After missing a golden opportunity following an ankle injury in the first game of his career, former quarterback William Tremblay felt like a kid in a candy store when he scored a comeback touchdown in a 23-7 win last Sunday at Laval University Rouge et Or against the Concordia Stingers.
• Also read: The Rouge et Or wins despite a slow start ahead of Concordia
• Also read: Football Rouge et Or: Star receiver Kevin Mital will return to the game against the Concordia Stingers after receiving treatment for an ankle injury
He beautifully celebrated that first career touchdown with a quarterback sneak in the final minute of the second quarter. “I was under pressure because Kevin (Mital) had asked me to prepare a celebration if I ever scored a touchdown,” Tremblay said. Throwing the ball to the ground as hard as possible represented the running style I had just done by lowering my helmet and sitting in the pile.
The frustration of the first game of the season in Sherbrooke, where he injured his ankle early in the game, had been replaced by pure joy. “In Sherbrooke my world collapsed in a second,” he concluded. I was freaking out because I knew I was going to see some offensive action and I just missed that opportunity. I was proud of this role. At that time I heard a crack and thought my ankle was broken. That’s why I was so happy when I came back to score a touchdown.”
Quarterback in the college ranks
Tremblay was quarterback in his first two seasons with the Division 3 Rimouski Pioneers and was moved to the linebacker position in his final season, a position he kept after arriving in Laval.
Because of his athletic qualities, which special teams coordinator Mathieu Bertrand considers to be incredible, Tremblay will also be used in short-scoring situations like we saw in the game against Concordia. David Dallaire fulfilled this role wonderfully last season.
“I thought about this role every day during my six-week absence,” he confessed. I know that I can contribute a lot to the team. I thought about it so much that when a situation arose against Concodia, I knew what to do. I had the ball in my hands so many times that I wasn’t stressed, but I knew I had to deliver. I can push, run and throw the ball if necessary. I’m ready to save shots for Arnaud (Desjardins).”
Although he loves that role in the goalpost, Tremblay knows full well that his primary role is on special teams. “Because I was injured, I’m still making rookie mistakes in Week 6 and that’s really frustrating,” he said. I have to be on the right track technically or I’ll be overtaken because the speed is really faster than in college. I love tackling and blocking and that’s an area where I can be good and help the team.”
Baptism of CEPSUM
After a first full game, Tremblay will now experience his CEPSUM baptism on Saturday against the Carabins of the University of Montreal. “The boys tell me it is very loud and you can feel the hostility. This hostility is energizing.”