Derek Mortensen/CFL.ca
When receiver Rob Bagg hauled in a touchdown catch back in July against Toronto, teammate Weston Dressler wanted to give him the ball to celebrate his first major since 2010.
Bagg declined.
Instead of being reminded of the past he wanted to focus on the future.
“I just planned on scoring more after that,” Bagg said as his Saskatchewan Roughrider teammates prepared for Sunday’s 101st Grey Cup game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
“I didn’t want one touchdown to be much of an accomplishment. I felt I had a lot more to achieve than that this season.”
Other players on the Riders’ roster possess more talent than Bagg, but few generate more respect in the locker room than the 28-year-old Kingston, Ont., native.
Bagg broke his collar bone in Saskatchewan’s final offensive play of the 2009 Grey Cup, the one the Riders famously lost following a too-many-men on the field penalty. He missed most of the 2011 and 2012 seasons with devastating knee injuries.
Quitting would have been easy, but easy never was Bagg’s way.
“There were times of doubt any time you are injured,” he said. “I think strong people move past that quickly. I think it’s normal to have doubt, but the faster you can get past that the better.”
Bagg came to camp this year determined to re-establish himself as an offensive threat. The touchdown against Toronto proved he was on the right path. In the next game against Hamilton he had five catches for 125 yards and scored two touchdowns. One was on a 60-yard play where he sprinted past a defender.
Rider coach Corey Chamblin doesn’t hide his admiration for Bagg.
“That is one of my favourite players on the team,” said Chamblin. “He’s the poster child of this team. We keep coming back and strong.”
Bagg’s career was threatened again this year when he crashed to the turf in a game against Montreal, clutching his left knee. The crowd at Mosaic Stadium fell silent. Bagg was in tears when taken to the dressing room.
The injury wasn’t serious and he finished the season with 34 catches for 430 yards and four touchdowns. He also had a touchdown catch in last Sunday’s 35-13 win over the Calgary Stampeders in the Western Final.
Ask Darin Durant about Bagg and the Saskatchewan quarterback shakes his head.
“Robbie is a warrior,” said Durant. “I haven’t seen an athlete go through the trials and tribulations he’s been through.
“For him to miss basically two full seasons, to come back, to get hurt this year and feel like the end of (his) career . . . for him to still be grinding is huge. I can’t even put into words how tough that guy is. He’s a warrior. I’m just so happy he’s able to play in this game and be able to help seal the deal for us.”
The chance to win a Grey Cup is the motivation that fueled Bagg during the long hours of rehab.
“Just the will to be a champion,” said the father of twins. “Getting back on the field is one thing, but really the major driving factor is you want to be able to tell your kids and your grandkids you are the best in the CFL one year. We have the opportunity to do that right now. It’s a good time.”
Bagg attended Queen’s University but was not drafted. He was signed by Saskatchewan as a free agent in 2007 and made the team but decided to return to finish his college eligibility and complete his education. He majored in geography and history.
As a rookie in 2008 the six-foot, 192-pound Bagg had 22 catches for 371 yards in 16 games. In 2009 he played 18 games, making 59 receptions for 807 yards and five touchdowns.
He suffered his first knee injury in October 2010 and missed playing in Saskatchewan’s Grey Cup loss to Montreal.
Teammates use words like perseverance and courage when describing Bagg.
“I’d say just determined, probably a little bit of an underdog,” Bagg said about himself. “I just feel like if I want to succeed I have to outwork the next guy.
“I approach it like that whether it’s being a starter or trying to get over an injury.”
Bagg’s parents will be in Regina for Sunday’s game. About 20 to 30 of his friends and family will watch at a party back in Kingston.
During his career Bagg has felt the agony of injury and the pain of his team losing two Grey Cups. Maybe that’s why a healthy Bagg is soaking up as much of this week as possible.
“I appreciate the moment even more now,” he said. “I do appreciate every single game the longer you get in your career.
“It feels like a long time since we were in the Grey Cup. You have to have a great season to get this opportunity. When it comes around, you have to take advantage of it.”
When a team wins the Stanley Cup it’s handed to the captain, then passed off in order to the most veteran or deserving players. Bagg isn’t even thinking about where he would rate should Saskatchewan win Sunday.
“I don’t care if I touch it last,” he said. “If we win, that’s all that matters.”
