Andrew Harris (33) of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the CFL Players Award at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa, ON. Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017. (Photo: Johany Jutras)
Year In Review Series: Ed Tait takes a look at the 2017 Blue Bombers season with his Top 10 stories of the year…
#6 – Bryant and Harris Haul in the Hardware
They both had their moments on centre stage at the Canadian Football League’s Most Outstanding Player Awards during Grey Cup week in Ottawa.
Under those bright lights and with the entire league watching, both Andrew Harris and Stanley Bryant delivered gracious acceptance speeches, making certain to thank those who helped get them there.
But they would both also readily admit something was missing.
Yes, if Harris and Bryant could do it all over again, the scene would have played out with the duo making those acceptance speeches with 50 or so teammates alongside them that night in Ottawa.
After all, that would have meant the Bombers were playing in the 105th Grey Cup just a few nights later.
Harris and Bryant capped off spectacular individual campaigns in late November as the two Bomber cornerstones were honoured with prestigious individual hardware – Harris as the league’s Most Outstanding Canadian; Bryant as the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman.
It marked the first time in 16 years the Bombers had double winners at the league awards, dating back to 2001 when Khari Jones was named the Most Outstanding Player, Doug Brown the top Canadian and Dave Mudge the top lineman.
Small consolation, of course, for a season that ended shy of everyone’s desired goal. But, it was also recognition for some of the spectacular work they did alongside their teammates in a season in which the Bombers finished 12-6 and hosted a playoff game for the first time in six years.
“It’s a great accomplishment, for sure,” said Harris that night in Ottawa. “You dream about these things, but you never know you’re going to achieve it.
“It’s just a testament to sticking to doing what got you there and getting those opportunities and hard work. That’s the biggest tribute. That’s the one thing I can say I consistently do, is put in that work and come to work every day.
“I might not be the biggest, fastest, strongest person or have the best pedigree, but there’s that consistency that I’m going to come to work and grind it out. It’s also the heart. I feel like I have a lot of heart… that’s the biggest characteristic I have and what I bring to a team.”
The top Canadian honour came after a spectacular 2017 season for Harris, one in which he not only captured the rushing title, but led the CFL in receptions – setting a new mark for catches by a running back.
Harris received 74 of 77 first-place votes over the other finalist – Ottawa REDBLACKS receiver Brad Sinopoli – from a panel of voters from the Football Reporters of Canada and the nine CFL coaches.
The honour for Harris marked the 10th time a Bomber player has been named the Most Outstanding Canadian Award since its inception in 1954. The others: Gerry James in 1954 and 1957, Ken Nielsen in 1968, Joe Poplawski in 1981 and 1986, Paul Bennett in 1983, Scott Flagel in 1987, Gerald Wilcox in 1994 and Brown in 2001.
Harris, now 30, authored his best season at an age when many at his position start to see the grind of the game affect their skillset. But if anything, he was stronger, faster and ran harder in 2017.
Asked that night in Ottawa what might have fuelled him, he offered this:
“It was Winnipeg. It was being at home and playing in front of my family and friends in the city at Investors Group Field. It was everything, everything involved with being around Winnipeg was definitely a contributor to that. And the guys in that locker room. Those guys are my brothers and when you have guys that you genuinely care about and know about their families and they’re your friends off the field, that makes a big difference when you go out there on that battlefield. You’ll do anything for them.
“That’s one of the reasons I play the way I do and one of the reasons for my play to be elevated and people to be noticing that.”
The quiet and soft-spoken Bryant, meanwhile, did all his talking between the white stripes. The third-year Bomber – and eight-year CFLer – was part of an offensive line that helped the Bombers lead the CFL in rushing and finish second in scoring. Playing left tackle alongside guards Travis Bond, Patrick Neufeld and Sukh Chungh, centre Matthias Goossen and right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick, Bryant has not missed a single game since joining the Bombers in free agency in 2015.
“This is one of the goals I set for myself this year and just to see it actually happen feels good,” said Bryant. “I feel like I’ve been consistent my whole career and it’s just good to get that recognition.”
Bryant’s win was the seventh by a Bomber lineman since the inception of the award in 1974. The others: Larry Butler in 1981, John Bonk in 1984, Nick Bastaja in 1985, Chris Walby in 1987 and 1993, and Dave Mudge in 2001. Prior to 1974 the CFL presented an outstanding lineman award, won by Herb Gray in 1960 and Frank Rigney in 1961.
Earlier in the week prior to the awards night, Bryant spoke of his early days in Winnipeg and the recent progress made by the franchise. But he also reconfirmed the sentiment both he and Harris held that week, and one every man, woman and child in Bomber Nation shares: they want more than individual recognition.
They want the biggest prize of all.
“When the opportunity came to go to Winnipeg, I knew things were bad here, but that it was going to be a process,” said Bryant. “I feel like I’ve grown each and every year I’ve been here. That first year, 2015, was a rough one not just for me but for the team in general. Things improved last year and then again this year, but it was the same result.
“It’s tough. I want to leave a legacy here. We all do.”
This is the fifth in a series recapping the Top 10 Bomber stories of 2017.
Next: A Defence Under the Microscope
