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April 21, 2017

Lions Roar Echos Far South

Bedford, Texas– The first sign came Friday morning when Neil McEvoy and Ryan Rigmaiden were having breakfast in the hotel lobby.

“I watch you guys Friday night on ESPN all the time,” said a fellow hotel guest from Kansas.

“I love the entertainment value of your games. A team is never out of it,” he added.

It continued when they, along with Geroy Simon and regional scout Harrison Ritcher arrived at Pennington Field in Bedford, Texas for the first leg of their free agent camps held this weekend.

Among those in attendance was Louis Fite who serves as a personal trainer for a couple of the players from Friday’s camp.

Fite, who hails from nearby Waco, spent time as a running back with the Baltimore Stallions Grey Cup-winning squad in 1995 and suited up for eight games in 1996 when the franchise was in its first year as the re-born Montreal Alouettes.

“It was amazing just playing with the likes of Tracy Ham and Elfrid Payton,” said Fite.

“The CFL fit my speed and character and those guys helped me learn.”

Fite joined the Stallions in 1995 and was not part of the squad that lost the 82nd Grey Cup to the Lions a year earlier.

Along with collecting a championship ring, Fite also learned a thing or two about the BC Lions as an organization.

“What impresses me most about the BC Lions is the loyalty they have to their players. I don’t see too many guys getting cut during the season like I do with other teams up there. The Lions have also been willing to give guys second and third chances. That speaks volumes of how much character they have. Their coaches are great guys too. You can call them anytime to talk about a player.”

I just surpassed my one-year anniversary working with the club and one of the most unique things I have learned is how much respect this great league gets south of the border.full

Exposure on ESPN certainly helps that cause, as evidenced by the Friday morning breakfast chat.

But for players of Fite’s ilk whose only real “crime” was being a little too small for a long NFL career, that respect is multiplied.

“The CFL is its own entity and that’s important,” explained Fite.

“It doesn’t try to be the NFL. I tell young guys at these camps when I explain to them about Canada are not to look at it as not making it to the NFL. It’s a professional league. It’s great football.”

As far as teammates who made the biggest impact on him, Fite couldn’t say enough great things about OJ Brigance.

The one-time Lion is battling ALS and holds the distinction of being the only player to win a Grey Cup and a Super Bowl ring in the same city. He was part of the Baltimore Ravens championship squad in the 2000 NFL season.

“OJ was the most influential player I ever saw,” stated Fite. “He is the kind of guy I aspire to be and I continue to send prayers to his family.”

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Brigance was presented with a personalized Lions jersey ahead of the Ravens’ second Super Bowl win four years ago. Despite his illness, Brigance was still working in the Ravens’ front office.

Fite was recovering from back surgery and could not attend the Stallions’ 20-year Grey Cup anniversary in 2015. He still manages to keep up with plenty members of that squad.

“Being the first US team to win that Grey Cup is something we will always cherish. That was amazing for me to experience that.”

The brass will be in Atlanta Saturday and Washington, DC Sunday. There will no doubt be plenty more astute CFL and BC Lions followers those places.

 Canadian Content In Dallas

 McEvoy and Simon were keeping a close eye on Grambling State’s Abu Conteh in Dallas. The defensive back grew up in Winnipeg before moving south to Minnesota at age 17.

It was then where he decided to take up football for the first time. Conteh has not given up the prospects of IMG_0627finding a free agent NFL deal after this months draft but admits he has thought about the possibility of the Lions calling his name May 7th.

“It would be very exciting to be drafted by the Lions,” said Conteh. “I have an aunt that lives in the Vancouver area so she would be able to watch me play. Right now I would be grateful to have any opportunity to play in the league.”

Along with the proximity to his school in Louisiana, Conteh’s girlfriend lives in Dallas so that made the opportunity to try out and get some pre-draft reps. in a lot easier.

“I thought I did okay in the basic drills like the shuttle and 40-yard dash,” said Conteh of Friday’s workout. “It’s a good experience just to be out here with the BC scouts. Football is something I love doing so the chance to pursue my career in the pros is not something I take lightly.”

Matt Baker:mbaker@bclions.com