Trevor Harris won’t ever forget being next to Zach Collaros almost a decade and a half ago when the two quarterbacks were CFL greenhorns.
They were down the depth chart for the Toronto Argonauts, studying the legendary Ricky Ray and trying to gain any advantage they could. As the Nos. 3 and 4 pivots in the pecking order, there was some internal competition – and a lot of self-doubt.
“I remember thinking, ‘I think I can do this,’” Harris said. “But then I’m like, ‘This other guy, he’s pretty good, too. We’re third and fourth string guys. Maybe we’re just not very good.’”
Harris’ fears, however small, were clearly overblown 14 years ago.
Now trying to defend a Grey Cup champion with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Harris, 40, is one of the most prolific quarterbacks in CFL history. He’s about to move ahead of the great Doug Flutie for 10th on the all-time passing list – a feat he should accomplish when he faces his old teammate and buddy Collaros and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Sunday’s Labour Day Classic.
As for Collaros, he’s been no slouch, either. The 38-year-old is a three-time Grey Cup winner – twice as a starter – and his career numbers rival Harris’.
It all started in 2012 when they were Ray’s understudies on a championship team.
“I don’t know if you asked both of us back then if we knew we’d be playing still,” Collaros said. “Being able to be around the quarterback room and Trevor and getting to know him and the way that he approaches things (was great).
“Just to sit back and watch the way that he prepares just each and every day for practice for whatever we were doing, I learned a lot from that. I learned a lot about preparing from him.”
The CFL is a small community where players tend to move around and get to know everyone. Harris has played for five of the nine teams. Collaros has suited up for four of them, including the Riders.
When a peer has success at the same position, it’s probably a good idea to analyze him. That’s what Harris and Collaros have done with each other as they pore over film of each other in the wintertime.
“There’s things that Trevor does at a level that most people can’t in our league,” Collaros said. “Our style of play is definitely different, but you always try to incorporate things from other great players.
“He’s always been underrated with respect to the way he’s able to move in the pocket and get the ball out of his hands. I’m trying to incorporate some of that stuff in the offseason. There’s lots to pick up. From watching Trev over the years, just how cerebral and how accurate he can be with the football.”
The respect they have for each other is quickly apparent when you hear one talk about the other. Their answers are loquacious and complimentary.
Harris admires Collaros’ elusiveness in the pocket, strong arm, and leadership capabilities.
“It’d probably be easier to say what I don’t appreciate about Zach’s game,” Harris said. “I don’t appreciate that he plays for Winnipeg. Aside from that, I couldn’t admire somebody more in terms of who they’ve been as a player and how he’s continued to evolve.”
It’s both of their abilities to adapt that have kept them at such a high level for such a long time.
Defences have so much film on the two stars thanks to their many years in the CFL that it should be as easy to read them by now as it is to read book. That’s not the case, though.
“As your career evolves and defences evolve playing against you, I think you evolve as a player,” Harris said. “Early on in my career was very much just take what they give me (and) do what I’m supposed to do. It’s evolved to the point where I feel like I can use my eyes, feet and shoulders to manipulate defenders and whether it be second-level defenders, third-level defenders, interior triangle situations where I can cancel and reset quicker.
“If you’re not able to do that, then obviously shame on you, and I think that you’re not going to play very long.”
The end is coming sooner than later for these two greats. They’re certainly more grey than green now.
Harris joked that Collaros has been hinting it would be his last year for a few years.
A lot of time has passed since that first foray into the league with the Argos, which Collaros called a “special year.”
“I’m grateful for his friendship, but tomorrow between that 60 minutes I know we’ll be battling,” Harris said.
That’s just it. They’re not done yet. As they prepare for the most anticipated game of the season – the Labour Day Classic – Harris is sure there’s still more room to grow.
Safe to say that his self-doubt is a thing of the past.
“I feel like I still have my best football ahead of me,” he said. “I really do believe that. The back end of this season will be the best football we play as an offence and myself as well.”
