Michiko Araki
With the first day of the 2015 mini Training Camp underway, the first year players hit the field in full force and had their first taste of what it takes to make it as a BC Lion.
After the conclusion of the practice at Hillside Stadium, we spoke with two camp invitees, Bibake Uppal and Brandon Deschamps, about the opportunity to come out to the camp.
“It’s huge. It’s the only time you’ll get the opportunity to play professionally. I can’t put into words how excited I am,” says Uppal, who was a receiver for most of his university career and switched over to a cornerback in his final year with SFU. Uppal recorded 36 tackles (21 solo) and 2 interceptions last season.
“You know, it’s a dream,” says Deschamps, a running back who played at UBC during his university career. “Everybody says it, but you don’t realize how special it is until you get the opportunity to be here. I remember at Senior Bowl (in Grade 12), we were in the BC Lions locker room and Wally Buono came and talked to us. One of the things he said was, ‘someone’s gotta play professional football, why not you guys?’ I was one of the guys that bought into that idea back then and I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to try and do that.” In his junior year, Deschamps carried 167 times for 1191 yards and seven touchdowns for the Thunderbirds.
The first year Lions have a chance to impress the coaching staff during the first three days before they join the veterans at the official BC Lions Training Camp on Sunday, May 31st.