Bert Faibish
Ticats.ca
Everyone has dreamt of being something special.
As a hopeful child, it seems like anything is attainable; you’re encouraged to dream big.
Often, somewhere along the way, that dream is lost. Encouragement becomes skepticism. Hope becomes doubt.
Few have the courage not to settle for a different outcome, few tune out the doubters and stay the course.
Tiger-Cats defensive back Will Heyward has taken the road less traveled to reach this point.
Two years playing in the arena league for the Corpus Christi Sharks, a mini camp with Calgary, an entire training camp last year with the B.C. Lions, only to be one of the last cuts made on the final day.
Yet here he is, exactly one year to the day after being cut by B.C., he’s an example of the relentless pursuit of a dream.
It’s the final day of Hamilton’s cuts, and Will Heyward it still standing.
“I’m just blessed to be here today, I thank god,” said an emotional Heyward. “I always believed I could play, I just needed the right time and the right situation.”
Even for the most confident athlete, it’s not so easy to maintain a belief in yourself when faced with countless rejections.
“After the arena league, Calgary signed me and I went to their mini camp but they told me I wasn’t fast enough so they released me,” said Heyward. “The next year I went to B.C. and did well, but things just didn’t work out, so I went home to think and figure out what to do next.”
Faced with a major life decision, Heyward didn’t want to just give up. He decided that he still had time to attain his goals.
“I thought about it and I realized I was still young, still healthy, so I stayed in touch with coach Marshall and Mr. O’Billovich and got invited to camp,” he said.
This time around Will did everything he could to put himself in the best position to just focus on the task at hand.
“This time I moved my family to Austin with my wife’s parents so I wouldn’t be worried about them,” he said.
That’s not something he has to worry about anymore.
“Now that I’ve made the team they’re on their way up here and they’ll be here tomorrow,” said an obviously excited Heyward. “I can’t wait to see my son, I haven’t seen him or my wife in a month,” he said.
Heyward’s drive and determination stem from his upbringing and an early realization that he would have to work hard for anything that he wanted in life, which he uses to his advantage still.
“My family, we didn’t come from a lot of money or anything and I knew I had to get a scholarship if I wanted to go to college,” said Heyward. “Now I have to take that same attitude, take my game to the next level through the season and help the team make the Grey Cup,” he continued.
If Heyward has any advice for other people trying to realize their dreams, it’s to stay persistent, and be prepared.
“There a lot of guys out there with a lot of talent but they have to make the phone calls, and be ready when it’s their time, if you really want it, you’ll get it,” he said.
Now the school teacher that used his spring break to travel across the country and attend the Ticats tryout camp in Florida will have his name announced on opening day at Ivor Wynne Stadium as a member of the Black and Gold.
And he’s earned it.
