CFL Draft Day Memories
Published on April 23, 2003 under Canadian Football League (CFL) News Release
The weeks leading up to the CFL combine and draft day were a hectic time filled with excitement and anticipation. I was in my final year at Simon Fraser University, finishing the last courses needed to graduate with a business marketing degree. I recall finding it very difficult to concentrate on my studies with all the thoughts of how I was going to perform at the combine, and if and where I might get drafted.
Every morning during the final semester, I left home for SFU with two bags in hand, one full of textbooks, the other with football cleats and workout gear. My daily routine consisted of little other than studying and training. I needed to push myself both physically and mentally to achieve athletic and academic goals.
Finally, after delicate negotiating with professors to reschedule two final exams, the day came where I was in a Montreal hotel room preparing to test at the 2002 CFL combine. An SFU teammate, Paul Cheng (an eventual first-round pick by the Lions), and I flew in the previous night from Vancouver. My early testing time, 7:30 a.m., in addition to both the three-hour time difference and losing an hour to daylight savings time the night before, meant that my body felt I was testing at 3:30 a.m. Fortunately, I was able to post some decent results, have a much-needed rest, and still find time to enjoy a night on the town.
Less than one month later, on the night before the 2002 CFL draft, I received a phone call from Eric Tillman, informing me that the Ottawa Renegades planned to select me with one of their first two picks. If that wasn't exciting enough, he also invited me to get on a plane that night and fly to Ottawa for a press conference following the draft.
The red-eye flight departed Vancouver at 11:00 p.m. and arrived in Ottawa at 7:15 a.m. I figured I could sleep on the plane, but my nerves and excitement prevented me from getting a wink. Exhausted upon arrival, I took advantage of a comfortable bed at a hotel where I was able to get some rest. I actually slept through the entire CFL draft and had to call back home to Vancouver to find out where some of my SFU teammates were chosen.
The press conference was a thrill, and it gave me a chance to meet the majority of the Ottawa coaching staff. During my flight home that evening, I realized all the excitement and pride I felt at that moment was a direct result of the hard work I invested in the game of football. It's the same hard work I plan to invest while playing in the CFL.
Mike Vilimek
Ottawa Renegades
Canadian Football League Stories from April 23, 2003
- Renegades Players Gauthier and Vilimek Share Draft Day Memories - Ottawa Renegades
- Eskimo caravan rolls into Lloydminster - Edmonton Elks
- CFL Draft Day Memories - CFL
- Esks sign Emmerson Phillips - Edmonton Elks
- Eskimos release Ronald Williams - Edmonton Elks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
