No, really, they did.
A nearly 60 year old man showed up at the Roughriders open tryout session in Florida over the weekend. The best part was he was dressed in jeans and a 16 year old t shirt. Full of holes.
From the comes the tale of Charles Chulada.
By SEAN KERNANDAYTONA BEACH When the Saskatchewan Roughriders football team scheduled an open tryout Sunday at Municipal Stadium, the coaches really meant it was open to anyone.
Charles Chulada, 59, was living proof.
While the other 20 something and a few 30 something players had their Under Armour, Nike and Adidas gear on, Chulada worked out in blue jeans, a 16 year old T shirt and some cleats he had from playing for a semipro team several years ago.
knew I could do it, Chulada said after running a couple of 40 yard dashes. want to put on a helmet and run through a brick wall to show them I can do it.
Fortunately, there were no helmets around to tempt Chulada, who from 1969 through 1973 played college football and wrestled for Syracuse University.
The self described brick mason and poet rode his bike and we not talking a Harley here from his home in Ormond by the Sea to Municipal Stadium Nike Roshe Run to participate in the free one day camp conducted by the Canadian Football League team.
The pedaling helped Chulada get warmed up for what awaited him some timed 40 yard dashes and agility running drills on a synthetic field that was much hotter than the 90 degree air.
When the tryout reached its halfway point and players were divided into groups for some one on one drills where there was going to be contact, the Roughriders had to cut Chulada.
you have an all comers tryout you going to get all types, said Saskatchewan head coach Greg Marshall. the guy come out and have some fun. I give him his due for sticking it out in the heat.
Before getting back on his bicycle for a long ride home, Chulada said: didn make it here, but I look for a semipro team or another (pro team) that having an open tryout.
The Nike Roshe Run other 86 hopefuls were more traditional types recent or soon to be college graduates, some who used up their eligibility, a few who quit playing in college, and a number of 30 plus players who aren ready to give up their dream of playing pro football.
Although the CFL is not as widely known as the NFL, it has been around since 1958 and each of its eight teams has a 2011 payroll cap of $4.3 million. The league minimum salary is $43,000, and top tier players can receive healthy six figure salaries.
Marshall, the head coach, said this type of tryout is considered a success if the team finds one or two players that it wants. Asked if they found any future Roughriders here, Marshall said that would be determined in meetings later with assistant coaches.
Brandon Crawford, a defensive end out of Ball State, was the next oldest player at 34. Marine Corps before getting back into football as a walk on at Ball State. Twice he was named All Mid American Conference Second Team.
body is not beat up like a normal 34 year old football player, said Crawford, who was invited to the New York Giants mini camp in 2010. Nike Free Run don have the wear and tear on my body because in the Marines it was all physical conditioning running not hitting.
Isaac Duncan, a former Mainland and Bethune Cookman player, was hoping to catch a break, but the odds were against the 30 year old. Duncan details cars at Jon Hall Chevrolet by day and coaches a Pop Warner football team in late summer and early fall evenings and weekends. The 5 foot 11 receiver wants to give football one more shot.
my passion, Duncan said. I could make this team, it would change my way of life from low income housing to something better.
Former Mainland High standout Tony Wilson nearly has his education behind him, with a bachelor degree from the University of Georgia and on track to receive a master degree from Bethune Cookman later this year.
What he doesn have in his rearview mirror is his football career.
feel my tank is pretty full, said Wilson, who played for the Wildcats last season. long as you have something in the tank, you have to try. You just have to go out there and play the game like you a kid when you step on the field. You have to have fun.
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