Growing up, everyone wants to be the star of the team. They want to be the next Zach Collaros, the next Chad Owens, or the next Bakari Grant. Why wouldn’t you want to be? These are the most popular positions in football. Don’t get me wrong, those guys train every day, and have incredible talent; that should not be taken away from them. They are always featured in the game’s highlights, whether they are executing impossible passes, performing quick jukes, or making one-handed diving catches.
But people often neglect to cheer for, or even think of, the “Forgotten Five”. I’m talking about the five offensive linemen in the CFL who are on the field doing everything they can to hold off the enemy. The guys making sure the quarterback doesn’t get blindsided, and making sure the proper holes are made so the running back can break through. The big boys who have the upper body strength to hold off a 250lb or bigger guy running at them at full force.
These are the guys who deserve the medal of honour. They give the quarterback enough time to make the highlight reel plays, but they are never shown on the highlight reel. The only way these men get on TSN is if there is a special play designed for them, if if they recover a football in the end zone on a botched play. How excited do you think Ryan Bomben (offensive linemen) was when he caught a touchdown pass this last year?
They often retire with torn muscles, broken bones, and shot knees. You see them years later with canes, limps, and arthritis, and they might have to undergo many surgeries to correct the damage done to their body. These men are all guts and little glory.
Every quarterback in the CFL should be grateful (and I’m sure they all are) for the five big boys in front of them. These are the guys that allow them to keep playing as long as they do, giving future Hall of Famers a chance to shine. These men are the difference between a Grey Cup and no cup.
The offensive line plays a key role in success in the CFL. They should be featured for the incredible hard working play they make every so often. Everyone plays a vital role in football, and without teamwork, no team would be successful.
If or when I have kids, I can’t wait for my son to say to me, that he wants to be the next Peter Dyakowski. Having met Dyakowski this summer, I can honestly say that there is no better role model for me or anyone in sports to have then him. He is the definition of a class act, both on and off the field, a community volunteer and an overall hard worker. And oh yes, he is an offensive lineman for the Hamilton Tiger Cats.
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