Sitting alone in the visiting locker-room at Tim Horton’s Field in Hamilton last November, offensive lineman David Brown knew the news wasn’t going to be good.

The doc delivered the diagnosis: an ACL injury.

“After the game, I got an MRI,” said Brown. “Once we got the results back that’s when we knew it was an ACL.

“I was the last guy there and I talked to coach Marshall. He came in, saw me on the table, and it was just a great moment.

“We all just won a championship together, his first as a coach, and to be a part of bringing that for him as one of the best coaches in Canada, it was awesome.”

A bittersweet moment for Brown, who had just battled his way through the Vanier Cup to help the Western Mustangs defeat the Laval Rouge et Or 39-17.

Brown suffered the injury early in the game, but was able to keep fighting despite the pain.

“I knew what happened – it was the second play of the game and I heard my knee pop,” explained Brown. “I tried to play the rest of the series, but my knee just kept shifting and coming out of place. The trainer told me he couldn’t do anything for me without going inside and I wasn’t about to go inside.

“The first half was just about survival.

“At halftime I got an injection and got a great tape job from our trainer Rob Walsh. After that I felt like myself, it acted like a brace and it became a lot easier to play with it.”

Due to the injury, Brown was unsure if he’d even be in the CFL draft conversation.

But then he and his family watched on TSN as the Stampeders announced his name with their fourth-round selection.

“It was awesome,” Brown said. “It was a great experience, honestly. I saw my name on the screen and then I got the call from coach DelMonaco and my whole family exploded. It was a great feeling that I’ll never forget.”

Although Brown can’t participate in football activities still, he opted to join the team in Calgary for training camp.

The rookie is able to participate in the meetings, learn the terminology, and get a better understanding of what is required to play at the highest level.

“There’s definitely some silver linings,” admitted Brown. “I get to really get a chance to build my body and be as well prepared for the program as I possibly can be for next year. I also get a preview of what it’s going to be like when I’m here next year and I can see what it takes to be successful as a Stampeder.”

“I’ve been trying to learn and absorb as much as I possibly can. I’ve been trying to learn from the vets and learn from coach Pat and learn as much as I possibly can, so come 2019 I can be as well prepared as possible and come in and try to contribute.”