Drew Meerveld
Special to CFL.ca
It all starts coming together…
The rigors of a football training camp are often glamorized in Hollywood. Video montages lasting 30 seconds will feature the ringing echo of heavy weights as they are lifted; a player’s eyes filled with determination as he pulls himself of the ground after taking a devastating blow, and 5 a.m. alarm induced wake-ups are followed by 6-egg breakfasts – all this of course to inspirational background music.
This is all well and good except that it lasts longer than 30 seconds and there is no ‘Rocky-like’ music accompanying our every move. Training camp is long days, and pain- induced sleepless nights. It’s the pressure of seniors fighting to keep roster spots during two-a-days and freshman quietly leaving cramped dorm rooms and their short lived teammates under there own volition because this is not what they signed up for.
In the end though, success makes all of the hard work worth it.
But I was reminded again today that there are some simple joys along the road. It came in a couple forms.
I looked around the meal room today and the rookies were finally smiling. I am not talking about the smiling that people engage in at networking cocktail parties; it’s the kind of smiling that happens when the social anxiety of not knowing anyone has been replaced by the knowledge that the men you are eating with will become some of the best friends you ever make.
To witness this makes the hard work worth it. Another small joy occurred after being part of the high fives between the receivers and defensive backs today. This showing of mutual respect and admiration followed one of the most intense full-contact drills of camp between the two sides. It is as true a sign as any that this group of young men is starting to come together.
To be a part of this makes the hard work worth it.
This evening another sign of bonding occurred. The day had ended with an indoor walkthrough of the newest plays and as is customary the offence gathered together in the middle of the then dark arena. Normally a couple words are spoken and then everyone heads home. Tonight a neat thing happened. Without warning arms were around other shoulders and a good old sway between the best of friends started. A cell phone playing music was held high as words of encouragement were spoken there in the dimly let arena.
Moments like that make training camp worth it.
Lastly, I go to bed tonight knowing that two-a-days are closer to the end than the beginning. All these things, coupled with the aspiration for success, is why our boys will wake up before the sun rises tomorrow morning and go to work again.
For more information on the Varsity Blues football team you can visit their website at VarsityBlues.ca. U of T opens their season on Monday, September 7th at home against the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks.
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