6/13/2007 2:03:13 PM
Tradition

I’m sitting in the top of the lower bowl of an empty commonwealth stadium and staring out at the names and numbers that separate the upper bowl from the lowers. I can’t help but wonder what the stories are behind the men attaining that status. I wonder if they forged their paths on Clarke Field the same way that we are this camp. I wonder what events must have unfolded for them to be immortalized in that way, and be recognized in a tradition filled with such great players as the Eskimos have been over such a long period of time, what did these players do to set themselves apart from the rest? What a great feeling it must be to come and watch a game as an Eskimo alumnus and see those names up there. To have put in the camp and meeting hours with them, to see the transition they’ve made from a rookie, to a star, to a veteran, to an immortal. It makes me wonder how many of the players I’m playing with currently will end with their names raised like that. Twenty years from now, I may be telling stories of when I played with Ricky Ray and Jason Tucker and how they were such a force to be reckoned with. Or maybe one of our young guns, our rookies will gain notoriety in their time here this year, building on that success over time until such a time comes that they are in fact the face of the Edmonton Franchise. Occasionally, I’ll see Tom Wilkinson at our practices, and he’s made it a point to give me some pointers, and show me some things he has picked up along the way. He often offers me words of encouragement and support as well, but I have to wonder how many “Kamau’s” has he seen is his day? How many players have come through Edmonton that players like Tom took a look at and said to someone, “That kid can play, he just needs a few tools.”
The thing that makes this place so special to me is the history in it. It’s the knowledge that the Edmonton Eskimos are DEFINITELY bigger than you as an individual. Warren Moon and Tom Wilkinson may come and share stories with you, Brian Kelly and Dan Kepley may chew you out for doing something the wrong way, but the fact that it’s THEM doing it, and THEM saying it, makes all the difference in the world. Because you know that they played this game at its highest level, and more importantly, they played it the way it is SUPPOSED to be played. They are immortals here; their names shine in Commonwealth Stadium like beacons so that anyone who may enter will know just who built this house. So when the builders of the house that you play in, come to you and tell you, “You’re going to be a great player for us.” It really does mean a great deal. Partly because of who they are and what they’ve meant to the organization that you’re trying to be a part of, but mostly because they’re the embodiment of what it means to be and Edmonton Eskimo, and something about you made them think that you could be too…I can’t help but to feel a part of something special here. ©

KP8