With nary a rushing yard to his good name, Brett Lauther will soon pass iconic fullback George Reed in one category that appears in the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ record book.
Lauther is six points shy of moving ahead of Reed and into fourth place on the CFL team’s All-Time scoring list.
The 33-year-old placekicker carries 818 points into Thursday’s game against the host Montreal Alouettes.
“I feel like, out of respect, I should retire before the game so that I don’t pass him,” Lauther said with a laugh.
“When (the stat) was brought up, it made me reflect a little about everyone who has got me to where I am — the fans and the people and everyone in this province.
“It’s pretty cool, at the end of the day. For me, it’s about going out and trying to put them through, score more points, and try to win games.”
Barring the unforeseen, Lauther will ascend to third on the Roughriders’ points parade in the not-too-distant future.
Dave Ridgway stands atop the podium with 2,374 points, followed by Paul McCallum (1,615) and Jack Abendschan (863).
Reed and Abendschan — both of whom are in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame — are within striking distance for Lauther.
“I’m kind of getting a little bit of goosebumps right now, thinking of this franchise and the history behind it and the players who have put on green,” Lauther said.
“I think of everyone not only on the field, but off the field as well, with the people who have been working in the organization for the same goal.
“Something like (a statistical achievement) is never a single person. My name might be there, but there are thousands of names that are in there with me that got me to this point.
“I just really want to say ‘thank you’ to all of them.”
Lauther appreciates having had an opportunity to express those sentiments directly to Reed, who was one day shy of his 84th birthday when he died on Oct. 1.
“I can remember every conversation I had with him,” the sixth-year Roughriders kicker recalled. “We had some really good ones.
“One that stands out for me is from the year before he passed. He stopped me in the hallway. It was always great to see him, but I usually didn’t want to pop over and interrupt his time when everyone was around him.
“He just wanted to have a quick chat. We talked a little about the team and everything else. Then he said something I’ll never forget. He talked to me about the CFLPA and said, ‘If you believe in something, keep working hard towards it.’
That will always stick with me.”
That wisdom was passed along by a gridiron great who served as President of the CFL Players’ Association for two terms (1972-81, 1986-93).
Earlier this year, Lauther became the CFLPA’s First Vice-President.
“All I’m trying to do is believe in what I’m doing and believe in what everyone around me is doing,” he said.
“George said, ‘That’s all that matters. If you know in your heart it’s something good, then keep working towards it.’
“That was probably my favourite conversation I ever had with him.”
Lauther and Reed have something in common other than lengthy and accomplished associations with the CFLPA and the Roughriders.
In 1976, Reed became the inaugural winner of the Tom Pate Memorial Award, which recognizes a player who demonstrates exemplary sportsmanship and contributes to his team, community and the CFLPA.
The most recent recipient of that prestigious award: Lauther, who was honoured during Grey Cup week in 2023.
“It’s absolutely crazy,” he said. “That still hasn’t set in. Someday I might look back and reflect a little more on it.
“With everything that George Reed did for this province and the community and the team here, I’m just trying to follow as much as I can with what he has laid down for us.
“It’s not just a thanks to me or anything like that. It’s a thanks to the province for being so inviting and for having us coming into the communities, into the schools, and going up north all over.
“I always say that everyone thanks us and says that we put smiles on the kids’ faces, but it’s the complete opposite for me.
“Anytime I go to those places, whether you’re having the best day or a bad day, the kids always make me feel like a million bucks.
“Whether we’re teaching them important things about mental health and things off the field or we’re playing ball hockey in the gym or something like that, it always makes my day a lot better.
“I’m super thankful to them and to all the people in this province.”
