Appetite for protection Skipping meals never an option for men charged with keeping Bombers stars safe By: Taylor Allen Posted: 6:42 PM CDT Tuesday, Sep. 5, 2023 Last Modified: 10:44 AM CDT Wednesday, Sep. 6, 2023 Updates

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Tomoya Machino is a third-string guard for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but that hasn’t stopped the 26-year-old Global offensive lineman from Japan becoming a legend in the locker room, though.

Machino, who’s in his third season in Winnipeg, speaks limited English, so veteran guard Patrick Neufeld will have to explain.

“So, he was really skinny when he was in Japan. But he told us that for an entire year, he ate five pounds of precooked rice every day to put on weight,” said a wide-eyed Neufeld.

“Isn’t that incredible? Can you fathom that much food going into your stomach? I can’t. It’s pretty amazing.”

His appetite didn’t stop when he got to the CFL. The 6-5, 307-pounder — who grew up playing baseball before taking up football at Kyoto University — had an eating performance during the team’s post-season bye week in their 2021 Grey Cup run that still gets talked about to this day.

Guard Geoff Gray hosts weekly cookouts for the O-line and this was one to remember.

“We had 15 t-bones and there were seven left, but they were gone by the end of the night because Tomoya was sitting there by the tray,” said centre Chris Kolankowski.

Welcome to life as an offensive lineman.

The Free Press recently chatted with all five Bombers starters to get a glimpse of what it takes to play the position at a high level.

The Bombers lost a 32-30 overtime heartbreaker on Labour Day to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The two sides meet again this Saturday at 3 p.m. at IG Field for the Banjo Bowl.

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Most kids don’t dream of one day becoming an offensive lineman. It’s one of the least glamorous positions in all of sports and the average person only notices them when they make a mistake.

For many, the position has a way of finding them.

“I was in denial. I played tight end in high school and all these colleges recruited me to play tight end. I was 300 pounds, I was delusional,” said right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick, who started out at Fort Scott Community College before finishing his career at the University of Nebraska.

“I didn’t know they just wanted to get me to sign on the paper. So, the first day I got to college, I told everyone I was a tight end. Then the coach looked at me and pointed, ‘O-lineman over there.’ And the rest is history.”

“I was going to be an O-lineman my whole life. I was just a bigger, athletic kid in high school who got the ball and played tight end.”

Left tackle Stanley Bryant, arguably the greatest offensive lineman in CFL history, suited up at tight end, defensive end, and middle linebacker in high school in Goldsboro, N.C. He played two years at Division II Elizabeth City State University as a tight end before transferring to East Carolina as a walk-on.

“I was still a tight end, but I had to sit out a year. I probably gained 30 or 40 pounds. I was eating good,” said Bryant, 37, with a laugh.

“Then I went back out, made the team again, but at the time I was like 290. And I was already slow so I was a blocking tight end. But then our left tackle had a heart condition. So, our the offensive line coach asked me, well, not asked, basically said I should move to tackle and that’s when my career started.”

“It’s a crazy story. I never thought about offensive line at all. I always liked tight end.”

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Winnipeg’s offensive line — Bryant, Gray, Kolankowski, Neufeld, Hardrick — are all listed between 309-319 pounds.

As you can imagine, it all starts with a hearty breakfast at the team facility.

“I’ll probably have three or four eggs, some toast, four or five pieces of meat, some pancakes, some juice, some oatmeal, and that’s probably at 8 o’clock and we’re gonna go out to practice at 11 so by 10 I’ll get myself some more cereal and fruit,” said Hardrick.

“Then we’ll come in here for lunch and eat right before we watch film. Then I’ll go workout and eat another lunch after. And then I go home and tell my wife I’m starving.”

A typical dinner will see Hardrick, 33, knock out 30 grilled chicken wings with ease.

Contrary to popular belief, an O-lineman’s diet isn’t all bad. Most like to follow an 80-20 rule that sees them eat relatively healthy majority of the time.

“But when I get a cheat meal, it’s going to be bull–. Like I’m gonna eat waffles, fried chicken and ice cream. I’ll do 80-20, but my 20 is garbage,” said Neufeld.

