April 28, 2010

Edmonton Eskimos
ESKS.com


The CFL Canadian Draft is this Sunday, May 2 at 10am MT. ESKS.com asked some of our current players what they were feeling the year they were drafted.

Kamau Peterson –1st round (6th overall) by Calgary in 2001
Andrew Nowacki – 3rd round (26th overall) by Edmonton in 2004
Gord Hinse – 2nd round (11th overall) by Edmonton in 2009
Tim St. Pierre – 3rd round (19th overall) by Edmonton in 2008

Growing up, was playing in the CFL a dream of yours?

KP: I didn't pick up football until late in the game and really didn't even watch much football prior to playing. CFL didn't get in my radar until I was a University senior.
 
AN: Since elementary school I had aspirations of being a professional football player. In my 8th grade year book, I wrote that I wanted to do just that.

GH: As a kid, just like anybody else, I grew up dreaming of being a professional athlete, but it wasn't until my first year of university that I realized that it could become a reality. As soon as it occurred to me that I could potentially make it into the CFL, I started to work really hard to give myself the best chance I could to make it to the next level.

TSP: Growing up I had dreams of playing many sports; but once I got into high school my focus quickly turned to football. I followed the ‘Cats closely as a kid and it's definitely always been a dream of mine to play in the CFL.


Coming out of college, did you think you would be drafted into the CFL?

KP: I was told that I was eligible a couple of weeks before the evaluation camp and then got invited to it. It was just prior to my pro day so I figured I'd go and try to keep my options open.
 
AN: I was very hopeful. I felt I had a good e-camp, but you never know what needs teams are looking to address. I was just hoping for an opportunity.

GH: I was told that I had the ability to make it to the CFL, but I really had no idea if the teams in the CFL knew who I was. I went to the Laval combine and performed well and after that I started getting lots of calls from all the teams in the league. So coming to draft day I had an idea that I was going to get drafted, it was only a matter of when.

TSP: I began thinking of the CFL my second year of college.  However, it didn't seem like a real possibility until I attended the East-West Bowl my fourth year. By the end of my fourth season I was fairly confident I would be drafted but I had no idea when or where.


Did you have an idea of what team was going to draft you?

KP: I didn't even know the draft order.
 
AN: Not at all. At the e-camp I didn't have a lot of contact with coaches and GMs, so I really had no idea.

GH: I had talked to every team in the CFL, but there were a couple of teams that seemed particularly interested, with the Eskimos being one of them. (I hoped that Edmonton would draft me though). I consider myself very lucky to have been drafted by the Eskimos.

TSP: On Draft day I had no idea where I would end up.  It's a weird feeling knowing your about to start your career in a new city but not knowing which one it will be.


How did you find out you were drafted? Did you get a phone call? Follow it online?

KP: My strength coach notified me at our morning workout that I'd been drafted by Calgary.
 
AN: My roommate and I took the day off from classes and watched the draft online. It wasn't broadcasted in real time, so I got a call from Coach McKinnon; he was the first to tell me the good news.

GH: I was in the middle of a practice, during spring camp for the Golden Bears, and one of my coaches had my cell phone on him. I didn’t hear the phone ring so it was a surprise when he handed me the phone and Coach Hall and Danny Maciocia told me that I had been drafted. It was the best phone call that I have ever gotten.

TSP: I was at home with family and friends, following the draft over the internet.  About 15 minutes before I was selected we lost our internet connection.  So we actually found out I had been picked when I started getting text messages from other friends. 


How did you feel when you found out you’d been drafted?

KP: I didn't really give it much thought at the time, but I was glad to know that I'd at least have the opportunity to play pro football after I graduated.

AN: Excited for the opportunity. Relieved the process and waiting was over. A little nervous, but extremely determined to prepare myself the best I could to have the best training camp I possibly could.

GH: I was estatic and a whole bunch of emotions flowed through me all at once. I honestly don’t remember what I said to anybody right after because I was so overwhelmed. It was a great feeling and I will never forget how it felt to be drafted into the CFL by the Eskimos.

TSP: I felt relieved and excited that all the hard work and sacrifices paid off.  I received numerous calls immediately following the draft from team management and coaches.  At that point I knew I was going to a strong organization and I was excited to get to camp.