Former Stamps long-snapper rides again
Playing for Saskatchewan allows Chevrier to ‘live in the moment’
It’s not easy being green. Especially that shade of green. If anyone should know this, it’s longtime Calgary Stampeders long-snapper Randy Chevrier. Yet, here he is, wearing ... green. As in Saskatchewan Roughriders green, which, in the Chevrier household, has always been worse than Edmonton Eskimos green.
“A lot of people I know are from Saskatchewan and they’re die-hard fans with a passion for football and their team like you don’t see across the CFL too much,” Chevrier said.
“It’s always intrigued me. They were always the bad guy, the enemy. My kids growing up, that’s all they knew was the Riders were the enemy. The Eskimos were kind of the enemy but dad played for the Eskimos (2002-03) so they weren’t totally the enemy.
“One of my kids is going to get my Eskimos Grey Cup ring when I die so they have to like them enough to at least wear the ring.”
When the Stamps drafted PierreLuc Caron out of Laval this spring, it appeared as though Chevrier’s long career had come to an end.
Until the Riders called the 40-year-old last week with longsnapper Dan MacDonald out with an injury. Chevrier made his debut with the Riders on the weekend.
“The Riders were always the sworn enemy, so it felt different,” he said of pulling on that green jersey. “But it felt pretty good. People who know me know that green has always been my favourite colour since I was a kid. My favourite superhero is the Green Lantern.
“I love experiences and moments and living in the moment. This is an opportunity to live in the moment. I’m playing for the other side.”
It’s like living in Whoville for more than a decade, then travelling up the mountain to move in with the Grinch (notice the green parallel).
A lot of Calgarians won’t get it. Not sure if his ball hockey team is on board, either.
“I play ball hockey with the Giants and they’re kind of upset that I signed because I’ll be missing a couple of games,” Chevrier said with a chuckle.
“I showed up for my medical and I had turf burns all down the side of my leg from sliding in ball hockey. The doc was really questioning what was going on there. I told him, ‘Hey, I go hard.’ ”
At least he won’t have to suit up against the team he spent 11 seasons with. And hey, the guy’s still in good enough shape to play pro ball at age 40.
“I like to keep in shape regardless,” Chevrier said. “I’m applying to get into the Calgary Fire Department. If I were to say that I’m in the exact same shape as I was when I played, that would be a lie. I’m not in the same shape as when I was in the stadium every single day flipping tires and smashing sledgehammers after practice.
“But I kept in pretty darn good shape knowing that what I’d be called on to do is to snap a ball anywhere from eight to 10 times a game, run down the ball maybe 40 yards, maybe make a tackle, maybe get smashed.”
Chevrier has always enjoyed working out and training for the game he loves.
When he served solely as a longsnapper, he’d train for more.
“When I played, and I was on a roster, I trained every year as if I was going to be a starting defensive tackle or a defensive end,” Chevrier. “I actually fooled myself every year into thinking I’d get a shot. That’s what kept me playing so long. I convinced myself I’d get a shot to play.
“Last year, after sitting a year on the bench in 2014, I legit convinced myself that if they gave me a shot to compete, I’d beat guys out.”
So is this it? Will these final three games put a bow on what has been an impressive career?
“I think I’ll always be ready if someone needs me,” Chevrier said.
“It’s always going to be a matter of if I can do it. But I don’t need to complete a circle or anything in order to feel complete. I won’t come back to Calgary and say, ‘Yeah, now (my career) is complete.’
“But I like to live in moments, something new, something fresh. Going to Saskatchewan was so invigorating. Everyone welcomed me. There’s a bunch of young, hungry guys who didn’t have the greatest season but they still go out and compete.
“I like to have fun and compete and this was another opportunity to do that. We’re not competing for the Grey Cup, but next week is the last game at Taylor Field and every fan is probably going to have tears in their eyes.
“I realized we have the opportunity to send them home with a good memory or a poor memory. I’m going to do what I can so that people will say the last game at Taylor Field was a memorable occasion.”
I like to have fun and compete and this was another opportunity to do that. We’re not competing for the Grey Cup, but next week is the last game at Taylor Field and every fan is probably going to have tears in their eyes.