By Jamie Nye

Roughriders Head Coach mourns loss of ‘big brother’

Jul 28, 2011 | 6:51 AM

The face of Saskatchewan Roughriders Head Coach Greg Marshall told the story on Wednesday. The usual laid back and humourous Marshall did give a one liner or two during his post-practice scrum with media but the tears were evident as he talked football before getting at the matter that has weighed on his mind for close to 24 hours: The death of his friend Richard Harris.

Marshall left the media with this note about the loss of one of his closest confidants in the Canadian Football League, “I was the oldest of seven and I never really had a big brother, he was my big brother.”

The coach then walked towards the locker room wiping away tears.

Harris, the defensive line coach and assistant head coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, died on Tuesday after collapsing in his office at Canad Inns Stadium.

Marshall and Harris, both professional defensive linemen, coached together in Ottawa before moving on to Winnipeg in 2006. While many believed it was Marshall who brought Harris to Winnipeg to be his defensive line coach, the Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach admits it may have been the other way around.

Community support

The Hunger Games return to Prince Albert

2h ago

Raiders win 5-3

Defensive scoring leads Raiders over Wheat Kings

10h ago

GST Holiday

Federal government's two-month GST holiday begins

Dec 14, 2024

“I know when Doug (Berry) had his initial conversations with Richard about being the defensive line coach, he asked him who he wanted the defensive coordinator to be and Richard told Doug, 'if you lock up Greg Marshall then I'll be there.'”

Marshall tried to return the favour this off-season when he was given his first ever head coaching job. However, when the Roughriders came calling for Harris' duties the Blue Bombers gave him a deal that was too good to leave.

“I don't think there is anybody that impacted that organization more on any level as far as in the locker room, in the community and in the office than Richard did. I know he'll be greatly missed over there and I'll personally miss him.”

The Blue Bombers have placed 'RH' decals on their helmets for Thursday's game against B.C.

news@panow.com