BCLions.com
With temperatures in the single digits this morning and a snow-covered field welcoming members of the BC Lions Football Club, the team’s first free agent camp of 2015 had a Grey Cup feel to say the least.
“We’ve dealt with odd weather in the past, but this is definitely a first,” admits VP of football operations and GM Wally Buono. “They don’t get the white stuff down here very often, so I guess it’s only fitting that a Canadian football team was clearing snow off a field prior to a workout.”
More than 40 players braved the wintery conditions which eventually did warm up as Buono, Lions head coach Jeff Tedford, defensive coordinator Mark Washington, offensive coordinator George Cortez along with members of the club’s football operations department including Neil McEvoy, Ryan Rigmaiden and Geroy Simon began the annual process of finding prospective players for the coming season.
“The conditions weren’t ideal, but playing conditions during the season often aren’t ideal either, so we’re seeing how these guys deal with adversity at a very important time,” noted Tedford. “The opportunity to play professional football is absolutely critical in the lives of these young men and I was very impressed with the level of ability, execution and effort we saw today. It was a great first camp.”
The Texas workout was also the first one for Geroy Simon who returned to the club less than one month ago in a dual role of player personnel evaluator and business advisor.
“It was very special for me to be here with Wally and Jeff as well as the other scouts and coaches, said Simon. “The weather will make this one memorable, but just being here as a member of the Lions and contributing to this process was a very good feeling today.”
Last year’s Texas stop on the free agent circuit resulted in a number of training camp invites and ultimately provided the club with former Purdue grad Torri Williams who appeared in 16 games for the Lions last year.
The club will host another free agent workout in Las Vegas on Sunday and have three more free agent camps planned for Atlanta, Washington D.C. and Seattle in coming weeks.
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