as the Saskatchewan Roughriders take on the Ottawa Red Blacks in Regina, SK, July 22, 2016 Photo Electric Umbrella/Liam Richards
Luc Mullinder
As the week 6 battle with the Montreal Alouettes takes centre stage; so to do the psychological differences between a professional athlete and a professional fan. One may even find comfort in the fact that despite the angst that the most recent Roughrider depth chart invoked; the emotions that befall an individual within that depth is far different and completely void of doubt.
During the hours leading up to this game, one is going to read (and listen to) plenty of narrative surrounding the Offensive Line and Rookies that are competing in various spots on the field. It will be hard to walk away from any conversation surrounding today’s battle without some sort of anxiety, and that’s completely fine because there are only 42 people that are able to do anything about the potential outcome.
In order for one to truly appreciate the situation at hand, one must remove any lens that one sees Saskatchewan with and place themselves in the shoes of the players who are fortunate enough to fill the void left due to the nature of this game.
This is by far the most exciting moment in the life of a young professional athlete. Today is the culmination of a lifetime of sacrifice.
Today, at 7pm Eastern Standard Time, the window of OPPORTUNITY finally opens up.
The adrenaline surge hits an athlete at 1000 miles/hour when one first realizes that the coaching staff has decided to insert them into the 42-man roster. Even lining up in a 1st or 2nd team spot during a routine pre-practise walk-through gives one a slight hot flash. It feels like a right of passage because one now occupies the spot that has been envisioned during every one of the invisible mornings that many others weren’t willing to commit to.
The first phone call or text to a loved one is the greatest correspondence ever. Although the athlete may approach the conversation with a business-like demeanor by plainly stating, “Aye, I’m up this week…” it matters not because the individual on the other line doesn’t need to keep their emotions in check. Family quite often bears the brunt of the sacrifice that is necessary to achieve the dream of being a professional athlete- their uncontained excitement will be a mixture of celebration and sweet relief.
All of the effort that one puts into this opportunity is part of the process that one has been focused on with every waking breath. Film study now changes from simply “learning” the playbook to “diagnosing” the opponent. It’s such an exciting time!
When a young athlete playing in his first game hits “play” on the Montreal tape, one doesn’t see John Bowman, a future Hall of Famer like the rest of the Saskatchewan Roughriders fan base. One sees an opportunity to compete against one of the most consistent pass rushers that the CFL has seen in a long time. It’s an opportunity to measure up.
There is no anxiety involved. The thought process is more along the lines of, “If this guy is the best that’s out there; I’m about to make a statement!” #COMPETE
Getting on the bus to the first chartered flight as a member of the 2016 Green and White equates to being a kid at Christmas waiting for one’s parent(s) to get up in order to rip open the presents. It’s hard not to have a huge sh*t eating grin on but it’s a business trip so one has to maintain composure. The flight into enemy territory actually provides a first-timer with a sense of calm because one realizes how relaxed many of the CFL veterans and coaches are. Sometimes outsiders assume that the day or so leading up to the game is full of pent-up emotions and violent angry scowls. It’s quite the contrary. One cannot get too high, or too low in their emotional state. In order to take full advantage of the exciting opportunity at hand, one must find the happy medium that all vets eventually understand.
As the first whistle draws closer, the week 6 mentality between the athlete and the devoted follower of the Saskatchewan Roughriders are essentially at polar opposites.
Concern about the limited depth and experience that the Rider faithful are stewing over is a far cry from the intense focus that has now developed in the guys that are getting their first kick at the professional can.
The slight feeling of nervousness that an athlete SHOULD get is simply the arrival at the intersection of preparedness and anticipation, and that is where the differences between both worlds lie…
It’s unfortunate that as a fan, one does not have a chance to go through the “preparation” phase that a young athlete does. The devoted followers of the Green and White only experience the nerves that anticipation brings about and that prevents one from being at ease.
The window of opportunity that has opened for a few new Saskatchewan Roughriders is one that these players have been preparing for their entire lives. It’s an absolute blessing because it’s a window that isn’t guaranteed to be unlocked at any point.
At one point, George Reed, Roger Aldag, and Kent Austin all went through the same process and the same set of emotions.
Today is an incredible day for a fortunate few. Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring but for everyone else’s sake let’s hope none of these guys have read the papers, listened to the radios, or paid any attention to social media.
This is a high that these guys deserve, and a moment that they’ll remember for the rest of their
