Corey Grant
CFL.ca
Sleeping in your “OWN” bed until noon (guys who are renting apartments know what I’m talking about), visiting family and friends, the barbeques, the waiting at the table for mom’s/grandma’s/wife’s or girlfriend’s cooking (and I’m talking about the dish that only they can make and you love), going fishing, cleaning your own yard, finishing up a couple projects around the house that you put off or just hanging out and reminiscing with old college teammates.
These are just some of the things players look forward to doing during their bye-week, but being a new father playing with your kids might be the best thing of all. I couldn’t get enough of my little girl Qiawna [pronounced KEY on ah] the cutest little girl ever.
The bye-week is a time to get away from the mental and physical grind of the football season. An opportunity to let the aches and pains from the beginning part of the season heal and a chance for players and coaches to get away from the “world of football” and enjoy the “real world”.
However, no matter when the bye-week comes, and believe me players plan their week well in advance, it never seems to be long enough. A couple more days and it would be perfect. But as they say, all good things must come to an end and this includes the mid-season mini vacation.
It’s time to strap back on the pads and get to work. The routines that we’ve become accustomed to for the past eight weeks, and have quickly forgotten over our time off, are now the main focus. “I can’t believe I forgot my plays!”
Meetings, practice, running, tackling, catching, blocking, kicking and all the fundamentals of football you hope have not become ancient history to the mind and body are put to the test during the first practice. This practice reinforces all your worries as you trip over your feet during a routine drill, although you know that with a couple more practices you’ll have your “sweet feet” back.
But no worries, that’s what the coaches are for and they’ll make sure everyone is back in game shape in no time and those who didn’t run or lift over the break will feel the pain for the next couple of days: “I knew I should have run, but I thought resting would be better. Boy was I wrong!”
The aches and pains that were starting to heal and feel a whole lot better come back after just a couple of days of practice. “My big toe, back, and hamstrings were just starting to feel like normal again.” The ice tub becomes everyone’s best friend along with the chiropractor and massage therapist. “I think my body will bounce back in no time.”
The energy around the team is electrifying because guys are excited to be back doing what they love while remembering that the aches and pains come with the job description. Players and coaches are rejuvenated with new enthusiasm for the season to get underway again and the focus turns to the next opponent on the schedule.
The first game after the break provides each team and player the opportunity to pick up where they left off or a chance to improve on their first half performances. Since there has never been a perfect football game played, all teams and players will be focused on getting better.
Ralph Marston said, “Don’t lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself, and then do what is necessary to make it a reality.” It’s time for all teams and players in the CFL to raise their level of performance to make the run for the Grey Cup a reality.
Corey Grant is a 10 year CFL veteran who has played with
the Ti-Cats, Alouettes and, for the last 7 seasons, the Roughriders. A
Stoney Creek, Ont. native, Corey has won Grey Cups in 1999 and 2007. He
was named the East Division Outstanding Rookie in 1999.
