Durant, joseph should be honoured
It would be a fitting tribute to see both quarterbacks inducted to Plaza of Honour
Considering that the University of Regina’s motto is “As One Who Serves,” how in good conscience can it axe a volleyball program?
Free, unsolicited advice to my cohorts on the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Plaza of Honour selection committee: Waive the three-year waiting period that customarily follows a player’s career. Induct Darian Durant, who announced his retirement on Friday, as early as possible (2019).
Moreover, retire Durant’s No. 4, which one of his mentors — Kerry Joseph — also wore with distinction.
Joseph also belongs in the Plaza. In fact, his selection should have been automatic. Of all the players considered for induction in 2018, he was atop my list (coming soon to a shredder near you). A Durant-Joseph ticket for next year would seem to be a natural — a 4-gone conclusion, ideally.
Granted, Joseph spent only two full seasons with the Roughriders, but his accomplishments were history-making. He is one of only four Grey Cupwinning starting quarterbacks in franchise history — the others being Durant, Ron Lancaster and Kent Austin. Joseph, Lancaster (twice) and George Reed are the only Roughriders to be named the CFL’s most outstanding player. Consider, too, that Joseph’s finest season — 2007 — was a catalyst for the Roughriders’ ascent into the stratosphere in terms of popularity and profitability.
Reminder: Rhett Dawson’s time in Saskatchewan is comparable to that of Joseph. Dawson, who joined the Roughriders during the second half of the
1974 season and was a favourite target of Lancaster’s through the 1976 campaign, is in the Plaza of Honour. So why not Joseph?
Another reminder: Glenn Dobbs spent only three seasons with Saskatchewan and was among the second class of Plaza inductees, in 1988. Dobbs had only one sensational season (1951), but his enshrinement was a no-brainer. Joseph won a Grey Cup and the CFL’s most prestigious individual award in the same year!
Tom Burgess started two playoff games for Saskatchewan and tasted defeat both times. He was the second-string quarterback during the 1989 Grey Cup game, one week after replacing an injured Austin during the second quarter and piloting Saskatchewan to a 32-21 upset victory over the host Edmonton Eskimos in the West Division semifinal. In 2007, Joseph won as many postseason games (three) as Burgess played in during five seasons as a Roughrider. The induction of Burgess was well-deserved, as previously written in this cherished space, but how can Joseph be excluded in light of his accomplishments?
Committee meetings always presented everyone with a wonderful opportunity to chat with Harvey Johnson, who died last Monday at age 80. Harvey, who is among the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame’s inductees for 2018, was the statistician on Roughriders radio broadcasts for nearly 50 years. I grew up listening to him and was eventually honoured to call him a friend. Anybody who knew Harvey felt the same way.
The Roughriders’ plan to use Duron Carter as a receiver and a cornerback seems like an unnecessary move. Although Carter’s all-around talent is something at which to marvel, consider the degree to which he could lacerate defences if deployed exclusively as a receiver. In 2017, the Roughriders barely scratched the surface of Carter’s potential as a deep threat. Now that Saskatchewan has two quarterbacks — Zach Collaros and Brandon Bridge — who can launch the home-run ball, imagine the possibilities for Carter.
Duron Carter might be the only person in the CFL who can cover Duron Carter.
Three cheers to the Toronto Argonauts for signing U of R Rams quarterback Noah Picton. This exemplary young man richly deserves a shot at a career in professional football.
CJME’s Arielle Zerr was at Rogers Centre on Tuesday when the Seattle Mariners’ James Paxton no-hit the Toronto Blue Jays. It is worth mentioning that I have witnessed several no-hitters — Nik Antropov’s shifts for the Winnipeg Jets.
Nice people who deserve a plug: Russ Herold, Raelene Herold, Erin Herold, Dan Closs, Andrea Closs, Marc Mueller, Shaun Semple, Kaleb Dahlgren, Jaden Cook, Patrick Fleming, Darrell Vipond, Todd Strueby, Kal Parenteau, Cory Culling, Darrin McKechnie, Mike AbouMechrek, Norm Beaudin, Brad Brown, Maureen Miller, Ken Miller and Rob Bagg.