Tim Fajardo was in Montreal on Saturday to see his son Cody in action for the first time in an Alouettes uniform. As if by magic, the quarterback has regained the legs that once made him a dangerously agile athlete on the field.
“I almost felt like I was in college carrying the ball, my legs were rested,” Fajardo admitted after the 27-12 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Division semifinals. I’m happy that the coaches have trusted me to put the ball in my hands. As a child, you dream of having the ball when it comes to an important game.
• Also read: The Alouettes advance to the Eastern final
• Also read: Should this “sore loser” be banned from the CFL?
No doubt inspired by the presence of his father, grandmother and two uncles in the stands at Percival Molson Stadium, the California native Fajardo could also explain his surprising ground play with this tendency to sacrifice himself in playoff games.
“I talked a lot about getting a second chance [chez les Alouettes] “And when you have the opportunity to play in a playoff game, you have to do everything you can to make sure you get another week in the locker room with those guys,” the quarterback said, immediately praising the defensive unit’s work in the win Saturday. I play every game as if it were my last because you never know when your career will end.”
Photo Martin Chevalier
“I think people often forget how comfortable he is at running,” noted head coach Jason Maas, who was proud to see his protégé rush for 62 yards in four games on the ground. It’s the playoffs and there is no tomorrow. You give everything you have and think less about protecting yourself. In my eyes, Cody played the way he was supposed to.”
Family pride
When things weren’t going well for the Saskatchewan Roughriders last year, Fajardo, 31, received support from his family, including his father, a former Texas Tech University football player.
“I grew up wanting to make my family proud by playing football, and I think I did it,” said the Alouettes quarterback, who played in the NCAA at the University of Nevada. It means a lot to me to see my family in the stands. Football kept us close. During the game, it was special to look into the stands and see my dad, who knew how to push me. Even last year he told me to keep working.”
Although Fajardo admits Saturday’s win was some relief, he allows himself to dream about the weeks ahead, even though he knows the challenge against the Argonauts next weekend in Toronto in the East final will be enormous .
“I dreamed a few times this year that we would win the Gray Cup and I know this team is talented enough to do it,” he said.
Victim
As for Maas, he will not hesitate to ask Fajardo to run again if it can help the Alouettes defeat the Argos.
Cody Fajardo and Alouettes head coach Jason Maas. Photo Martin Chevalier
“This time of year you do everything you can to get a first down,” the head coach noted. Whatever you have to do to keep the offense on the field, you do it, you sacrifice.”
In addition to Fajardo’s work on the field, Maas also praised the work he does before every game. That sometimes includes showing up as early as 6 a.m. to prepare with the offensive coordinator. This is undoubtedly what he needs to do this week to properly analyze the Argonauts defense.