Old friends, new enemies

Bombers RB Harris keen to face former CFL team

By: Scott Billeck Posted: 10:57 PM CDT Friday, Oct. 7, 2016

Advertise with us

The B.C. Lions gave Andrew Harris his start in pro football, a Grey Cup ring and a lot of memories.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

The B.C. Lions gave Andrew Harris his start in pro football, a Grey Cup ring and a lot of memories.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/10/2016 (3290 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The B.C. Lions gave Andrew Harris his start in pro football, a Grey Cup ring and a lot of memories.

This afternoon at Investors Group Field when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back straps on the pads for the first time against the team he spent six seasons with, he’ll only be thinking of raining down big gains and touchdowns on his new foes.

“There’s definitely a lot of history there and you appreciate that,” said Harris, who sits third in league rushing with 677 yards.

John Woods / The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Andrew Harris (33) runs against the Saskatchewan Roughriders during first half CFL Banjo Bowl action, in Winnipeg on September 10, 2016. The timing couldn't be better for Andrew Harris to return to the football field after a three-game absence. The Blue Bombers running back will suit up for the first time against his former B.C. Lions team when the clubs clash Saturday afternoon at Investors Group Field. — John Woods / The Canadian Press Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Andrew Harris (33) runs against the Saskatchewan Roughriders during first half CFL Banjo Bowl action, in Winnipeg on September 10, 2016. The timing couldn't be better for Andrew Harris to return to the football field after a three-game absence. The Blue Bombers running back will suit up for the first time against his former B.C. Lions team when the clubs clash Saturday afternoon at Investors Group Field.

“There’s a lot of emotions and a lot of thoughts. At the end of the day, in pro sports there’s going to be changes. It’s very, very rare where someone plays on a team or in a city for their whole career. I respect the fact that they gave me a chance. I’m just happy that I’m in blue and gold and it’s time now for us to put the beatdown on them.”

Harris, who signed with the Bombers as a free agent during the off-season, was quoted in the media saying he felt the Lions didn’t appreciate the amount of work and effort he put in, saying he needed to re-assess his situation after admitting the “writing was on the wall” following the 2015 season.

Friday, Harris downplayed the frustration he felt last year with his former club.

“The friction that was there was based on… again, I’m an emotional guy. I do play with my heart on my sleeve and I like to be in successful situations,” he said.

“It wasn’t always about me getting the ball. I know that’s not what a lot of people think, but the majority of the time that wasn’t even the issue.

“At the end of the day, there’s no ill ill. There’s lots of respect. I appreciate everything that club’s done for me.”

Harris said he’ll have a friendly word or two with his former teammates before kickoff.

The same was said on the other side of IGF Friday as the Lions filed into to the visitors dressing room.

Lions all-star linebacker Solomon Elimimian will finally get to feast his eyes on Harris as an opposing player and not a teammate come today’s matinee affair.

“He was a star running back with the B.C. Lions for severeal years, so we couldn’t touch him,” Elimimian said with a grin on his face. “Now’s our opportunity to touch him.

“Andrew is a great player, one of the most explosive players I’ve been around. He can run, he can catch and he can block and he’s a great person. It’s going to be fun to finally be able to go at it with him.”

Harris singled out Lions linebacker Adam Bighill as a guy who used to give him the gears in practice, particularly during Bighill’s first season with the club.

“I was there when Biggie had his first training camp and I hated the guy,” Harris said. “We’d be in no pads and he’d be giving me a charley horse, or stepping on my feet or poking me in the eye.”

Bighill, who sits third in the CFL with 89 defensive tackles — 11 behind teammate Elimimian’s league-leading 100 — didn’t dispute Harris’ recollections.

“It’s funny, we do have a pretty good history of some battles in practice, all in good fun and competition,” Bighill said.

“It’s going to be fun to play against Andrew and I’m sure he feels the same way.”

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @scottbilleck

Scott Billeck
Reporter

Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade’s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024. Read more about Scott.

Every piece of reporting Scott produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.

Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.

Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.

Scott Billeck
Reporter