One of life’s great unanswered questions has been solved.
Your humble typist first met Toronto Argonauts kicker Lirim Hajrullahu in 2013. It was on a trip to Western University, where he had become the leading scorer in U SPORTS history. The reason for the visit was a campus tour by my stepson, who was trying to figure out where to go to school and play football. The Mustangs provided a tour guide for the afternoon and ours was Lirim.
We were reacquainted in 2016 when he signed with the Argos after two seasons with the Blue Bombers, then again this season after he returned from a handful of years in the US. Yet, after all these years, one question has remained unanswered, one that has probably crossed the mind of every CFL fan at some point.
Why does he wear such a weird number for a kicker?
He wore number 70 with the ‘Stangs, the Bombers, the Argos 2016-17, the Ticats, and again this time around with the Argos. As one would expect, there’s a story behind it.
“At Western the equipment manager would give number 70 to the kickers at training camp,” he recalled for Argonauts.ca. “I never understood it, then later on I realized what it was. It was the (Mustangs) record number for field goals that was held by my friend Frank Jagas, who came to the game in Vancouver on Friday to support me. He held the record for a very long time, so wearing number 70 was in appreciation of the guys that came before you. Now it’s number 77 as I was able to beat the record and rookies now get that number when they come to camp.”
Mystery solved.
Hajrullahu’s journey has been an interesting one, highlighted by a last minute, game winning field goal in the Argos 2017 Grey Cup victory over Calgary on a snowy night in Ottawa.
Seven years later he’s back in Double Blue and has been on a real tear. After missing the game-winning rouge heard ‘round the world against Saskatchewan, Hajrullahu has hit all 13 field goal attempts since. It’s the 10th longest streak of consecutive field goals in Argo history – Swayze Waters and Boris Bede share the record with 18 – and combined with the 10 straight he hit before the now famous rouge, he’s hit 23 of his last 24 attempts.
He’s in a good place right now. Not only on the field, but in the big picture he’s thrilled to be back in Toronto.
“It’s been great,” the Kosovo born, St. Catherines raised kicker explained. “I really missed football, so being back with the guys, being back in the locker room, training with the guys. I just love it so much and am appreciative of the opportunities.”
Another reason for Hajrullahu’s success is the presence of his security blanket, one that he’s held onto since high school.
In OUA circles, Ken Urquhart is simply known as “Coach Kick.” If there’s a high-profile kicker from this area, the odds are high that he’s worked with Urquhart at some point. The coach makes sure he sees his prodigy on game days and whenever the two can connect.
“He’s very subtle,” the kicker explained. “It’s my comfort level, I’ve had him since Grade 12, him and Darryl Wheeler (a former Mustang and Toronto Varsity Blues kicker now coaching at Western) just support me; they know me, and I use their technique. We’re just trying to keep doing what we’re doing and trying to help the next generation of kickers. A lot of our guys are doing well right now in the OUA. He (Urquhart) is the most passionate kicking coach I’ve ever met. He just wants to see his guys do well.”
With that in mind, Coach Kick must be thrilled with the season Hajrullahu is having. But it’s not just the kicker; it’s a three-piece combo that must be in tune for any placekick to succeed. It’s his first year working with holder John Haggerty and long snapper Adam Guillemette, and he’s been happy with the group’s cohesion.
“It’s been great. Both of them really help me out whenever I’ve needed extra kicks at practice. They’re both very supportive and are both great guys which makes the locker room and the journey so great.”
Last week the trio combined for six field goals, one shy of the all-time Argo record. They will go back to work on Friday at BMO Field against Hamilton but are hoping to be called on for more conversions than field goals.