Taylor Shire
Regina Leader-Post
Brett Lauther is just going about his business.
Despite the signing of fellow kicker Campbell Fair on Wednesday, Lauther, a seven-year veteran for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, isn’t letting the extra competition affect him in what’s been a down year for the 34-year-old.
“It wouldn’t matter if there’s 100 people here that were kickers or zero, I’m not trying to kick better because there’s more people here,” Lauther said after Wednesday’s practice. “And it’s not really a competition.
“The competition with the kicking position I think it’s always just you versus yourself. You’re not on the same field at the same time as any other kicker.”
This season, Lauther, who has made 22 of 33 field goal attempts, ranks last among CFL kickers with a 66.7 per cent success rate.
After being the lone kicker on the team throughout training camp and through the first nine games of the season, the Roughriders brought in another kicker on Wednesday after Lauther missed three of his five field goal attempts on the weekend in a victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
“Nice to have someone else around just to kind of bounce ideas off of,” said Lauther, who has a career completion percentage of 81.4 per cent. “And I think Campbell is a really good kicker.
“I think he’s got a bright future. I actually see a lot of myself in him when I was younger.”
After playing at Saint Mary’s University, Lauther was originally drafted by Hamilton in 2013. The Nova Scotia product played four games for the Ti-Cats that season before bouncing around the next several years with stops in Saskatchewan (2015), Toronto (2015), again in Saskatchewan (2017), Edmonton (2017) before earning the Roughriders’ kicking job in 2018.
For Fair, a University of Ottawa product, it’s hasn’t been that long of a journey but after stops in Calgary (2023), Saskatchewan (2023) and Edmonton (2024-25) before coming back to Saskatchewan, Lauther wants to make sure he’s a positive influence on the young kicker.
“I had Luca Congi help me my first year. I went to (Justin) Medlock. I had Jon Ryan here,” said Lauther. “Tons of help along the way, and same with him.
“Campbell knows what’s going on. He’s younger, but he’s still bounced around like I did. He’s got a lot of experience too. I’m almost a decade older than him as well.
“So with drives or anything he needs, or whenever the guys are going out or hanging out, we want to make sure he knows he’s always invited. And I’m kind of glad he’s back and happy he has another opportunity.”
In fact, it’s the second time Lauther and Fair have been teammates as Fair joined the Roughriders practice roster in July 2023 when Lauther, who didn’t miss a game that season, was limited with a hamstring injury.
“I’ve been with Campbell before (and have) a ton of respect for him and his leg,” said Lauther. “If he came to ask me anything, I’m definitely there for ideas, but mostly just making sure he’s comfortable, getting settled in the locker room, knows how practice works, just any questions he has.
“We want to make sure guys are welcome (and) they have everything they need to perform at their best.”
Whether he’s playing on Saturday in Week 12 against the Calgary Stampeders or not, Lauther isn’t changing any routines this week. He’s even making sure to go out of his way to help his new teammate.
“I just try to keep it always the same whether it’s a good or a bad game,” said Lauther. “I come in and it’s the same routine in here throughout the week; same routine on the field.
“I’m just trying to make sure I can be as good of a teammate. Whether he’s playing or I’m playing, just making sure one of us is ready to go.”
In the end, Lauther is the consummate professional. He’s one of leaders of this team on the field and in the community and isn’t about to let any ego get in the way of what the ultimate goal is for this team — winning a Grey Cup.
“We can’t preach family in the dressing room and then act different behind the scenes,” said Lauther. “Everyone on this team gets to eat. Everyone gets treated fairly. Everyone is a big part of the team, whether you’re starting or not.
“A lot of the stuff that the offence or defence does that you see works in a game is because a guy in practice has given them the right look.
“And for myself, I would never change or be different. Just stay true to myself in the first place. I’m always going to be there whether if I’m the one playing (or not).
“I’m not going to get to play for forever, so I’m never going to be bitter or have any of that side in me. I’m just enjoying every day I get to come in here and put on green, and hopefully it lasts longer, but yeah, I think being a good teammate is what championship teams are all about.”
tshire@postmedia.com
