Yesterday morning there was a party in the gymnasium of Gardenview Elementary School in the Saint-Laurent district. Some of the facility's 900 students waited for the Gray Cup and two Alouettes players to arrive.
In the front row, a five-year-old kindergarten boy named Kingston wore a reigning Canadian soccer champion jersey with the number 31 emblazoned on the back. Her mother, Cailyn, sat in the back, her two-year-old daughter, Charlie, on her lap.
It was, you guessed it, the family of running back William Stanback, who appeared in the room accompanied by the hulking Jamar McGloster, his state's offensive lineman. The children, who wanted to know how tall he was, simultaneously let out a loud scream when McGloster told them he was six feet tall.
And 308 pounds well counted!
Second home
The two Alouettes color bearers were happy to be there. Stanback is from Hempstead Township on Long Island. He attended high school in Uniondale, once home of the New York Islanders, but hockey wasn't his thing.
Montreal is his second home. His connection to the Montreal community is strong.
In 2019 and 2021, he led Canadian League running backs with rushing and aerial gains totaling over 2,600 yards in both seasons. But in 2022 he fell victim to a terrible blow of fate when he suffered a left ankle injury in the opening game in Calgary. He was sidelined for six games and finished the season with 153 yards on 34 carries.
Last year he racked up 800 yards on 147 carries. He missed one game due to a wrist injury, then had to sit out two games.
Despite his good service record and good performance during the Gray Cup game, his future with the Alouettes is not assured. If he does not sign a contract by February 13th, he will become a free agent.
The situation doesn't seem to embitter him. He speaks calmly about it and still considers himself a full member of the organization. His presence at the activity at his son's school is proof of this. He signed numerous autographs and posed with anyone who asked, from students to teachers and principals of the school and the school board.
A real professional, this Mr. Stanback.
Arrival of a Super Bowl champion
And where are his contract negotiations with Danny Maciocia?
“We’re talking, things are moving forward,” he says, without going into details.
“I always feel welcome in Montreal. I can only say good things about the Alouettes. If I get the opportunity to continue my career here, you will see me very happy.
“My goal is to reach an agreement that is satisfactory for both sides.”
Canadian League salaries are not in the millions. According to the website 3 DownNation.com, Stanback would have been paid $160,000 last season.
However, there is a salary cap for CFL teams.
In late November, Maciocia said he would have to choose between Stanback and his two other running backs, Jeshrun Antwi and Walter Fletcher, who are on the sidelines next season.
However, within hours of my meeting with Stanback, the Alouettes announced that they had signed Mike Weber, who won a Super Bowl ring in 2020 as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad.
This could complicate the picture for Stanback.
Eternal recognition
But whatever happens, Stanback will remain grateful to the Alouettes.
“I tried my luck in the National League (Green Bay Packers) without success. “The Alouettes were the first organization that gave me a real chance to prove myself,” he said.
“I play a wonderful sport with a good team. My years with the Alouettes have allowed me to become the best version of myself, both as a person and as a player.”
In the meantime, Stanback and his family continue to enjoy happy days in Montreal. His partner is in the winter, she is from Atlanta, Georgia and has lived here for two years.
“I love the city,” says Stanback.
“I got used to the French language and the culture of the city. People like me and I can say the same thing about them.”