In the world of football clichés, a retiring player is said to be hanging up his cleats.

Simon Charbonneau-Campeau, however, is just setting them aside for the time being. A part of the Stampeders’ receiving corps for the past three seasons, Charbonneau-Campeau is taking time out from his football career to complete his degree at Universite de Sherbrooke.

“I had until 2018 to complete my degree,” explains Charbonneau-Campeau, “and with me heading into my free-agent year, now seemed like the right time to make the move as opposed to just signing for one season and then returning to school a year from now.

“The hope is that I’ll be able to resume my career once I’m done with university. Who knows what will happen down the road, but that’s the plan as of now.”

Other players have managed to combine football and schooling but Charbonneau-Campeau’s major – biotech engineering – made double duty impossible.

“With my course load, I have a lot of lab work and it’s just not something I can do on-line or through a correspondence course,” he says. “Believe me, I looked into every option and possibility and there was just no way I could be a football player and a full-time student.”

Simon Charbonneau-Campeau and Jerome Messam celebrate during a Canada Day game in 2016 (Photo by David Moll)

He’ll still get a taste of football however as he will be coaching the receivers for Universite de Sherbrooke’s Vert et Or, the team with which Charbonneau-Campeau set a number of school records and twice earned conference-MVP honours.

As for academic life, Charbonneau-Campeau has given a lot of thought about how he’ll put his degree to good use.

“I don’t want to say that I’m planning to change the world, but I’d really like to make a difference, especially in my home province,” says the St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., native. “I’d like to work in areas such as renewable energy sources and climate change research.”

Because it’s quite possible he’ll return to CFL fields someday, Charbonneau-Campeau isn’t ready to nostalgically reminisce about his playing career. But he’s proud of what he’s accomplished so far.

Will Langlais, Pierre-Luc Caron, Adam Thibault and Simon Charbonneau-Campeau pose for the camera at 2016 media day

He already beat the odds by playing five CFL seasons after being a fourth-round selection in the 2012 CFL draft. After two seasons in Hamilton, he no longer fit in the Ticats’ plans and was traded to Calgary for a player – Spencer Armstrong – who was released before playing a single game for the Tabbies.

Injuries cut his 2015 season short – he saw action in just three games – but he played a full season in 2016 and recorded career highs in catches, yardage and touchdowns. His season included a couple of highlight-reel plays including one of the catches of the year – an acrobatic move to haul in a pass and stay inbounds for a touchdown – and an onside kick attempt returned for a touchdown in Hamilton.

“I’d be proud if people would look at me as a story of perseverance and how important it is to never give up,” says Charbonneau-Campeau. “Here I am as a fourth-round pick and a really thin receiver and I was able to make it as a professional football player. And I was able to go to the Grey Cup three times in five years.

“I remember soon after I arrived in Calgary, Dave Dickenson came to me and admitted, ‘I never realized how good a good a player you were until now.’ That meant a lot. I’m appreciative that Hamilton gave me the chance to play in the CFL and I’m very grateful that the Stampeders brought me in and gave me a chance to play in Calgary for three years.

“Who knows what will happen when I’m done with school but I’m really proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish in the CFL.”