Editor’s note: This is the first of a season long player blog from Winnipeg’s first-overall pick Henoc Muamba. Check back regularly to read the thoughts and experiences of the rookie linebacker.
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Training camp is now done; that’s how I want to think about it. I’m still trying to get used to the new life right now, but I am definitely enjoying every bit of it.
Practices are organized completely different from those in university. It is evident now that this is work, playing pro ball. The practices are very efficient and drills are repetitive in our quest to become perfect at each, which will lead to good performances on game days and ultimately the Grey Cup!
Camp schedule was very busy. We had two practices a day and two meetings as well. Spare time was a rare commodity and needed to be spent wisely. We had time to eat, and in our own time we used it to rest, take care of minor injuries/therapy, study the playbook, talk to family and friends and a lot of the free time is usually used to catch a quick nap.
The majority of the team was lodged at the Canad Inns hotel near the stadium to facilitate transportation. Now that the regular season is about to start veterans are starting to move into their own places. I am just beginning the house hunting process.
I’ve always been a hard working person and I know very well about the importance of it, but this is a new kind of hard work at the highest level in this sport. It demands more of me, not only physically but also mentally. This is a challenge I have prepared for my entire life and am excited to undertake.
It was a long camp but before I knew it the first preseason game arrived. Finally I’d get to knock helmets with people other than my teammates, someone who had a different jersey than myself. My first preseason game was against the Montreal Alouettes — the 2010 Grey Cup champs was the team that I would use to measure up my skills.
As much as the media talked about how much much pressure I had as the No. 1 pick in the draft, I didn’t feel as much when kickoff time came. I accomplished this by spending a lot off time preparing for the game mentally. I kept myself in my playbook, and meditated a lot, read a few Bible verses and prayed.
Lefko on Muamba: Rookie’s life story reads like a best seller | Read it here
I stepped on the field with my emotions controlled. It was really hard to do with the amount of excitement I felt pregame, during the warm ups and when the first whistle blew.
The crowd was really loud and it felt great to be a game. I felt comfortable in the special teams I took part in. Unfortunately in one of them I was taken out of the game after I injured my knee. Despite that, I enjoyed my first preseason game and cannot wait for the next game I play in.