In Canadian sports history, we have memorable moments such as Kawhi Leonard's game-winning shot against the Philadelphia 76ers which helped the Toronto Raptors win an NBA championship for the first time in franchise history. In Saskatchewan, we have 'The Kick' from Dave Ridgway who made a 35-yard field goal to help the Saskatchewan Roughriders win the 77th Grey Cup against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 43-40 on November 26, 1989.
"I didn't really have a chance to be nervous," Glen Suitor said on the SportsCage. He was on the team and was held the ball when the kick happened. "I have been really nervous every time I see it in replay since then."
The Riders finished the 1989 season with a 9-9 record. Saskatchewan had to travel to Calgary on November 12 and beat the Stampeders 33-26. The Green and White would defeat the 16-2 Edmonton Eskimos 32-21 on November 19, 1989 and win the West Final.
Prior to the Grey Cup-winning kick, Suitor explained his routine with Ridgway and how his other teammates tried to help.
"Whenever it was a big kick, Dave wanted to talk about something other than the kick," Suitor said. "What you don't see is that all of the offensive linemen wanted to be kicker coaches. At that time, turn around and tell Dave in the huddle: 'You gotta keep your head down and make sure you follow through.'"
"I'm like, get up there, get away from my guy. You can see the blocking was outstanding up front," Suitor recalled.
According to Suitor, his head coach, John Gregory, wanted to try to get the Ticats offside so that if the kick was missed, the Riders could have a second chance. However, Suitor did not like that idea because he had all the trust in the world in Ridgway.
"Let's go kick it and make it," Suitor recalled about what he said to his coach. "I had a good discussion with the coach there. I'll give him a lot of credit for trusting me in that moment, put all our confidence in Dave and say: 'He's not going to miss, coach.'"
After that Grey Cup victory in 1989, the next time the Riders would win the big one would not be until 2007. Saskatchewan beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-19 on November 25.
"That was 18 years," Suitor said. "Whole families are grown, guys are born and become fans, leaving to go on to college by that time."
35 years later, on a 35-yard field goal attempt, Suitor knows that moment changed his life. However, he still thinks about what if he did not hold the ball properly.
