CFL shows its best side on awards night, honouring players finally given a chance

WINNIPEG – The Lions, Cowboys and Packers hogged the football limelight on televisions both sides of the border on U.S. Thanksgiving. But the CFL put on an impressive show of its own, albeit one only streamed live to hardcore fans.

Thursday night’s CFL awards show highlighted players who got their chance to shine north of the border. The winners were a testament to what can be accomplished if you believe in yourself.

B.C. Lions linebacker Adam Bighill, named the league’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player, recalled being all but ignored by U.S. college recruiters in high school.

“A coach came by my school and watched practice. And afterwards (he) said if I was two inches taller, he would have given me a scholarship,” said the five-foot-10 Bighill. “So you can imagine how that must have felt.”

Bighill, who ended up playing at Central Washington, led the CFL in tackles with 121 this season.

Ottawa Redblacks behemoth SirVincent Rogers was once released by the Hartford Colonials of the now-defunct United Football League and helped the Arizona Rattlers win the Arena League championship.

On Thursday, the six-foot-four 319-pounder was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman. In accepting the award, he thanked God, his family, Redblacks management and teammates with shout-outs for every one of his fellow linemen.

Rogers, 29, has plenty to be thankful for.

“It really hasn’t set in,” he said of winning the award. “Just the journey to get to this point has been a lot of work. Just a lot, man.

“For me to get to this point, I’m just truly grateful.”

Redblacks receiver Brad Sinopoli, a former star quarterback at the University of Ottawa, was cut by the Calgary Stampeders in 2012.

“To be honest with you, at that time I didn’t think I’d ever play another down of football in my life,” Sinopoli said.

Given a new lease of life as a receiver, Sinopoli was honoured Thursday as the league’s Most Outstanding Canadian.

“I’m extremely lucky to be back in the league and I’m lucky to be on a team with the opportunities I’ve been given,” he said. “I’m always going to be grateful for that.”

Redblacks quarterback Henry Burris won his second Most Outstanding Player award. It was sweet vindication for the 40-year-old who was cast aside by both Calgary and Hamilton in recent years.

“You have to deal with the ups and downs,” said Burris, who knows the business side of football all too well.

“There’s been so many guys who’ve been released and been through difficult times,” he added. “And I’ve been right there with those guys. Maybe not as tough as others because I’ve been able to find a place of employment, been able to go out and share my gift.

“But I tell you at the end of the day, it’s just as special. And hopefully now, the fact that I’ve been able to make it happen, guys can see that if you take care of your body, what you put into it is what you’ll get out of it at the end of the day.”

For Bighill, Thursday’s win was the kicker to a five-year teachable moment.

“What I’ve learned in life and what I’ve learned though football is people can measure you by your height and your weight, your speed or your hand size. But they can’t measure your heart,” he said with passion. “They can’t measure how bad you really want it. And they can’t measure how hard you’re going to work.

“That’s something I’ve really had pride in myself. So for all young athletes out there, all young people, don’t let anyone determine what you can do. Live your dreams, fulfil them with tenacity and don’t ever let anybody tell you you can’t do something.”

Rogers paid tribute to his late mother, who used to call him before every game “to tell me to go hard or go home.”

“So I just want to say ‘Thank you Mom. I’m still trying to go hard.’ Thank you.”

Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter