A change of heart?
Coulter Woodmansey bled Double Blue, but now a Ticat
Coulter Woodmansey grew up an Argonauts fan, became a part of the team’s history through his grandfather, the legendary Dr. Robert Jackson, and suited up as a member of the Junior Argos program.
His entire family has a deep connection to the Junior Argos. Woodmansey coaches one of the teams, while his dad, Geoff, serves on the board of directors. Two of Coulter’s younger brothers have also played for them.
Those ties will forever link Woodmansey with the Double Blue, even though he’s now with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats after the club used the fifth overall selection to select the offensive lineman out of the University of Guelph.
In time, Woodmansey will learn and absorb the long history associated with TigerTown. He may even be part of the Ticats’ first Grey Cup title since 1999.
Coulter thoroughly enjoys the coaching aspect of working with kids.
“It’s really rewarding,” said Woodmansey, who oversees the O-line. “It’s quite awesome because you form this connection with players. What’s cool is how I first coached these guys when they were in Grade 10 and now they are going into university. One actually signed at Guelph.”
As it turns out, Woodmansey began to dream about a pro career in football when he and his family attended the 100th Grey Cup played in Toronto.
Two years earlier, Dr. Jackson, a pioneer in medicine but also a philanthropist whose legacy is second to none, died following a courageous battle with cancer.
Dr. Jackson was the CFL Argos’ team physician for 15 years, beginning in 1975.
Coulter’s mom wanted to maintain the Jackson heritage and would name one of her kids Jackson.
“It’s hard to put into words how amazing he was as a man and as a person,’’ Coulter said of his grandfather. “He passed away when I was pretty young. I don’t know if anyone can fill those shoes. He got an Order of Canada, helped create the Paralympic team, he did some pretty incredible things.”
Coulter’s youngest sibling is Jaden, a Grade 12 student at Northern Secondary, while another brother, Curtis, is a defensive lineman at Guelph.
Football runs deep in the Woodmansey household where the competition among the boys was just as intense as any game Coulter would play, whether it was at the high school level at Northern or on the university stage representing Guelph.
Toronto is home for the Woodmansey family and the Argos were a big part in their daily routine culminating with that 2012 Grey Cup.
In the hours leading up to kickoff, Woodmansey took part in a football event involving the Junior Argos just outside the BMO Field on one of the side streets.
“There was a little grass turf,’’ said Coulter. “And it was pretty cool. That was one of the coolest memories I have. It was amazing.”
And then Coulter got see the Argos win a championship, an inspirational moment that would fuel his dream.
“For sure,’’ he said. “To see people play at that level, an incredible enthusiasm coming from the stadium and to be at a game I love in football. All my family are Argos fans. And to know my grandfather was involved, it was definitely extremely memorable.”
Northern has produced its share of CFL players going back to the days of the late Leif Pettersen, Neil Lumsden, Ken Evraire and Matt Black, a former Argos DB who moved upstairs with the club last offseason following his retirement.
Woodmansey is part of that Northern lineage.
“Playing football there was great,’’ he said. “We were on a lot of good teams. We never won a championship (often foiled by Richview), but we had a couple of undefeated seasons going in (to the playdowns). Great coaching, which helped me prepare for the next level. The friends I met remain friends to this day.”
At Northern, Woodmansey played both ways. But it was on the O-line where he excelled.
“I was always a huge kid, taller and bigger than most (of his peers) and that’s where they (coaches) wanted you,’’ said Woodmansey. “I love physical play and it (playing O-line) kind of went hand in hand. I meshed well with offensive lineman. In my opinion, they were the best guys on a football team.”
He got to understand the blocking technique of ‘pancaking’ and its importance when imposing one’s will at the line of scrimmage.
“That’s the term that’s been thrown out since I was a little kid,’’ said Woodmansey. “I think I was in Grade 6 when they wanted me to do that. Coaches would always say how every time you do one (pancake an opponent) I’ll buy you one (a real pancake people normally eat for breakfast).
“Never a single time I had ever been given a pancake since I’ve played football. I love that term. If you’re playing the O-line and you’re not trying to get pancakes I don’t know what you’re doing.”