6/25/2007 10:24:51 PM
Ch-Ch-Changes

It’s in our nature to fear change it seems, which to me is somewhat ironic because for anything to become the norm it must have endured change at some time. There are roughly 20 new members of the 46 man roster here in Edmonton, and I think this makes some people uneasy, which is natural I think for those that have become accustomed to knowing exactly what to expect from their Eskimos. Edmonton was one of the few franchises in this league for quite a while that didn’t really undergo tremendous overhaul year after year. I don’t recall there being a vast influx of new faces every year, at least not on the defense that I was playing against. I was constantly being hounded by Malcolm Frank, Donnie Brady and Shannon Garrett for what seemed like an inordinate amount of years. And then would have to come across A.J. Gass, Singor Mobley and Terry Ray on crossing routes which was a world of fun as you can imagine. But bit by bit those pieces changed over on that defense, as did the offence over time. A mainstay like Terry Vaughn gave way to Mookie Mitchell, Kez Mckorvey gave way to Jason Tucker and Ed Hervey has somehow fused into a mixture of people on our current team depending on who is telling the story. When I came into the league it was Nealon Greene leading the green and gold, not Jason Maas or Ricky Ray and I don’t know how many ball carriers have been through during that 7 year span and carried the ball here in Commonwealth. There’s one thing that all of those players have in common though, in common with each other as well as in common with the 20 new members of the Eskimos team like myself. They were all evaluated, scrutinized and put in positions to continue the legacy by Edmonton Eskimo brass.
The success that this club has enjoyed for so long has to do with a great deal of influences in my opinion; The fan support that the team receives consistently, the great football atmosphere here in Edmonton, the high quality players that put on the jersey and the Edmonton Eskimo brass that hand picks each of those players. The quality of players that have graced the practice fields of Clarke Stadium over the years would be difficult to match at any level in my opinion. To me that is a reflection of either the fantastic weather that Edmonton enjoys which no doubt brings players running from Florida, Texas and California, or the men in the war rooms that scour North America for not only the best players available…but those able to be Eskimos.
Some may be worried about my fellow “newbies” and I as we stare down our 1st CFL test this week against Winnipeg, but call me an optimist because worried isn’t the word I’d use. To me it’s just terribly exciting to be one of those chosen few who get the opportunity to endure the talk, criticism, comparisons, and of course the lofty expectations that come with being part of a changing of the guard in a place like this. I get to be part of a receiving corps that is barely recognizable to the average Eskimo fan with names like Acree, Stamps, and even a brand new Gaylor. So many questions for us as a corps, “Who will replace Hervey’s big play ability? Who will take the pressure off Tucker? Will we be able to gel before mid-season?” And that’s just for the receivers! I can only imagine the questions for the linebackers with A.J. out, and for the secondary with all of the new faces there. I think the main difference between the changes this year, and the changes the Eskimo fans have endured in previous years is that these are wholesale changes in a lot of ways. And I can understand how that can be tough to swallow for everyone who has become accustomed to Eskimo football looking a certain way, from certain players…there’s comfort in the familiar.
I play the same slot that Mookie played, that Terry Vaughn played before him – big shoes to fill right? Both will be in the Hall of Fame, and both made countless plays for these Edmonton fans for many years. Maybe I should be worried, perhaps I should step back and think about all that’s being asked of me, maybe all of us new Eskimos should! I doubt we will though. I know I won’t, and I feel confident in speaking for the other new additions as well in saying that there is no reason to be afraid of the success that has come before us, or not living up to the standards that are expected in this town. The Edmonton Eskimos will be successful long after none of us are playing any longer, just as they were long before any of us thought about playing. The fact that we have been chosen to carry the torch, and to be the team that rights the ship in Titletown is proof enough that we can keep our personal self confidence on the shelf for a rainy day, because so many people have confidence in us.
While it is our own self confidence that will sustain us through the rigors and tests of this season, it’s the fact that the veteran Eskimos have embraced us, and the coaches have hand-picked us, and that we have faith in each other that will let us hit the ground running on Thursday night without feeling the need to look over our shoulders.
Change…is inevitable. ©

KP8