Champion may get a chance to prove it
'Most experienced' Blue pivot No. 2 when Blue play Eskies
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/10/2010 (5455 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
JOEY Elliott, Zac Champion, and Justin Goltz — those are the three quarterbacks the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will have on the sidelines at Commonwealth Stadium Saturday night.
Head coach Paul LaPolice made the announcement Thursday afternoon after getting a final look at the pivots the club has under contract in the wind tunnel that was Canad Inns Stadium Thursday. And though the inexperienced and unfamiliar trio mentioned above won’t exactly scare the bejeezus out of the Edmonton Eskimos defence Saturday (6 p.m., CJOB, TSN), the harsh reality of the situation is the Blue and Gold don’t have any other options left.
The cupboard is bare. For the Bombers, it is what it is, as the kids say.
The newest name on the QB roulette wheel is Champion, who was looking for work after being released by the Calgary Stampeders in training camp. The 6-foot-2, 192-pound Louisiana Tech product spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons with the B.C. Lions, throwing for two touchdowns and four interceptions.
That stint makes Champion the most experienced on the Bombers’ QB depth chart. The 26-year-old was at home in Birmingham, Ala., when the Bombers contacted him Saturday night, and with the dream of pro ball still lingering, he took them up on the offer. He officially joined up with his new teammates Thursday.
“It’s one of those things where you hope to get a shot,” he said. “You do everything you can at home.You don’t want to commit to anything, so it was one of those deals where I just hung out and waited for an opportunity. It’s part of the business. It’s a tough deal, a tough situation, but luckily my wife works, so that takes a bit of the pressure off.”
Because he has experience and a familiarity with the offensive system, Champion will slot in behind Elliott as the No. 2 pivot Saturday. He is eager to play, knowing this small window of opportunity could be his last chance to impress in the CFL.
“It’s just one of those things where you find a place that likes you,” Champion said. “As long as you’re a young guy, you still have that opportunity.”
LaPolice said Champion hasn’t been promised anything (like a training camp spot) past the final two games this season.
“It’s a good opportunity to come and get evaluated…we can get an early start and look at some of these guys,” the coach said. “That’s all we promised them.”
adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca
