By Mitchell Blair
For Riderville.com
There isn’t a lot separating current Rider Gene Makowsky from one of the team’s all-time greats—Roger Aldag. Both are from Saskatchewan—one is from Saskatoon, the other from Gull Lake. Aldag spent his entire career with the Riders while Makowsky has spent all of his pro career with the Riders. Aldag played junior football with the Rams before making the transition to the pro game while Makowsky played university football with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies before beginning his Rider career. Aldag is in the CFL Hall of Fame and the Riders Plaza of Honor and Makowsky will follow him to both, and as every Rider fan knows, both won one Grey Cup.
The ink isn’t dry on Makowsky’s career and when he steps onto the field Friday night in Vancouver, it will be his 272nd game which breaks the club record previously held by Aldag. The soft-spoken Makowsky knows what will go down, but he remains as humble as ever as he steps into history.
“Individually, it’s a milestone, but football isn’t an individual sport,” says Makowsky. “What I’m worried about is getting this team a win on Friday night and what I have to do to try and make that happen.”
The 38-year-old from Saskatoon reflected back on his career after a recent practice and he smiled when he thought back of his first year with the team and the role that he had.
“I was the sixth man in that first year and I had the worst job ever because I was the long snapper.” Makowsky chuckled. “ I was pretty average at it so I was always worried about putting one over the punters head or putting one into the dirt and costing us a game. That was a tough year because you’re worried about that while trying to fit in, but I learned a lot.”
As for Aldag, he has no problem in giving up the throne to the kid that he passed the torch to many years ago.
“He’s a great guy and a great player. It’s a great accomplishment and its made even better when the guy that is getting the record is a good Saskatchewan boy. He knows what Roughrider football is all about. “ Aldag told 620 CKRM Radio’s “The Sportscage”. “We both know what football means in Saskatchewan because we were born and raised here. We were big fans of the Riders growing up and it’s a dream of every football player in this province to have an opportunity to play for the team. I’m very proud knowing this record is falling to someone like Gene.”
Makowsky is just as quick to return the compliments when it comes to number 44.
“He was a tough player. He brought it every play and took nothing for granted,” Makowsky said, “ He was the consummate professional and I’m guessing he was the consummate teammate. You had to know that you had to be ready for 60 minutes of football when lining up against him or else.”
It’s not known how long Makowsky will continue to patrol the line for the football team, but he acknowledges his greatest moment in the Rider uniform was getting the Grey Cup from CFL Commissioner Marc Cohon after winning the 2007 Grey Cup. The question then becomes what is moment number two. It’s something that Makowsky had to think about before answering.
“That’s a great question,” Makowsky mused as he thought about what that memory may be. “ If the truth be known, I think it might have been the week before and beating the B.C. Lions in the Western Final in their building. We had gone into Vancouver several times in the Western final and have some heart-breaking losses so to get over that hump and finally beat those guys was a real thrill. There’s some other things here and there, but o-linemen don’t get 200 yards rushing or any individual stats so it has to be a game and besides that night in Toronto, I would say that’s the one I remember. “
Riders head coach Greg Marshall didn’t have to be introduced to Makowsky when he took over the position having spent years in the league as a player and a defensive co-ordinator. He is fully aware of what Makowsky has brought to the table for the last 17 years and what Aldag brought as well.
“”My line, whenever we played Gene was he might be old enough to be your dad but he can still kick your ass,” Marshall said. “When you start talking about guys being in Roger Aldag’s company, you’re talking icon, so it’s pretty impressive. They were both very talented guys, and tough individuals. To play as long as they did in the trenches, you have to be a tough man and they weren’t really outspoken guys. They went about doing their business and when you played against either one of those guys you better have packed your lunch because it’s going to be a long day.”
As the career does wind down, Makowsky does laugh when he hears that his resume –which is loaded with top lineman and all-star honours—is missing one thing.
“I’ve never scored a touchdown, I didn’t even get one in high school.” Makowsky admits. “I don’t know if the coaches will call a play for me now that they’ve heard that, but it would be cool.”
