Bombers’ Oliveira living the dream

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This article was published 24/05/2022 (1203 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brady Oliveira used to dream of being the starting running back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers – now it’s nearly a reality.

The torch was officially passed from one Oak Park High School alumnus to another when the storied chapter between hometown hero Andrew Harris and the Blue Bombers ended in February.

The 24-year-old couldn’t help but smile after Monday’s training camp session at IG Field and said that talking about the opportunity at hand gave him goosebumps.

“I’m from Winnipeg, I grew up watching the Bombers and sat in these stands as a fan,” said Oliveria. “Now the fact that I have a big chance in front of me… to be the starting running back of my hometown team, that means a lot to me.”

Harris accumulated a laundry list of awards during his five seasons with the Blue Bombers. He won the Canadian Football League (CFL) rushing title three times, was named CFL Most Outstanding Canadian in 2017 and took home the Grey Cup’s Most Valuable Canadian and Most Valuable Player awards in 2019. He also led the franchise to back-to-back championships.

It’s a tall order for Oliveira and Johnny Augustine to pick up where their former teammate left off. But Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea doesn’t want his running backs to be anyone but themselves.

“We want Brady to be Brady and Johnny Augustine to be Johnny Augustine and whoever is totin’ the rock to tote it their way and be themselves,” said O’Shea. “I don’t know that… anybody can be Andrew Harris and I don’t think we expect them to be.”

Oliveria said that while he’s heard the talk about there being big shoes to fill, he’s focused on playing the “Brady brand” of football that has gotten him this far. This means being a physical player that’s tough and plays hard. He added he also hopes to utilize his hands as a pass-catching running back this season.

That style of play helped him rush for 429 yards on 94 carries while finding the endzone twice and chipping in 74 yards on nine receptions.

“I just want to keep building my craft and keep adding things to the toolbox that will make me overall a better player,” said Oliveira.

IG Field was almost empty nearly an hour after Monday’s training camp session ended. Fans had filed out, the metal gates rattled in the wind and the sound of a football hitting gloves echoed throughout the stadium.

Oliveira, Augustine, Willie Jefferson and depth quarterback Joe Mancuso were the last remaining Blue Bombers on the turf. One-by-one the group dispersed and Oliveria was the last man standing after getting what he said was “definitely over 100 passes” between Mancuso and a training machine.

“Playing against some of the best players in the CFL, if I want to be one of the best, I gotta keep elevating my game,” said Oliveira. “By me staying out here late on the field after practice and being the last one off the field, it’s going to show on game days this year.”

His dedication to the craft hasn’t gone unnoticed at training camp either.

“He’s obviously worked hard this offseason and it shows out there on the field,” said O’Shea.

Oliveria is implementing lessons learned from Harris into training camp and beyond, one of them on how to be a constant professional. He said the biggest difference he’s noticed so far during training camp is that he’s stronger mentally, more mature and his football IQ has grown.

“I learned a lot from him, it was so great being behind a professional like that,” said Oliveira. “He’s gonna go down as one of the all-time greats in this league.”

If there’s any pressure on Oliveira being the hometown player set to take the reins as the team’s starting ball carrier, he isn’t showing it. In fact, he said embracing the challenge makes the sport more fun.

“That means a lot more to me than probably other guys, when I run out of the tunnel I’m playing for a lot more,” said Oliveria. “I’m playing for the city of Winnipeg and the province of Manitoba.”

gavin.axelrod@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter:@Gavin77axe