The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
Roughriders kicker home in Truro on bye week
TRURO — After all the COVID-19 travel restrictions over the last number of months, Truro's Brett Lauther couldn't let a Saskatchewan Roughriders' summertime bye week pass by without a quick trip home.
“It was tough . ... It has been a while,” Lauther said, adding it was a chance to see family, friends and get in a little golf before the end of summer. “It just made sense.”
Saskatchewan's next bye week isn't until mid-october.
The week off comes on the heels of a perfect start for the ‘Riders, who are 3-0, with Lauther perfect as well — nine for nine in field goal attempts. The veteran said the team “can't complain,” but he knows there is a lot of football yet to be played.
“It's really what you're doing at the end of the season, so we need to focus on that,” Lauther said. “We know the team we have had the last few years — a 12- and 13-win season — that doesn't happen too often. So, at this point, yes, it's good, definitely where we want to be, but at the end of the day, we have to show up in November.”
Perhaps more important is that they're playing at all, after the 2020 season was lost to the pandemic. Lauther spent the majority of his time in the United States with his girlfriend.
“I think a lot of it was leaning on others,” he said of coping with the lost season. “It was everyone rallying together and no different for me. I stayed in touch as best I could with family and friends, and in the gym continuing to train.
“And we had a few different dates before everything was full-out cancelled. It was like they kept dangling the carrot and you were hoping it was going to happen, but then it didn't.”
And not only are they playing but are doing so with Regina's Mosaic Stadium at capacity.
“It's full-on game days and sweet to see,” Lauther said, before talking about how hard it is to explain to people outside the province the passion the people of Saskatchewan have for their football team.
“Even for myself, until I was out there and saw just how much pride they have in the team,” he said. “There is a reason why they have the thirdhighest merchandise sales in all of Canada.”
The Roughriders trail only the NHL'S Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens in that department, which means not only do they out-sell merchandise for Canada's other five NHL teams, they are also ahead of the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Blue Jays.
“It's super cool,” he said. “It's a tradition out there that is passed on from generation to generation and an awesome thing to see, be a part of. It makes playing football there unique and a great feeling. The support we have is unmatched across the league.”
The former CEC Cougars and Saint Mary's Huskies star said he follows any developments concerning a CFL franchise setting up in Halifax and thinks if it ever did happen, all three Maritime provinces would embrace the team.
“It would be unreal,” he said. “I know it's going to be a successful thing once they get a pro sports team the whole Maritimes could get behind . ... That is how it happened and works in Saskatchewan. Everyone gets behind it, it's their thing. It's a reason to tailgate, get together and have fun. That is what CFL football is about.
“The toughest hurdle is getting a stadium built and a team here . ... It would be smooth sailing after that.”