Welcome to Kent Austins Aerial Circus

There is no reason for Saskatchewwan Roughrider fans to expect anything less than an aerial circus in 2007 based on the past history of this team when Kent Austin is involved.In his first go round as Quarterback of this team from 1987 to 1993 the team set records for points in a season at 606 in 1991, 557 in 1990 and 547 in 1989.They put up big figures in individual games as well like the Riders all time most points production in one game at 58 and on three other occasions they put up 56 points.The catalyst for all this production was the pivot man Kent Austin who believed in putting the ball in the air.as this was the quickest way to score points.

In addition as far as individual stats are concerned Austin put the ball in the air a Rider record 65 times in one game and 62 and 60 in two others.Austin holds the Rider records for passing yards at 6225 set in 1992 and Touchdown passes at 35 also set in 1992.He threw for 31tds in both 1991 and 1993.As well he holds the Rider team record for completions in a season at 459 in 1992, 405 in 1993 and 360 in 1990.Austin was known for his quick release and his accuracy.and his uncanny ability to read defenses like we had not seen around here since the Lancaster era.


Austin feels with some justification that he has the signal callers at his disposal to put the ball in the air somewhere between 60 and 75 percent of the time.as both Kerry Joseph and Marcus Crandell have shown the ability to pass for over four thousand yards with Joseph doing it in Ottawa in 2005 and Crandell in Calgary in 2002.

Then there is the remarkable Roughrider receiving corps with six receivers listed on the current roster who have in recent years accumulated over one thousand yards receiving.They include the very popular Matt Dominguez who acheived it last year with 72 receptions good for 1162 yards.

Then the is the electrifying Jason Armstead.who had 1307 yards and five touchdowns in 2005.and 2306 all -purpose yards in 2004.while toiling for the Ottawa Renegades.

Two ex Hamilton Ti-Cats also have proven they can pick up big yardage after catching the pigskin with Craig Yeast who joined Saskatchewan last fall doing it twice as a Ti-Cat with 1010 yards in 2005 and 1184 in 2004. A former teammate D.J. Flick who was traded to the Riders in the off season also accomplished this feat twice while a member of the Tabbies with 1245 yards on 80 receptions in 2005 and 1147 yards on 68 catches in 2004.


There are two other interesting possabilities as well in veteran CFL wideout Yo Murphy who joined the joined the team in October of last year after Eric Tillman arrived on the scene and who had a big year for the Ottawa Renegades in 2004 snatching 61 footballs while accumulating 1090 yards.

The other possability and sixth member of this unique group is veteran Thyron Anderson the former Montreal Alouette standout who was acquired in the off season who has proven to be a more than capable receiver with the Alouettes. with his biggest year being in 2004 when he had 76 receptions for 1147 yards.

If this is not enough receiving power Austin salavates when thinking of the potential of second year Canadian Andy Fantuz the former Western Ontario grad and Hec Creighton Trophy winner as the outstanding performer in Canadian Collegwe football in 2005 as Fantuz displayed great ability to concentrate and make the big catch when needed as a rookie and is destined to easily becoome a 1000 plus yard receiver.

The Riders have three tall rangy posession type receivers in Anderson ,Dominguez and Fantuz and three speedsters who can go all the way on any one play in Yeast,Flick and Armstead. This should be a deadly combination.that should drive opposing defences crazy.

There is no doubt that Austin has at his disposal the personnel to put together a highly explosive offense that can strike quickly and often from anywhere on the field and the offensive excitement that Rider teams displayed when Austin was quarterbacking can be expected to be repeated again with him as the head coach.