More distinctive than any catch he’s made with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Duke Williams has connected with his new fan base in the ‘306’ through his dance moves.
After each onside kick attempt that he caught in each of his first three games with the Riders, Williams did a groove that you’ll have to find on the highlights or YouTube for any proper description.
And then he did it again after scoring his first touchdown with the green and white in Week 15’s 29-24 win over Edmonton, his first at Mosaic Stadium as a Roughrider.
So where did Williams learn how to dance like that? The answer lies within the same part of the world that brought us Mardi Gras.
“It’s called ‘The Griddy.’ You know, everybody at home does it,” Williams, who played his high school football in Louisiana, said.
Duke Williams (@YFBurnna_cmh) becomes the Duke of Regina with his first TD in Green & White. ????????????#Riders #Saskatchewan #CFLpic.twitter.com/fXN9Uc8oNl
— 3DownNation (@3DownNation) November 13, 2021
“A shout out to Justin Jefferson, a shout out to Griddy, who actually made the dance and we’re just trying to keep it on. That’s a New Orleans thing, a Louisiana thing and I’m away in Canada so I’m going to keep it alive here as well.”
Williams, who was roughly 60 percent of the Rider passing attack with 146 receiving yards in Saturday night’s home-playoff-game-clinching-win, believes he and Cody Fajardo were running out of time to put their money where their mouths were about their big play potential.
“I needed it to be this game, I didn’t want it to be next week. I needed it to be right now so I could get in a rhythm,” Williams said. “Me and Cody were on the same page all night long.”
Williams sounds happy and humble to be in Saskatchewan.
“A shout out to Cody, a shout out to my o-lineman. Without them, none of that would be possible. It’s a team effort, I just had to do my job,” Williams said.
It is unlikely Williams will play the regular season finale in Hamilton and it’s still not 100 percent confirmed that his knee, which buckled late in Saturday’s win, will be good to go for the playoffs, despite his post-game assurances that he is fine.
But if he piles up any more efforts like he did in the Roughriders ninth win of the season, you can bet your bottom dollar, THE GRIDDY and its popularity will extend from New Orleans to Regina and just might become Saskatchewan’s Mardi Gras dance of choice.
