Respect for the cfl in the states

My son and I enjoy CFL football and enjoy traveling across Canada and through the Staes.

We spent last weekend at a high school football camp in Oklahoma. Paradoxically, we found more respect for CFL football and CFL football players there than here in Toronto. Chalkboard talk really dug deep on the complexity of our 12 man game. They know every Oklahoma football player in the CFL. Respect!

This is not unusual. We've visited dozens on NCAA schools and their football Halls of Fame include both NFL and CFL alumni. All ADs can tell you the active alumnis playing in both leagues. Someone has to get this point across to casual football fans that the CFL is full of special and talented players from both sides of the border.

The fact that Canadians play in the CFL is irrelevant to the quality of the CFL. The previous tight end and previous punter in Seattle will tell you how well Canadians can play this game.

I wonder whether it would be valuable for the CFL to interview the following NCAA coaches about opportunities and difficulties their graduating athletes face in breaking into the CFL.

Nick Saban, Alabama.
Urban Meyer, Ohio State.
Jim Harbaugh, Michigan.
Gary Patterson, TCU.
Bob Stoops, Oklahoma.
Dabo Swinney, Clemson.
David Shaw, Stanford.
Mark Dantonio, Michigan State.

College football is very much king in certain regions of the US and some down there do like to track what a college player who did not make the NFL is doing.
Yes, the CFL in certain pockets in the US does get more respect than what some CFL haters in Canada may care to admit.

I read an article a few years ago. Written by an American writer in one of the Florida towns the CFL teams hold walk on tryouts.
The writer researched the players paying to attend the tryouts. Went into detail how some players were from smaller schools. Some from big time division one schools.
How these players were the best of the best at their school, or division etc. And for one reason or another didn't get much of a sniff from the NFL.
Then stressed how many talented players are out there and only a very small percent get in the NFL.
Basically validated the talent of the CFL, as only a couple of the 50 plus players trying out would get an offer to attend training camp.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Antwon

I read an article a few years ago. Written by an American writer in one of the Florida towns the CFL teams hold walk on tryouts.
The writer researched the players paying to attend the tryouts. Went into detail how some players were from smaller schools. Some from big time division one schools.
How these players were the best of the best at their school, or division etc. And for one reason or another didn't get much of a sniff from the NFL.
Then stressed how many talented players are out there and only a very small percent get in the NFL.
Basically validated the talent of the CFL, as only a couple of the 50 plus players trying out would get an offer to attend training camp.

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If only some people would listen...