Contained within the CFL: Coaching and fervour for the game drive Als’ Micah Awe

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Micah Awe, possibly basically essentially the most attention-grabbing participant on the Alouettes, almost definitely in no way acquired all the way down to make skilled soccer a occupation.

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Born in Nigeria and raised in a Dallas suburb, he was relegated to the D crew — the underside of low inside the football-mad state of Texas — when he began having fun with in seventh grade. He started as a fullback and was shortly promoted two ranges sooner than lastly discovering his calling at linebacker at Texas Tech, the one school that equipped him a scholarship.

Nonetheless that’s solely a small part of Awe’s essence.

Coaching acquired right here first at residence — not stunning, considering Awe’s mother has a grasp’s diploma in molecular pathology, whereas his father has his grasp’s in authorized justice and is now discovering out for his PhD. Thought of one among 4 children, Awe’s sister works in finance, whereas his brothers are discovering out chemical engineering and laptop science.

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To advocate television was frowned upon until homework and school assignments had been achieved may very well be an understatement.

“I can inform you tales about every report card,” Awe instructed the Montreal Gazette this week. “I obtained too many Bs and Cs. It was accountability on the end of the day. I was good at school, nevertheless I was inventive and wanted to really focus and work on it. My mom and father made (education) a important issue.”

All through his 4 seasons at Texas Tech — one among his teammates was Kansas Metropolis quarterback Patrick Mahomes beneath head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who now guides the Arizona Cardinals — Awe accrued 171 tackles, along with 77 as a senior, when he was named a defensive captain.

Nonetheless Awe moreover graduated with a degree in petroleum engineering — oil and gasoline having some significance in Texas — a occupation which, if pursued, would pay handsomely and dwarf his CFL wage. Whereas Awe might however transform the president of Exxon, spending larger than half of each yr having fun with soccer has meant inserting his diploma to utilize solely as quickly as. He lasted decrease than 4 months on the School of Illinois, ostensibly as a consequence of spending 5 hours day-after-day driving to and from work.

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“If I wanted to generate revenue, there’s totally different points I could do,” the 28-year-old talked about. “Soccer to me is a microcosm of life and likewise you get a complete lot of life courses from soccer that you could be educate people. You uncover methods to bear getting decrease for no motive, or working in 99 diploma local weather.

“This isn’t regarding the money; it’s one factor deeper than that,” Awe added. “I’ve realized at present I have to make an affect on people. I do know soccer’s not going to supply me among the best money correct now, nevertheless within the occasion you are writing about me, what variety of children will that encourage? It sounds corny, nevertheless that’s your value on this world. Any youngster who hears my story or is undersized…”

It wasn’t simple combining athletics and education in school — Awe’s GPA was a modest 2.85 — nevertheless he missed only one apply over 4 seasons.

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“I’m not a genius, nevertheless I perceive methods to make points considerably simpler,” he outlined. “Every play’s simple in soccer and, within the occasion you simplify it, you need to make the most of your athleticism. My athleticism’s by the roof, nevertheless linebacker’s such a tricky place to utilize it because of there’s a complete lot of contemplating. For those who might make it simple, chances are you’ll’t be stopped.

“Whether or not or not I transform a petroleum engineer on the end of the day or not, it’s how I found. I found one of the simplest ways to take good notes, one of the simplest ways to get a complete lot of information and categorize it in my ideas.”

Awe’s nomadic soccer journey has taken him to Tampa Bay and the New York Jets inside the NFL — no video video games had been carried out — along with three stints at BC and stops in Toronto and Ottawa. He carried out one recreation this season with the Lions sooner than requesting his launch in late June, suspecting he was a sufferer ratio who would solely see the sector sporadically.

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Awe signed with the Als on July 6 — the similar day head coach Khari Jones and defensive co-ordinator Barron Miles had been fired. Having to shortly adapt to new DC Noel Thorpe would hardly disconcert the 6-foot, 216-pound; he had 5 fully totally different co-ordinators in school.

“He’s great wise and actually bodily,” frequent supervisor and interim head coach Danny Maciocia talked about. “He can run and might run to the ball.”

Firmly entrenched as a result of the Als’ heart linebacker, Awe has carried out three video video games with Montreal, recording 11 defensive tackles and one different on specific teams. He recovered a fumble at Ottawa on July 21, returning it 68 yards.

Whereas soccer stays Awe’s life, a minimal of for now, he wouldn’t have to be outlined solely for that. When COVID-19 canceled the 2020 CFL season, he launched an app, PurpleShift, providing athletes a shot at recruitment. It empowers and connects them, serving to them obtain publicity by the ability of data.

Nonetheless, for as long as he’s with the Als, Awe’s determined to make a distinction no matter this season’s struggles.

“I have to be good,” he talked about. “In every other case, why am I having fun with soccer? I really feel I’m good. I really feel I’m good. However when I’m not in the marketplace and people aren’t talking about me … I’m not doing correctly ample.”

hzurkowsky@postmedia.com

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