Sharon Higgins
CFL.ca
Training camp is the rite of passage every player must partake in to become a member of the team. You take in a deep breath and jump into the rigors of training camp, which are barbaric, intense and deranged, to say the least. Camp encompasses approximately three weeks towards the beginning of June. All sense of time, reality of the outside world and responsibility to it, are destroyed. Players and coaches live in a vacuum: thinking, planning, practicing, talking and strategizing football. Compared to the season itself, it’s a relatively short period of time to scrutinize the on-field talent and implement the playbook.
Most days consist of two-a-day practices: one in the morning and one in late afternoon. Of recent years back-to-back (or power) practices, with only a twenty-minute break in between, have been implemented to give players a change of pace. As crazy as it sounds, not having to un-tape and re-tape for the next practice, not shower or change clothes in-between practices, is a welcome relief for those involved. Regardless though, it’s still two-a-day practices.
Team meetings, defensive, offensive and special team meetings, memorizing the playbook, three team meals and a little bit of rest in between occupies the duration of the day. Players are evaluated not only on the field but also through their social interactions with teammates as attentive coaches’ eyes watch at all times of the day.
A great deal of enthusiasm is found in participants at the beginning. Slowly though the excitement of dazzling the coaches, perfecting routes and bringing the ‘A’ game all grow thin as you become mentally and physically exhausted. It becomes a matter of being able to just keep your head above water.
Darcy Kopp, a former Stampeder from the early 90s, used to say by day three, two-a-day practices started to take their toll, with aches and pains setting in. That’s about the same time the training camp shuffle starts. Players start slogging around in flip-flops, not able to, nor wanting to, bend over to lace up sneakers, or lift their feet up to walk, just shuffling along when not on the field.
George Hopkins, equipment manager with the Stamps, has a day during training camp, when he plays ‘Black Betty’ by Ram Jam. It’s an arbitrary day. It’s blared in the locker room and on the practice field, over and over and over again. Why you say? Well maybe it’s because camp feels like it will never be over, can’t do it anymore, need sleep, need a life again, remind me why I do this! OK, let’s play Black Betty to put us out of our misery! Maybe next time you see George, ask him why.
It’s a stressful time for all involved. Players are concerned about showing their best side in order to make the team while coaches are concerned about selecting individuals who not only display aptitude and talent but who will also work well together as a team. Decisions coaches make do not always come easily. Often many late night hours are spent in the very serious compilation of a team.
Of the eighty some players who are invited to training camp, only around 50 make the team. That leaves many who are sent packing. Being let go is never easy for anyone. I have been on both sides of that ball with Tom as both a player and coach. As a player, Tom was released (cut, axed, given the pink slip, given the boot, shown the door) six times. Each time was agonizing.
He called me during camp with the Buffalo Bills in 1980. I knew what that meant. As I drove into Rich Stadium he was dragging himself and all his worldly football possessions (in the typical green garbage bag) across the parking lot, trying to distance himself from his defunct dream. Most players feel the same. In a matter of seconds the words from the coach shatter their whole being and momentarily the world comes to an end. Tom vowed then that if he were ever in the position of releasing a player, he would attempt to do it with dignity and integrity.
Many years later Tom did find himself in those shoes and now he was the coach changing the course of life for young, determined men. I remember asking him if many players were emotional or cried upon receiving the news their flights home were booked and they would not be part of the team. Of course the answer was yes.
I hoped he would at least offer them some tissue to blot their teary eyes. No, he had never thought of that. Shortly after that I was in his office and noticed a roll of toilet paper hiding on his desk. I was aghast to think this was the peace offering for the player! Shame on you Tom! From that point on, it at least became a box of tissue.
I wish to congratulate players and coaches on completing the necessary evil of training camp. To all of you, good luck in the 2010 football season. The small pain from camp will equal large gain as the weeks advance.
Now you can all come up for air and breathe again!
