Temper anxiety with fun, bouncing Ball says

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/06/2010 (5655 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Everywhere David Ball has gone in football — from stints with the Chicago Bears to the New York Jets, from the Montreal Alouettes to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and now here in Winnipeg — it’s been the same thing.

He’s primarily known as the receiver who broke Jerry Rice’s Division 1-AA receiving touchdown record during his days at the University of New Hampshire.

But now Ball is seeking to be known for something else in football: employed.

A late arrival to Bomber camp, Ball has been catching everything thrown his way and has made a solid first impression with the coaching staff. But now comes the ultimate proving ground — Sunday’s pre-season tilt against the Montreal Alouettes.

“Any time you get an opportunity to get out on the field with live bullets, it’s huge,” said Ball, who turned 26 last Sunday. “Some guys, including myself, are in a position where it can make or break us. It’s an opportunity to focus, have some fun, make sure we’re good with our assignments and do our jobs.”

Now if Ball were in any position to offer advice to any footballer who has bounced around as often as he has, it would be this:

“Live for the moment, but don’t put too much into that one moment, because that’s what is going to stress you out,” he said. “I spent my first two camps with NFL teams and these camps here are just as hard, just as difficult. But I’m older now and I’ve learned to have a little bit more fun now and to not be as high-strung. That’s hard to do. Some of these young guys here are coming face to face with a dream maybe becoming a reality and it’s something that they’re scared of losing out on.

“You’ve got to put that fear aside. You’ve got to look at it optimistically. Don’t worry about what could happen; make the best of what WILL happen.”

And therein lies the key to Sunday’s game. Every prospect here has a glowing resumé, but not all of them are going to see equal amounts of action. It might just be one quarter, it might just be one series or even just one play. But it’s what you do on that play that gets a guy noticed.

“How do you make the team?” began Courtney Smith, the former B.C. Lion opening eyes in Siddeeq Shabazz’s old spot. “Be where you’re supposed to be and make the play you’re supposed to make. You can be where you’re supposed to be, but if you don’t make the play… I want them to turn on the film after the game and say, ‘Wow! That’s the guy we have to have on the team.’ “

The result doesn’t matter and the statistics are meaningless. That said, here are eight other Bomber wannabes — like Ball and Smith — to keep an eye on Sunday afternoon:

— No. 4 Buck Pierce, QB

Battling Steven Jyles for the No. 1 job, a solid quarter or so of work would help him lock down the starting chores.

— No. 14 Terence Jeffers-Harris, WR

He doesn’t turn 22 until later this month and hasn’t played a real game in over two years, but the kid has skills. Has been working with the No. 1 offence periodically and doesn’t look out of place at all.

— No. 21 Brandon Stewart, DB

A reserve-list guy who saw limited action a year ago, all Stewart has done in camp to date is make one play after another.

— No. 68 Kelly Butler, OL

The 6-foot-7, 350-pound former NFLer has yet to really be tested by CFL speed rushers, and Sunday will be a dandy test.

— No. 39 Rian Wallace, LB

Former Pittsburgh Steeler is in tough pushing Joe Lobendahn, but he’s worth taking a long look at in the middle of the linebacking corps.

— No. 34 Emmanuel Marc, RB

He’s staring up at two big names on the depth chart in Fred Reid and Yvenson Bernard, but should get some touches in this game and has proven to be a solid receiver.

— No. 64 Chris Greaves, OL

Converted from the D-line, the Bombers love this guy’s physical skills and his desire. He’s green, but a solid showing would force the club into a tough decision: send him back to Western and see him move back to defence or keep him here and develop his game.

— No. 38 Jason Tate, DB

Very green, but like Stewart is making plays from the inside halfback position and is battling former Alouette Clint Kent and Keyuo Craver for work.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca