Time has given Andrew Harris a deeper appreciation about what it takes to win the Grey Cup.
The veteran running back will look to win a third Grey Cup in his 11-year CFL career Sunday when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Tim Hortons Field. Harris captured his first championship in 2011 with the B.C. Lions then had to wait eight years before securing a second with the Bombers in 2019.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 really appreciate it (in 2011),鈥� Harris told reporters Wednesday. 鈥淚t was a really big, big game and it was amazing but it felt kind of easy at the time.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 realize how tough it is. It鈥檚 very tough to get to this game and very tough to win it. There鈥檚 a much greater appreciation for it now than I had in 2011.鈥�
The five-foot-10, 216-pound Harris was a one-man show in 2019 when the Bombers upset Hamilton 33-12. The 34-year-old Winnipeg native was named the game MVP and top Canadian after rushing for 134 yards and a TD on 18 carries while adding five catches for 35 yards and a touchdown.
It was regarded as an upset win as Hamilton had posted a CFL-best 15-3 record while Winnipeg (11-7) finished third in the West. The tables have turned in 2021 as the Bombers registered a league-leading 11-3 mark while the Ticats (8-6) were third in the East standings.
However, Hamilton will have home-field advantage Sunday, something Harris enjoyed in 2011 when the Lions beat Winnipeg 34-23 at B.C. Place Stadium. The Ticats have the benefit of practising at their facility, sleeping in their own beds and having the overwhelming support of the game-day crowd Sunday.
鈥淎 lot of people look at those as big advantages,鈥� Harris said. 鈥淏ut I think at the end of the day, professionally you prepare the right way.
鈥淥nce you get on that field, the crowd shouldn鈥檛 really be a factor because you鈥檙e locked in and focused. You just have to tune out and get the job done.鈥�
Harris, who was also the top Canadian in the 2011 Grey Cup game, certainly did that Sunday. He ran for 136 yards and a TD in Winnipeg鈥檚 21-17 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Division. It was Harris鈥檚 first game since Oct. 15 due to a knee injury.
And Winnipeg secure the victory despite committing six turnovers, which showed Harris something about his team.
鈥淚 realized that we had a thick skin, (we鈥檙e) resilient,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e really had not faced any adversity like that this year especially from a turnover standpoint.鈥�
Celebrating another championship would be a terrific ending to a season that saw Harris鈥檚 streak of consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns end at three. He ran for 623 yards on 116 carries (5.4-yard average) and three TDs in seven regular-season games.
鈥淗e鈥檚 just a gamer, he鈥檚 a baller, a football player,鈥� said Bombers receiver Nic Demski, also a Winnipeg native. 鈥淗e understands the game mentally and also is built for the game physically as well.
鈥淗e came in and did his thing. We鈥檙e going to be dependent upon him this game as well.鈥�
And Harris is more than happy to be ending his season playing for another championship.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the Grey Cup, it鈥檚 the biggest game of the year, it never gets old,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to get out there with my teammates, I鈥檓 excited to represent my city, the team I play for, the province I鈥檓 from 鈥� that鈥檚 exciting for me.
鈥淚t鈥檚 another game, it鈥檚 another opportunity. It could be a third ring and that鈥檚 exciting for me.鈥�
鈥擠an Ralph, The Canadian Press
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