THE CANADIAN PRESS
SURREY, B.C. — Sean Whyte was a 17-year-old with a strong leg and a limited understanding of football the first time Wally Buono saw him kick.
"He had tremendous power," the B.C. Lions coach and general manager said with a smile Tuesday. "When a kid has power, you can do the rest."
Over the next eight years there were many times when Whyte wondered if he’d ever get the chance to play in the CFL. Now, with veteran kicker Paul McCallum out with a knee injury, Whyte’s dream will become a reality.
The 25-year-old will handle both the placekicking and punting for the Lions when they play the Edmonton Eskimos at Commonwealth Stadium Thursday.
"Everybody said I had a future in it, if I just stuck with it," said Whyte. "It took a lot of sacrifice and a lot of patience.
"This is a dream. Everyone always said to stay ready, your opportunity would come when you least expect it."
Standing just five-foot-nine, and listed at 175 pounds, the sandy-haired Whyte looks more like someone’s little brother than a football player. He has played pre-season games for the Lions, and if he’s nervous about his first regular-season start, he did a good job of hiding it while talking to reporters.
"I’ve had two good pre-season games," he said. "I’m just going to build on that. The only thing that will make me better is game experience. I’m just going to continue to get better and better."
While Whyte was booming kicks at the Lions practice, McCallum sat on a bench with his right knee in a brace. He had an MRI Monday but is waiting for more results.
The 39-year-old said he expects to be out a minimum of six to eight weeks. If the knee requires surgery, his season could be over.
McCallum still plans to play next year.
"I still think I have three years, at least, left," said the 16-year veteran who scored a career-high 187 points last season. "With how I was kicking here the last game before I got hurt, I think I still have depth and strength in my leg.
"I’m only going to retire when I’m not having fun, if I’m not contributing or no team wants me."
McCallum was hurt trying to tackle Marquay McDaniel on a punt return during the Lions 31-28 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday. Besides injuring his knee, he also cracked a bone in his wrist.
Growing up, Whyte played mostly rugby. He was fly-half who also handled the kicking. It wasn’t until the coach of the White Rock Titans minor football team asked him to play that Whyte tried the gridiron.
"I watched the Lions (but) I wasn’t the biggest football fan," said Whyte. "I loved to play the game but I didn’t understand it that much."
Also playing on the White Rock team was Buono’s son Michael. That’s when the Lions coach first saw Whyte.
Buono kept tabs on Whyte.
He attended Santa Monica Junior College and also played junior football with the Surrey Rams of the British Columbia Football Conference.
Eventually, Buono invited Whyte to the Lions training camp.
Whyte spent both 2007 and 2008 on the B.C. practice roster. There were times Whyte thought about quitting.
"I thought I had a decent camp again this year," he said. "I thought I could at least take the kickoffs. When that didn’t happen it played with my mind a little.
"I then heard things of Winnipeg wanting me. As an athlete, you just want to play."
It was his loyalty to Buono that kept Whyte in Vancouver.
"Wally has a lot of confidence in me and he spent a lot of time with me," Whyte said. "I kind of have some loyalty toward him.
"He found me. Now it’s happening and I can tell he’s very confident with me. It takes all the pressure off me."
One area Whyte needed to improve was his punting. He credits his kicking coach, former CFL great Don Sweet, with helping him.
"It’s a totally different technique," Whyte said. "Until this off-season I hated punting. I just didn’t feel comfortable with it.
"But I worked with my coach, and he said you have to learn to love it. I do love it now. I’m comfortable with it now, just as much as I am with my field goals."
The Lions head into Edmonton winless in their first two games of the season.
Buono said Whyte has earned his chance to play.
"I expect him to be really good at his trade," he said. "He’s put a lot of time and effort into it.
"Every time he’s been given an opportunity he has come through very well for us. The thing about Sean is, he has excellent skill and tremendous power and he understands how to use it."
While Whyte worked on his kicking Tuesday, McCallum dished out some advice.
The veteran shrugged when asked if he has any concerns about the rookie taking away his job.
"I can’t be worried if he’ll take my job," said McCallum. "It’s not my call. He’s worked hard and has done well. This is his opportunity. He has to make the most of it."
