TORONTO – They say that one person’s unhappiness makes another person’s happiness. Without being directly happy about the Alouettes’ difficulties, Argonauts standard-bearer Benoît Marion was of course very pleased with his team’s dominance on Saturday in Toronto.
“Montreal holds an important place in my heart, but I’m very, very happy in Toronto, even though we have a very good team,” Marion admitted with a smile after her team’s 39-10 win.
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As a defensive lineman who can also be used on special teams, Marion has enjoyed great success with the Argos for almost two years. The former Université de Montréal Carabins was selected in the third round by the Alouettes in the 2020 draft and was trying to find his place at his hometown club. However, he was released by the Alouettes at the end of training camp in 2021, becoming a rare Quebecer to slip through the cracks of the Montreal organization.
Photo Benoit Rioux
“I didn’t take that personally,” Marion commented. This is the reality of professional sports and the Canadian Football League. There will always be players who miss out. I’m not the only one this happened to. But if I play against them, maybe there’s something special about it.”
Marion, 27, could well have decided to give up soccer after being released by the Alouettes, but the 6-foot-2 giant. 5 inches. eventually managed to establish himself with the Argonauts and won a Gray Cup in the process.
A family sold to the Argonauts
On the field at BMO Field after Saturday’s game, it was the entire Marion family proudly displaying the colors of the Toronto team that was crowned 2022 champions. The player’s sister, Paule, could not believe that she was not photographed by a Quebec media in clothing with the image of a club from… Toronto.
“Benoît has worked so hard to get where he is,” his father Yves said proudly. He is successful, he is doing well, he is well integrated into the team and we are very, very happy with him. Benoit has been a team player since he was young.”
In the Argonauts locker room, his teammates teased the red-bearded man by hearing him speak in French during this interview.
“We have a unified locker room, we have established a culture where every player has confidence in his teammates,” said Argos number 93. When all three phases of our team function and we work together, we are successful. Our offense can put a lot of points on the field, our defense can stop anyone and our special teams make big plays and cause turnovers.”
The same cannot be said for the Alouettes…
“The Alouettes are a good team and I think it is a club that is well managed by the coaches,” Marion appreciated. I know several players on the other side. I’m happy for Marc-Antoine Dequoy, who I’ve already played with. He is having the season of a star player. On the other hand, it is always pleasant to beat those you know when you enter the field.
Many guests
The two teams will meet again on Friday in Montreal. Marion was then expected to have at least twenty guests, including family, friends, former teammates and coaches. In addition to playing for the Carabins, the athlete from Ville St-Laurent played at Cactus du Collège Notre-Dame and Phénix du Collège André-Grasset from 2016 to 2019. A future with the Alouettes seemed like a natural fit, but Marion is now making a name for herself in Toronto. The family will once again display the Argos colors in the stands at Stade Percival-Molson on Friday.
“We know very well that the Alouettes will be waiting for us in Montreal,” Marion concluded, looking ahead to the next game.