argonauts on Aug. 7, 1997.

So there’s the answer — Jeremy O’Day, Kerry Joseph, Eddie Davis.

And, no, it wasn’t as simple as 1, 2, 3.

ROLL CREDITS …

• Nice people who deserve a plug: Pete Paczko, Andrew Kaytor, Gary Brotzel, Bernie Eiswirth, Perry Nyhus, Doug Simon, Rye Pothakos, Chris Garton, Jayson Hajdu, Wanda Harron, Dave Harron, Dave MacLean, Rylan Hill, Srijit Gaire, Dennis Hendrickson, Matt Erichsen, Don Erichsen, George Hameluck, Hugh Dorward, Larry Dean, Kent Maugeri, Dallas Skulski, Jordan Linnen, Travis Brown, Larry Bird, Tania Bird, Curtis Gammon, Jeremy O’Day, Kerry Joseph, Eddie Davis, Conrad Hildebrandt and Phillip Daniels.