Robservations: Anthony Lanier II's SLA&M dunk … stellar start for Harris … quick sixes … remembering Doug Currie
06/29/2024 08:39 AM
My favourite Anthony Lanier II story? It's a slam dunk!
It all unfolded innocently enough, when I asked the 6-foot-6, 285-pound Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive tackle — who played football and basketball in high school and college — if there were some memorable on-court aerobatics from his past.
The immediate response: "High school or college?"
Let's go with college — Alabama A&M, in his case.
"For a couple of weeks I was running around upstairs, trying to get my wind up for basketball," he began during a recent interview. "My mom's coming to the game for the first time to see me play in college.
"I come into the game and I go to the free-throw line for a jump shot. A seven-footer just blocks it all the way to the other end of the court.
"I had to run it down to the free-throw line at the other end. I'm over there, kind of embarrassed, thinking, 'OK, we're in the big leagues now.'
"So I get the ball, push it back up-court, and pass it to my point guard. I go to the right and set a high-post screen at the three-point line and then I roll to the basket.
"The point guard comes down the middle and dishes a nice bounce pass. As I grab the ball, I turn around and there's two people right under the rim.
"Then I just take flight. I dunk on 'em — a two-hand flush — and the gym goes crazy!"
As a bonus, Lanier II was fouled, so he hit the ensuing free throw.
"Everybody is screaming and hollering," he continued. "I go back down the court, shoot another jump shot.
"I make the jump shot, go back to the free-throw line, and make the free throw. And one!
"Buzzer. I'm out of the game."
Alabama A&M was the winner — and so was what we will refer to as the SLA&M dunk.
"They were sitting in the wrong spot at the wrong time and the big man was coming through," Lanier II concluded.
"Give that dog a bone!"
SEVEN FOR NO. 7
Trevor Harris has joined an exclusive group.
He is one of nine Roughriders to throw for seven or more touchdowns over the first three games of a season. The list is as follows:
9 — Ron Lancaster, 1966
9 — Tom Burgess, 1989
8 — Darian Durant, 2013
7 — Kent Austin, 1992
7 — Henry Burris, 2000
7 — Kerry Joseph, 2006
7 — Darian Durant, 2010 (includes two TD passes in overtime)
7 — Kevin Glenn, 2017
7 — Trevor Harris, 2024
The list includes all four of the Roughriders' Grey Cup-winning starting quarterbacks — Lancaster (1966), Austin (1989), Joseph (2007) and Durant (2013).
As well, Burgess played a key role in a charge to a championship. Although Austin was the quarterback of record in the 1989 Grey Cup Game, Burgess led that team in regular-season touchdown passes (22) and threw for two more scores in the West final at Edmonton.
QUICK SIXES (PART 1)
When Harris found Samuel Emilus for a 14-yard score just 1:05 into Sunday's game against the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats, it was the Roughriders' fastest touchdown in nearly six years and their fastest offensive TD since 2007.
As well, it was Saskatchewan's sixth-quickest offensive major in 70 years — and the 11th-fastest, period, since 1954.
Here's the top 11:
0:12: Corey Holmes, 81-yard kickoff return vs. Winnipeg, June 25, 2005
0:13: Albert Brown, 97-yard kickoff return vs. Edmonton, July 12, 1991
0:13: Marcus Thigpen, 97-yard kickoff return vs. Ottawa, Sept. 15, 2018
0:30: Joe Barnes to Joey Walters, 72 yards at Winnipeg, Sept. 12, 1981
0:33: Ron Lancaster to Gord Barwell, 102 yards at B.C., Oct. 24, 1965
0:43: Kerry Joseph to D.J. Flick, 62 yards vs. Calgary, Nov. 11, 2007 (playoffs)
0:44: Tom Burgess to Jeff Fairholm, 79 yards vs. Winnipeg, July 29, 1988
0:48: Jackie Mitchell, 47-yard interception return, at Calgary, Aug. 17, 2001
0:56: Jack Gotta, 34-yard interception return vs. Calgary, Aug. 23, 1963
0:57: Kerry Joseph to D.J. Flick, 16 yards vs. Edmonton, Aug. 18, 2007
1:05: Trevor Harris to Samuel Emilus, 14 yards vs. Hamilton, June 23, 2024
QUICK SIXES (PART 2)
Kian Schaffer-Baker has registered the Roughriders' first points during the first quarter of each of the past five games in which he has reached the end zone.
Oct. 7, 2022: Schaffer-Baker caught a 10-yard TD pass from Cody Fajardo at Hamilton (8:47 of the first quarter).
Aug. 20, 2023: 15-yard TD pass from Jake Dolegala versus B.C. (1:54).
Sept. 22, 2023: Dolegala to Schaffer-Baker, 11 yards, at Ottawa (9:06).
Oct. 21, 2023: Dolegala to Schaffer-Baker, 16 yards, versus Toronto (1:40).
June 16, 2024: Harris to Schaffer-Baker, 24 yards, at Hamilton (11:24). The same duo struck for a 10-yard major with 43 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
DOUG CURRIE (1960-2024)
The other day, an obituary for Doug Currie appeared in the Regina Leader-Post.
Doug, who attended the Roughriders' training camp in 1982, was only 63 when he passed away on Feb. 8 in San Ramon, Calif.
I was introduced to Doug when our paths crossed at Campbell Collegiate. As a Grade 12 member of the Campbell Tartans in 1978, he was named the offensive player of the year in the Regina Intercollegiate Football League's Schwann Conference.
I was in Grade 9 during Doug's graduating year. I remember seeing him in the hallways and marvelling at how friendly he was to everyone.
His good nature was anything but a surprise. Doug, after all, was the son of Gordon and Shirley Currie.
Post-Campbell, Doug starred in the junior ranks with the Regina Rams — a team his father had coached from 1965 to 1976.
With the Rams, Doug celebrated national titles in 1980 and 1981. In the latter season, he was named the Prairie Junior Football Conference's outstanding offensive back after rushing for 934 yards and 12 TDs in eight games. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry.
It doesn't seem like more than 40 years have elapsed since Doug was running past or over would-be tacklers.
Rewind a little further, to 1977, and you will find a game that Doug turned into a track meet by running for TDs of 71 and 60 yards.
But, as much as anything, I remember the nice guy who was a popular presence at Campbell, even saying hi to people he didn't know — people like me, who knew and appreciated exactly who he was.
ROLL CREDITS …
• Nice people who deserve a plug: Courtney Wagner, Jim Currie, Bob Currie, Paul Maurice, Jamie Kompon, Josh Mahura, Haley Girolami, Danielle Girolami, Ricci Girolami, Tammy Girolami, Jaimyn Mantyka, Heather Dufault, Christopher Dufault, Abby Steadman, Nelson Bird, Kelly Megson, Anthony Lanier II, Wayne Morsky, Barry Tessier, Brent Ghiglione, Matt Spence, Jon Willows, Jay Willimott and Megan McCormick.
