REGINA — He might not get the most carries, the most balls thrown his way or much by way of attention, but there’s a very good reason Saskatchewan Roughriders fullback Albert Awachie is currently one of the longest-tenured players on the team.
Be it creating running room for his teammates through his blocking, decoying the opposition on play fakes or just picking up a handful of yards here and there, Awachie has become one of those players you don’t notice but are critical nonetheless to a team’s success.
Now entering his eighth season with the team, the 33-year-old Toronto product aims to be as productive as ever, especially as the Roughriders begin defending their Grey Cup championship.
It all begins with training camp, with Awachie in a much better situation this season compared to last, when an injury saw him get a late start to the campaign.
“I'm feeling good, excited for the season … This time of the year is grueling, but that comes with the territory of being a professional,” Awachie told Roughriders radio play-by-play announcer Dave Thomas after a recent practice.
No stranger to the CFL wars, Awachie has naturally developed into a team leader during his nearly decade-long run with the Riders. It’s a role he’s embraced, choosing to largely lead by example.
“Whether it's in the locker room, in the study room, in the meetings, and even on the field,” he said of walking the walk. “You just want to bring it every single day and then hopefully that's a contagious effort, but I think the whole team collectively, we have a great mindset. We're led by a really great coach, so it's just about the culture here and I'm just happy to be a part of it.”
That leadership status carried into this past off-season, when in the midst of the Grey Cup celebrations, Awachie was also travelling around the province and delivering school presentations on behalf of the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation.
It was an eye-opening experience, especially seeing the enthusiasm and love for the team in all corners of the province.
“It's good to be out and about in the community and just have the presence out there so they can kind of have someone to relate to,” Awachie said, adding that the classroom speaking ventures offer a chance to learn about communities and fans. “Every story, every school is going to be a little bit different, every student is different. So sometimes you have people with unique stories that they want to tell me and how they relate. Then sometimes you have a whole classroom that is already excited just to have a Roughrider in your school and that kind of makes it an easier process.
“So just trying to be relatable to them and every experience is going to be different. That's why I always look forward to them.”
There’s little question that the communities that host Awachie and his Roughriders teammates are also excited to see them, with many fans looking up to the players as heroes. Awachie seemed slightly taken aback when asked about that kind of a role.
“It's humbling, honestly,” he said. “But I'm just an individual like them, right? Just someone that's been here in the province for a long time, just like them. I got to see how it is in the winter here since 2017? Just spending more time here full time in the off seasons, kind of making it all connected together and just being a part of them. I don't want to be standing out. I want to be one of them.”
That kind of attitude, combined with a peerless work ethic, is a major reason Awachie has had the career he has in head coach Corey Mace’s eyes.
“He’s a worker by nature,” Mace said. “He’s always around here in the off-season, you’ll know he’s here because the music is on 10 in the weight room. He’s been here early lifting every day and he just comes out and does whatever is asked of him. He doesn’t take it lightly and there’s a reason he’s been around as long as he has in this league, because he understands what it looks like to be a pro. Nothing but love for ‘Watch’.”
Given his success, it’s highly unlikely Awachie will be changing anything anytime soon. And if that means the limelight doesn’t come his way, so be it.
“Just one of 12,” Awachie said when asked about not getting a ton of recognition. “That's a simple way to put it. It's not about the glory, it's really about just the win at the end of the day.
So I'm doing it for the team. It's a team sport, so it's not about the attention that one position has over another. It's just executing your job and doing your best to your ability.”
Awachie and the Roughriders are currently off with a season-opening bye week. Saskatchewan will open its regular season June 13 when the Riders host the Calgary Stampeders, with kick-off set for 5 p.m. on the Rider Broadcast Network.
