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By François Ferland,
MontrealAlouettes.com
Montreal – The Alouettes have been truly blessed with general manager Jim Popp’s uncanny ability to land top-tier free agents year-after-year.
Two seasons ago fans witnessed the greatness of Jamel Richardson, a Saskatchewan Roughriders castoff that was eventually scooped up by Popp in the off-season. Last year the Als had a little taste of the speedy Andrew Hawkins before the diminutive receiver was sidelined with a leg injury during the East Final.
This year, it’s Tim Maypray who has the honour of showing off Popp’s work. Since fans first saw him return a missed field goal 125 yards for a touchdown, tying former Alouette Ezra Landry’s record, he has been a favourite among the Montreal faithful, bringing the 25,012 fans on hand at McGill to their feet at will.
“It was really special to achieve something like that in my first game,” said the Kentucky product. “I have to say though; I picked up some really nice blocks.”
Perhaps even more special than the actual return itself was the fact that ESPN showed the highlight, allowing Maypray’s family and friends south of the border to see the 5-foot-8 Madisonville, KY native’s unbelievable return.
“I got a lot of phone calls from my family and friends, it was really special,” said Maypray.
It is also worth nothing that Maypray picked up a second missed field-goal return for a touchdown against those same Roughriders on Aug. 6 at Percival Molson Stadium, this time for 118 yards. His second touchdown of the season proved to be extremely vital in the Alouettes’ 30-26 win over the Roughriders. His score gave the Als a 24-7 lead with less than two minutes remaining in the first half.
A star at VMI
Maypray spent four years at Virginia Military Institute before Popp contacted him to play for the Alouettes. Not only did he make a name for himself as a kick and punt returner at VMI, but also as a receiver and quarterback. He was also named an All-Big South Conference all-star for all four positions he starred at.
His record-setting ways certainly didn’t begin in Montreal either. Last season in a game against Gardner-Webb, he returned a punt 86 yards, the second longest in VMI history and the longest at Foster Stadium, the team’s home field.
Mayprays return was the first punt return for a touchdown by a VMI player in nine years.
Haskins
Once his contract with the Als was finalized, Maypray contacted former Alouette Thomas Haskins for advice on how to approach his new adventure to the CFL. Haskins took the same path to the CFL as Maypray, also a VMI grad.
“His and Winston October’s advice really helped me out,” said Maypray. October is another VMI grad who saw some success with the Als as a kick returner as well.
“Haskins just told me to also stay confidant in myself and be as competitive as possible during every play,” he said.
It’s safe to say that the lesson was very well understood, and of course, that Popp was right again.
The Alouettes next play the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at McGill on Aug. 19 at 7:30 pm EST on RDSHD, TSNHD, NRJ, CJAD
