MontrealAlouettes.com
As he prepared to face his hometown Lions on Friday night at Percival Molson Stadium, we caught up with linebacker Shea Emry to find out how out what it takes to get past a concussion, grow a sweet mustache, get an edge in a Grey Cup game and more.
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You’re on your way to a career-best season in tackles, what’s been your recipe for success this year?
Just coming off the concussion last year, just making sure that I focus on my career and on being a healthy football player. I do all I can to arrive at the stadium on game day refreshed and ready to go and that’s been paying off.
You came into this season coming off that concussion but have looked great so far in 2012. Was there any doubt in your mind that you would be ready to go this season?
There was doubt for sure. There was doubt last season, then during the offseason and into camp on into this season. I didn’t know for sure that I would be able to play at the same level. There was of mental stress for a while there, but now I feel better than ever. It’s been a blessing in disguise to have football taken away from me there for a while. It got me to work on myself as a football player and as a human being.
Here we are already at the midseason point. How much does the season just fly by for you?
The beginning of the year usually flies by like up until now but the second part of the year is always tougher and more of a grind. Every practice gets tougher and then there are the bumps and bruises we all have. We’re all really looking forward to it though since the group has really come together lately.
Do you have any pregame rituals?
I’ve got a couple. One started just before the 2009 Grey Cup game in Calgary. We played the Roughriders, so the night before I did everything green. I ate green M&Ms, and anything green. So all I ate was the green Lifesavers, the green gummy bears, I drank green Gatorade, and ate a green meal like salad. Then in 2010 we faced the Roughies again so I did it all over again and we won again.
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Als fans should hope that oranges are in-season come November. |
Ok, so what if you face B.C. in the Grey Cup game this year?
I’ll eat an orange, man! (laughs)
Do the guys have a nickname for you?
Not that I know of. You’ll have to ask them. I remember them calling me Brutus one year because I grew my beard out so long.
You seem to grow a beard in a matter of minutes, do you think you could sprout a Calvillo-caliber mustache if you wanted to?
(laughs) Who knows maybe this week I’ll bust out a ‘stache for you guys.
While we’re on the subject, when do you start your playoff growth?
I’ll normally start rocking the goatee in October to build a solid base and then in November it’s acceptable so then I’ll start my beard or whatever we decide to go with as a team. Plus I’ll be all set for Movember so it’s a win-win. (laughs)
The team has a new-look defence this year with plenty of fresh faces, how do you feel about the way the unit is starting to jell?
It’s just awesome. I was looking at Rod Davis and Kenny Ingram the other day and I was thinking how we’re really coming together. We’re making plays and we all have each other’s backs and it’s just an exciting time for our defence.
We’ve seen you kicking around in a sweet throwback Vancouver Grizzlies cap. Are you a big basketball fan?
I used to be a huge basketball fan when the Grizzlies were still in Vancouver. We had season tickets and everything. And to tell you the truth I really lost faith in the NBA when the team left the city in 2001.
According to the Canada Board of Commerce, Vancouver could support an NBA team in the future. Do you think basketball could actually ever return to Vancouver?
I’d like to think so and you can never say never, but it’s impossible to know. Look at Winnipeg; they got their Jets back.
How important is it for guys from B.C. like you and Sean Whyte to stick together out here on the East coast? Aren’t you guys actually roommates?
Yep we are. Sean and I decided to live together this offseason. We hung out a lot last year. We get along and have a lot in common since we have the same hometown. We were out for lunch last week and everyone was out in suits and stuff going to work and we just laughed about how west coast we are with our cutoffs and flip-flops and how we’re so B.C.
Speaking of your unique bond with Whyte, what’s this we hear about you guys regularly getting pampered at a local spa?
Yes, yes we do. (laughs)