“But I think we can justify it because the way our position works is it’s a constant strain. We’re not running five kilometres every game, but it’s a constant 100 per cent strain when you’re trying to block Almondo Sewell or Micah Johnson every play. It’s 100 per cent effort on that play. We may not get the mileage, but we have the physical depletion after every game. Even in practice, too.”

“But I think we can justify it… It’s 100 per cent effort on that play. We may not get the mileage, but we have the physical depletion after every game. Even in practice, too.”–Patrick Neufeld

Getting to that desired playing weight and staying there has been a chore for 31-year-old Kolankowski since his days at York University.

“Honestly for me, that’s the hardest part of the job. It’s nine o’clock, you’re ready for bed, but it’s like ‘Damn, I need to eat again,’ so I’ll cook another meal up. I’d rather be working out than eating another meal,” said Kolankowski.

For others, the problem is not getting larger than that. Size is important, but athleticism is a big part of the gig, too.

“I have to stop eating, really. That’s my problem. My wife (stops me) more than anything,” said Hardrick. “I’m so used to eating all the time that it’s not a problem for me in the off-season to just eat more. My problem in the off-season is I need to find balance because I’m not working as hard. With practice, you can eat whatever you want, probably not the best nutrition for you, but you can come out here and lose five to eight pounds a day.”

Same story for Neufeld.

“My issue is come end of the season, come playoffs, it’s super stressful so I stress eat,” said the 34-year-old from Regina.

No one is stressed on Day 3 of practice week for home games as that’s when Gray, a 28-year-old from Winnipeg, has the O-line and their families over for a huge spread.

Gray’s culinary skills have made him everyone’s favourite teammate.

Thankfully for his wallet, everyone chips in.

“The most expensive was when we did a Wagyu beef sampler. So, that steak alone was $330 or something like that. It was $30 a portion, and we had 40 ounces, or something around there,” said Gray.

“We (also recently did) maple-glazed pork chops, baked potatoes, some stuffed mushroom caps, zucchini casserole, some pork belly burnt end lettuce wraps. It was good. I usually make most of it. I plan smart. I plan for things I know I can cook. Usually I’ll do something a day ahead. My wife’s been doing the desserts this year. She’s been doing good with the desserts. Simple, but good.”

Ronald McDonald can’t compete with Gray’s menu, but Bryant, the only player in league history to win the CFL’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award on four occasions, sometimes leaves the drive-thru with a double quarter-pounder meal, featuring a large fry and strawberry Fruitopia drink, with a side of 10 Chicken McNuggets and three chocolate chip cookies. Now as a veteran of 14 seasons, he puts a bit more thought about what he puts in his body. This year he started meal prepping as a way to cut out the processed foods.

Offensive lineman tend to shed a ton of weight once they hang up the pads and helmet for good.

“I’ll slim down a bit. I’m not going to lose 100 pounds. I think between 30-50 pounds is a good amount,” said Bryant.

“I don’t want to look like I’m in high school all over again and be skinny. I got to keep the size on.”

“I don’t want to look like I’m in high school all over again and be skinny. I got to keep the size on.”–Stanley Bryant

Forks, knives, and spoons aren’t the only things this group lifts. Strength training is a necessity, but so are things like agility drills.

“I have a strength coach back home that kind of gives me the athletic stuff that (skill position players) would be doing, but then I throw the compound lifts on top of it. I work out with Zach (Collaros) in the off-season so I do a lot of stuff that’s similar to his workout,” said Kolankowski. “… It’s just stacking the weight on a little bit more, but all the accessory lifts are pretty similar throughout. It’s just we need the big compound lifts on top of that just to put on mass and keep the strength.”

So, with everything that comes with the job, why does it feel like all five starters enjoy it?

“We’re together,” said Neufeld.

“We’re trying to figure out how we’re going to block these guys who are trying to take Zach or Brady (Oliveira’s) head off. I think the fact that we don’t get the glory and we can just put our hard hats on and go under the radar and just work is my favourite part.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31