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.
B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 really appreciate it (in 2011),B次元官网网址 Harris told reporters Wednesday. B次元官网网址淚t was a really big, big game and it was amazing but it felt kind of easy at the time.
B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 realize how tough it is. ItB次元官网网址檚 very tough to get to this game and very tough to win it. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a much greater appreciation for it now than I had in 2011.B次元官网网址
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.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of people look at those as big advantages,B次元官网网址 Harris said. B次元官网网址淏ut I think at the end of the day, professionally you prepare the right way.
B次元官网网址淥nce you get on that field, the crowd shouldnB次元官网网址檛 really be a factor because youB次元官网网址檙e locked in and focused. You just have to tune out and get the job done.B次元官网网址
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 WinnipegB次元官网网址檚 21-17 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Division. It was HarrisB次元官网网址檚 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.
B次元官网网址淚 realized that we had a thick skin, (weB次元官网网址檙e) resilient,B次元官网网址 he said. B次元官网网址淲e really had not faced any adversity like that this year especially from a turnover standpoint.B次元官网网址
Celebrating another championship would be a terrific ending to a season that saw HarrisB次元官网网址檚 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.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 just a gamer, heB次元官网网址檚 a baller, a football player,B次元官网网址 said Bombers receiver Nic Demski, also a Winnipeg native. B次元官网网址淗e understands the game mentally and also is built for the game physically as well.
B次元官网网址淗e came in and did his thing. WeB次元官网网址檙e going to be dependent upon him this game as well.B次元官网网址
And Harris is more than happy to be ending his season playing for another championship.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the Grey Cup, itB次元官网网址檚 the biggest game of the year, it never gets old,B次元官网网址 he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 excited to get out there with my teammates, IB次元官网网址檓 excited to represent my city, the team I play for, the province IB次元官网网址檓 from B次元官网网址 thatB次元官网网址檚 exciting for me.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 another game, itB次元官网网址檚 another opportunity. It could be a third ring and thatB次元官网网址檚 exciting for me.B次元官网网址
B次元官网网址擠an Ralph, The Canadian Press