Commerce program tipped the scales
However, while all except New Brunswick-based Mount Allison are much closer to his home in Niagara Falls, the highly regarded commerce program tipped the scales overwhelmingly in the Kingston school’s favour.
“I just think with the education and also with the team, Queen’s is just a better fit for me,” Spadafora said. “I think the extra (time) traveling will be worth it.”
Spadafora, now in his second season with Niagara Spears, played both ways in his four years at Myer, but he prefers to line up on the offensive side of the ball.
“There’s more to the game,” Spadafora said. “You get to see everything come together.”
Queen’s also sees Spadafora contributing on offence alongside Josh Mosley, a Lakeshore Catholic graduate who is returning for a second season with the Golden Gaels.
“He’s built like a CFL guard. He and Josh could be the left side of our line,” Sheahan said.
Spadafora first appeared on the Kingston university’s radar two years, when the Golden Gaels, along with other schools, were scouting quarterback Tre Ford and twin brother Tyrell.
Sheahan recalled that he couldn’t help notice “big guys,” such as Spadafora, who gave the Fords the time they needed to move the chains.
“I thought he was a pretty dominant player,” Sheahan said of Spadafora.
He becomes the eighth member of the 2016 Ontario champion Marauders team to earn an athletic scholarship, which are limited to student athletes who achieve at least 80 per cent in their final year of high school.
Spadafora said he knew what was expected of football players at Myer from the start of his high school playing career.
“Right from the get go, right from when I got here in Grade 9, they don’t want anything besides perfection and working toward team greatness,” he said. “We practised every day and it was just like work hard and you’ll get rewarded for it.”
The coaching staff ’s concern for Queen’s University head football coach Pat Sheahan the players extends beyond the gridiron. Myer’s guidance department also is involved in the development of the players, helping to ensure that “student” comes before “athlete” in student athlete.
“They make sure we get things done in the classroom,” Spadafora said. “Mr. (Jamie) French in guidance, he can check up on all of our marks to make sure we’re getting things done in the classroom.”
Spadafora said coaches don’t use high marks as a carrot for more playing time on the field.
“No, nothing like that, but if your marks are too low you’re not going to get any playing time.”
ANDREW DAMPF
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ROME — Andre De Grasse isn’t interested in taking over from Usain Bolt as the world’s best sprinter when the eight-time Olympic champion retires later this year. He’s ready now. “I’m trying to win this year. I feel like I have a great chance and that’s what I want to do,” De Grasse told The Associated Press ahead of Thursday’s Golden Gala Pietro Mennea meet, where the Canadian will run the 200 metres.
Bolt won’t be running in Rome, but De Grasse is looking forward to racing the Jamaican great at the world championships in London in August.
“I feel like I have a great chance in both events — 100 or 200,” De Grasse said. “If I can execute my race and I’m in top shape I feel like I can do that.”
The 22-year-old De Grasse took silver behind Bolt in the 200 at the OlympicsinRiodeJaneiroandbronze behind Bolt and Justin Gatlin in the 100. Having also anchored Canada to a bronze medal in the 4x100 relay in Rio, De Grasse became the first Canadian sprinter to win three medals in a single Olympics.
De Grasse pushed Bolt so hard in the semifinals of the 200 in Rio that Bolt acknowledged it was draining and prevented him from improving his world record a night later.
So what would it take to beat Bolt in the 100 in August?
“No idea. It’s anybody’s game. You can’t name a time,” De Grasse said. “It’s always about weather and conditions and those types of things. But it’s going to obviously take a well-executed race. I have to be at the top of my game and if I can do that I can do something special.”
De Grasse is working on improving his starts, which also happens to be the only area that Bolt struggles in.
“If I can have a great start and try to hold the lead that would be great,” De Grasse said. “My top-end speed is good. It’s all about finding the right factors to go out there and win.”
As a teen, De Grasse ran one of his first races wearing basketball shorts and borrowed shoes. He stood up in the blocks while others crouched. It launched his career and led him to signing a big contract with Puma — the same company that sponsors Bolt.
“I was a basketball guy growing up so most of my guys that I looked up to were in the NBA like Allen Iverson and Vince Carter,” said De Grasse, who was born in Ontario to Caribbean parents. “I never really had any track fanatics growing up that I idolized.”
He’s built like a CFL guard. He and Josh (Mosley) could be the left side of our line.”