Joe Eppele has been biding his time and learning a lot early into his Canadian Football League (CFL) career with the Toronto Argonauts.
The Brackendale-born offensive lineman was chosen second overall in May's draft, but has yet to suit up to play for the Argos.
"It's kind of to be expected," he said. "As a rookie in this league, especially as an o-lineman, you need to earn your keep and pay your dues."
However, he said, he'd love the opportunity to don Toronto's blue and white jersey when he returns to his stomping grounds to take on the B.C. Lions on Sept. 11.
"It would be a dream come true to come back and play in front of my friends and family," said the six-foot-seven-inch, 290-pound athlete. "But I've got to keep my nose to the grindstone and continue to work hard in practice."
Eppele had to retune his skills when entering the CFL since he's been playing American rules football for the past several years while at a Washington college.
In Canada, the field is wider, the ball is bigger, there are three downs as opposed to four, and there's a yard between the defensive team and the ball of scrimmage whereas in the U.S. it's only 11 inches.
"It was a big adjustment at the start," he said. "It just took some time to get used to the different rules, but I'm pretty comfortable now."
The Argonauts are in the midst of a turnaround from a year ago when the team won only three games during the entire season. This year, they've already won five and seem poised to make a deep playoff run.
Eppele said he hasn't been surprised by the team's early success.
"We have a lot of talent here and a really great coaching staff that works well with the players."
Eppele said he's enjoyed his stay so far in Toronto.
"I love it out here," he said. "I've got a lot of family from Ontario that I've had the chance to reconnect with and it's good to be closer to them."
Eppele's mother, 麻豆社国产resident Carol-Ann Eppele, has been following the club and says she's impressed.
"It's been a lot of fun watching the Argos," she said. "They seem to be pulling it all together and are playing as a team."
Whether her son plays or not, Carol-Ann said she will definitely be at Empire Field when the Argos come to town.
Eppele said it's still uncertain whether he will make the trip, but either way, he won't have the chance to make a stopover in Squamish.
"As much as I'd like to, it's a business trip," he said. "I'll be busy practicing and focusing on the game if I'm out there. It's really a week-to-week thing, someone might get hurt so you never know if I'll get called upon. It would be nice though."
The Toronto Argonauts will take on the B.C. Lions on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. local time. For more information or tickets, visit www.bclions.com.
