In professional football terms, 2004 — Nik Lewis’ rookie season with the Calgary Stampeders — was a long time ago.
Since that time, three men have coached the Red and White — Matt Dunigan, Tom Higgins and John Hufnagel.
No fewer than 21 men have thrown a regular-season pass for the Stampeders since 2004 — Marcus Crandell, Khari Jones, Henry Burris, Jason Gesser, Danny Wimprine, Josh Harris, Danny McManus, Ben Sankey, Akili Smith, Dave Dickenson, Will Proctor, Barrick Nealy, Drew Tate, Kevin Glenn, Bo Levi Mitchell, not to mention players at other positions who guest-starred as passers in special circumstances including Jeremaine Copeland, Wane McGarity, Brian Clark, Brett Ralph, Larry Taylor and even Lewis himself.
The league’s 1,000-yard rushers in 2004 were Troy Davis, Charles Roberts, Mike Pringle, Antonio Warren and Josh Ranek, who have now been removed from the CFL scene for a combined 28 years.
Some of the few constants over the past nine years have been Mark Stephen and Greg Peterson calling the Stampeders action on CHQR, Ralph the Dog and Quick Six doing their thing on the McMahon Stadium sidelines . . . and Lewis accumulating 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Lewis did it again on Saturday, making six catches for 77 yards against the BC Lions to push his season total to 1,024 yards. That’s nine years in a row Lewis has reached the one-grand mark in receiving yards, an accomplishment that puts him in mighty exclusive company.
Do you know how many players in league history have more 1,000-yard campaigns than Lewis’ nine? That would be two — ex-Stamp Terry Vaughn (11) and Milt Stegall (10). Lewis is tied with the likes of Allen Pitts, Ben Cahoon, Darren Flutie and Geroy Simon at nine.
As for consecutive seasons at 1,000 yards or more, only Vaughn (11) is better than Lewis.
Meanwhile, Lewis continues to climb the CFL’s all-time list in receiving yards. He started the year in 26th spot at 9,232 yards and has since passed the likes of Jim Young, Hal Patterson, Robert Gordon, Jock Climie, Terry Evanshen, Jim Sandusky, Rocky DiPietro, Tony Gabriel, Travis Moore, Jeremaine Copeland and Earl Winfield to take over 14th place.
Lewis would pass Tommy-Joe Coffey for 13th place with 67 more receiving yards.