As much as Mario Alford enjoys the brotherhood of a pro football team, he does miss Sistersville.
Near that small city in West Virginia, the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ game-breaking returner spends his off-seasons working on a family farm.
“It’s a fun life,” Alford says as the Roughriders prepare to play host to the Ottawa REDBLACKS in a Sunday game that will have an accompanying Country Roots Night theme.
“It’s a hard life, but it’s fun. I do miss it.”
What does he miss the most?
“Just the work, man — messin’ with the cows and just doing the gritty work that nobody sees you do,” the CFL’s 2022 Special Teams Player of the Year responds.
“It’s the work behind the scenes that farmers do that makes it so unique.”
Such as …
“Digging fence posts, putting up a fence, chasing cattle — all that stuff,” Alford says.
Surely, a 1,000-pound cow doesn’t stand much of a chance if it hopes to run away from one of the CFL’s premier speed merchants.
“Cows are fast, actually — sneaky fast, at that,” Alford points out. “It depends on what kind (of cow) it is and how lazy they are, but most of them are fast.
“I never knew that, but they are fast.”
The overall pace of farm life isn’t necessarily as brisk, despite the hard work and long hours.
“It’s peaceful,” Alford says. “Nobody bothers you and it’s quiet.
“So I miss my peace.”
Nothing is quite as peaceful as fishing near a pond that is part of the farm just outside Sistersville.
“You can just have a good time, enjoying that lifestyle — outdoor life and just being alone,” Alford says.
With that in mind, he would love to spend time on a farm in Saskatchewan.
“If anybody out there would like to bring me to a farm and let me check it out, I’m interested,” Alford says.
Sunday’s game is to begin at 5 p.m., at Mosaic Stadium.
In keeping with the Country Roots Night theme, the first 5,000 fans to enter the stadium will receive a free country-style bandana, courtesy of Young’s Equipment.
The halftime show will feature country-themed on-field entertainment.
As well, a Roughriders game ticket will double as free admission to the Queen City Ex, which concludes Sunday night at REAL District.
