WINNIPEG — The pre-game playbook will include a “good-morning text message” transmitted to Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris.
The sender: His younger brother, Cody, who will be among 13 family members and friends in attendance at Princess Auto Stadium for Sunday’s Grey Cup Game against the Montreal Alouettes.
“My brother has been my lifelong workout partner,” Trevor Harris said on Saturday. “He has been the guy who has been by my side all the time.
“Aside from my wife, he’s my best friend in this world. It’s going to mean a lot to me to see him out there in the stands.”
But first, he will see a message — perhaps one that is reminiscent of a text Cody sent Trevor a few hours before the Roughriders played the visiting B.C. Lions in the Western Final:
“Game day, baby. Western Final. This is the stuff we dreamed about growing up… lights on, pressure high, and you right in the middle of it leading the charge. You’ve earned every inch of this moment. Don’t overthink it, just play your game … the same way you’ve always done. Calm, tough, and ready. Every throw, every read!! Everyone watching already knows what kind of leader and competitor you are, but today’s about showing it on the biggest stage. Go take it, bro. Family’s proud no matter what but, man, we know you’re about to light it up. Let’s go Riders!”
Trevor led the charge, as anticipated, along with a comeback win that will be remembered for generations.
Only 63 seconds remained in the fourth quarter when the Roughriders, trailing 21-17, began a series on their 34-yard line.
Seven plays, 76 yards and 52 seconds later, the Roughriders were in the end zone — courtesy of a three-yard touchdown pass from Harris to Tommy Nield.
Brett Lauther’s convert provided the punctuation mark as the Roughriders won 24-21 and advanced to the 112th Grey Cup Game.
Almost immediately, the planning began in various areas of Ohio as members of the Harris family began making reservations for this weekend.
Two flights and a six-hour drive brought Cody and a friend from church, Billy Tecklenburg, to the Manitoba capital on Saturday.
Tom and Suzanne Harris — proud parents of Trevor, Cody, Chantress and Autumn — are also in Winnipeg, having made the trip from Waldo, Ohio.
Kalie Harris, Trevor’s wife, will be joined at the game by the couple’s four children — T.J., Trace, Tripp and Livian. Kalie’s parents (Jim and Marie Denton) are here as well.
The guest list also includes Trevor’s mental performance coach (Dr. Chantale Lussier) and chiropractor (Dr. Rob Laquerre), both of Ottawa.
“From watching backyard football to this, it has been unreal,” Suzanne said on Saturday night.
“For the opportunities and places these boys have taken their families, friends, fans and the province of Saskatchewan, we should all feel very blessed, because of the hard work and determination of these young men.”
Ordinarily, Trevor would text Cody before hitting the field for warmups. The ritual also calls for Trevor to FaceTime his parents from the playing surface.
No need for that today. They’re all here.
In the case of Tom and Suzanne, it’s a near miracle.
“In 2012, my parents got in a motorcycle accident,” Trevor said during a Saturday media conference that was witnessed by Tom and Suzanne. “They’re sitting right back there.
“They were life-flighted. We didn’t know if they were going to make it or not. I got a phone call and was told that my dad had a broken neck and back and 75 stitches in his face. My mom broke an orbital bone in her face. She had a shattered ankle and wrist.
“They ended up making it and I just remember thinking, ‘Football’s not this important. I need to go home and be with my family,’ so I got on the phone with my dad. The words that he could muster were, ‘If you come home from playing football, I’ll make your face look like mine.’
“Although we sacrifice time with family with the things we do, we also have to understand what this game provides for our loved ones as well. They get to watch us live out a dream, which is something you pinch yourself quite often about.”
A man of faith from a devout family, Trevor is also grateful that Suzanne has survived breast cancer and that Tom — like his wife, a remarkably kind and upbeat person — is faring well after being diagnosed with leukemia last year.
“They’ve got nine lives and they’re on their third one, so they’ve got plenty of time left,” their proud 39-year-old son said with a smile.
Mr. and Mrs. Harris have long been fixtures at all their children’s events, ranging from football to baseball to basketball to dance. All four children took dance classes from their mom.
Football games have always been a bonding experience for a family that includes two sons who were star quarterbacks at Pleasant High School (Marion, Ohio) and Edinboro University (now Pennsylvania Western University).
Despite the four-year age difference, the football careers of Cody and Trevor intersected in 2009.
Trevor was a senior at Edinboro — also the alma mater for future Roughriders offensive lineman and current Vice-President of Football Operations and General Manager Jeremy O’Day — when Cody was a redshirt freshman in 2009.
“Trevor threw for 630 yards in his last game in college — and we lost, 84-63,” Cody said with a chuckle. “It was absolutely phenomenal.”
The West Liberty Hilltoppers, whose nickname perhaps foreshadowed Trevor’s eventual residency in Saskatchewan, were the victors in an NCAA Division II playoff game.
Cody took over at the Edinboro Fighting Scots’ starting quarterback the next year. The team’s first game was, appropriately enough, against West Liberty.
With Cody calling signals, Edinboro avenged the 2009 season finale by winning 20-19. Cody capped a 12-play, 80-yard drive by throwing what would be the game-winning TD pass to D’Mar Jeter midway through the fourth quarter.
“I talked to Trevor before the game and I remember him telling me, ‘Whatever you do, don’t throw a pick on the first play,’ ” Cody recalled.
“So, on the first play we ran, our tight end was wide open. I just had to throw it to him, but I threw it away — way out of bounds — because I didn’t want to be intercepted.
“It was the first play of my career. Looking back now, I could have made that throw 100 times over … but at least I didn’t throw a pick.”
Interceptions were infrequent over the next four years as Cody surpassed some of the school passing records Trevor had established at Edinboro.
“He was so well-loved by everyone there,” Cody said. “Everyone looked to him for leadership, so he was a gateway for me. I got instant respect because of him.
“He’s truly a deep-down, good-hearted person to the core.”
While at Edinboro, Cody also excelled scholastically — as you would expect from someone who is now a Physician Assistant, specializing in internal medicine.
Cody and his wife, Kathleen, reside in Delaware, Ohio (just north of Columbus) with their three children (Caroline, Grayson and Evelyn).
Trevor is likewise a devoted husband and father — with a talent for multi-tasking.
“I’ll tell you a funny story,” Cody said. “Kalie was pregnant and Trevor was literally on the floor in the hospital room, on a foam roller, right before and after the baby was born.
“He’s always thinking ahead. It’s always, ‘How can I get an advantage and how can I get better every day?’
“He’s obviously a good father and was there for Kalie, but he didn’t want to miss an opportunity to foam roll.
“That’s why he’s still playing at this age.”
And playing at a high level — as evidenced by the Roughriders’ presence in a Grey Cup Game for the first time since 2013.
“There will be a lot of butterflies,” Cody said. “I believe Trevor isn’t going to be as nervous as we’re going to be.
“To be there for the game is going to be very special. Hopefully we can finish it off.”
