It’s a new year and we’ve got plenty of new faces on the roster.
With that in mind, let’s get to know the members of the 2019 Stampeders team.
Next up: Courtney Stephen
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 199 lbs
Birthdate: 10/27/1989
Born: Brampton, ON
School: Northern Illinois
When did you start playing football?
I started playing football when I was eight years old. I picked it up because my older brother was playing football, and that’s how I got introduced to the game. I started like most people – playing O Line –because when you’re eight years old everybody is the same size, that didn’t last long. I’ve been playing football for 22 years now.
What is your favourite thing about the game of football?
A lot of people don’t know what they want to do with their life, but they have a lot of energy inside of them. I feel like sports and mainly football is one of those opportunities every single day to put a lot of energy into something where you can measure your progress, get better, challenge yourself, and see improvement. There are not a lot of places in the world where you can do that, and be passionate about what you’re working towards.
What is your favourite drill and why?
I like catching the ball, because as a DB you don’t get to do it a lot. Anything where you get to track the ball in the air, jump up super high and catch it and feel like a super star – that’s the best.
Who has been you biggest football mentor?
I can’t single out one person but you don’t make it this far in football by yourself. At different phases there’s always people that help you get to that next step: My coaches along the way, my brother who played football, my other brother who shot my videos, my sister who would take me to the gym, my mom who used to pay for me, my coaches who used to pick me up and drive me, there’s a lot of them.
What is the funniest thing you’ve ever seen on a football field?
I don’t know if this is funny, or if it’s kind of gross. I was playing with Emmanuel Davis once upon a time. Before the play he actually threw up, I was playing corner, and he was playing field half and I’m like ‘Hey E are you ok?’. He didn’t say anything, he just put his mouth guard in, and then they threw the ball and he got a pick six. It was crazy, I thought it was funny, you don’t see that too often.
If you could have been there for one event in history, what would it be?
If I could have been there for one event in history, I would have loved to be in the studio when they made some mega hit that will never die. It would have been cool to have been in the studio when they made Super Freak with Rick James.
If you could have lunch with any three people – dead or alive – who would you pick?
Definitely Nipsey Hussle, because he was somebody of this generation who was able to play on both sides of the fence: having a whole lot of respect, but standing up for things of value.
I’d also like to get together with my grandparents. I never met most of them. I think it’s good to know where you come from, it’s a big part of what makes you, you.
The third person would be Pharrell Williams. He’s somebody who you can’t put in a box, he does music, producing, he does fashion. He’s able to cross over and do what he really wants and not be confined to what people think he is. I think that’s a big part of developing your own identity and being successful it’s just being yourself – and he’s the king of that.
If you won $10 million, what would be your first purchase?
I’d pay my mortgage off. If you pay your mortgage off and you got money leftover you can do whatever you want. I’d also invest in something, I’d make sure that $10 million turns itself into $50 million – then we’ll talk.