Unsung Heroes of the Gridiron

Kelsey Marafioti
Contributor

“The quarterback is in shotgun formation; he takes the ball, drops back, and his wide receiver breaks to the post. The quarterback pumps once; he’s going for the bomb; the defense is in an all-out rush; the receiver catches the ball; he breaks away and… TOUCHDOWN CANANDAIGUA BRAVES!”

If an independent observer were to read that account of one amazing play in the course of a football game, one might think that the lead contributors were the quarterback and receivers.

Little would that person know that the silent strength behind this play were the offensive linemen.

Known by fellow players as the workhorses of the team, these unsung heroes are the foundation of any successful play.

A strong line can make an average running back, receiver, and/or quarterback go from good to great.

The primary role of being a lineman is basically to use all strength and brute-like force to protect the quarterback and establish lanes for the running backs and receivers.

Like hurricane winds pushing against a row of houses, it’s the linemen who, on every play, are attacked relentlessly by the opposing defense in order to prevent them from advancing the ball.

Junior quaterback Mike Reed, said, “If we didn’t have good linemen blocking for every play, then we wouldn’t be successful.”

During the entire course of the game, the linemen are working overtime to keep the defense at bay.

The weight and strength of linemen are constantly regulated to keep up with the demanding aspects that their positions hold.

Braves Head Coach Dave Nieman urges his linemen to use their heads when eating by monitoring their intake of sweets and fats, while leaning towards the healthier choices that build muscle like proteins and carbohydrates.

When asked about the notorious “Linemen Dinners” that take place before important games, two offensive linemen on the Canandaigua Braves, Nick Sabia, a senior co-captain of the football team, and junior Tom Tyler, claim that large amounts of pasta, meats and dairy are consumed in one night. The other importance of these dinners is to help the linemen bond with each other by giving them a chance to “hang out and unwind before a big game.”

Weight training is a critical component of a lineman’s conditioning regimen.

“ The linemen usually lift two times a week or more if told to do so,” said lineman Parker Hildreth.

Size definitely matters when going up against a lineup that is equally or more physically powerful than your own team.

When Nieman was asked what he ideally saw his linemen weighing in at, he said, “It all depends on the type of person. Generally I prefer my linemen to be around 230-250 lbs., and close to 6’1”.”

Despite this, Canandaigua football has produced many fine linemen over the years, both big and small. As the saying goes, “It’s not always the size of the dog, but the size of the fight in the dog that truly matters.”

Unfortunately for those who decide to take the “brave” path of becoming a lineman and risking their physical well-being for the love of the game, they don’t always get the appropriate recognition that they deserve.

When talking to Sabia, he describes the constant struggle of his demanding position by saying, “It takes an iron will to be a lineman. You’ll never see your name in the paper. If anything goes wrong it’s always our fault and if anything goes right, it’s never because of us. We are the unsung heroes.”

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