When you get to the next level, there are times you get to take your family and friends along for the ride.
University of Regina Rams defensive lineman Bryce McKinnon knows all about it.
Clan McKinnon and Rams fans flowed into the parking lot at McMahon Stadium’s east entrance hours before game time; table and coolers set up, burgers and ’dogs on the BBQ and tunes streaming from a white GMC crew cab.
The Regina Rams tailgate was in full swing ahead of Oct. 4’s Canada West University Athletic Conference afternoon football clash between host University of Calgary Dinos and Regina.
“My family knows how to throw a tailgate, that’s for sure,” McKinnon chuckles while mentioning his Water Valley-based kin.
In his second season with Rams, McKinnon has gone from offence (centre) last year to defence (nose tackle) this season. The 2013 Cochrane High School Cobras grad and former Cochrane Lion has made his versatility and reliability pay in university.
Against Dinos, McKinnon was routinely seen occupying two offensive linemen.
“That’s pretty much my job,” the 6-foot, 285-pound lineman says of his inglorious task in university football’s trenches. “They want me to take up two guys so a linebacker goes free.”
Still, he remains upbeat about returning to the defence.
“It’s nice. I’ve always enjoyed defence,” he remarks. “Now I get to play it again, so it’s a treat.”
While the 59-7 loss to Calgary Oct. 4 wasn’t a treat, McKinnon understands the Rams will learn from it and improve. Two of the Rams’ four losses this season have been by less than a touchdown.
“We’re always looking to better ourselves from each game. There are a lot of lessons to be learned from this loss,” McKinnon imparts. “We’ve been so close with all our games. It’s just been one play either way that’s cost us our games.”
He was particularly pleased to see a high school rival taking the field for Dinos. Springbank’s Micah Teitz got several reps at linebacker for U of C once Dinos had taken a sizable lead over Regina.
“We had some battles in high school, no doubt,” McKinnon recalls of competing against Teitz. “It’s good to see young guys get a chance to play. I always like to see it because that’s what happened to me.”
But he was unable to get any shots in as both played defence Oct. 4.
‘I don’t know, maybe one day I’ll get to hit him.” McKinnon chortles. “You never know, I might get to play some O-line next year.”
At the very least, McKinnon’s versatility and reliability at the next level will give him that shot when Rams and Dinos meet next season.
