To those I owe…Jack Smith

Jumpin’ Jack Flash

When we think of  sports and it’s individual betterment there are immediate considerations that come to mind; team work, learning to win & lose, self esteem, confidence, leadership and so on, for me sports and especially football provided me with something beyond just these intangible attributes which I’ve come to understand over the years and feel the need to recognize those who guided me along without knowing.

This one is an ode to Jack Smith, “one I owe”

I remember the call, not the day or all the details of the conversation but I do remember the essence of it, which would help formulate direction for my career and life.

 JS: Terry? 

TA: Yes!

JS: Jack Smith here from the Lockport Cowboys... I want you to be my centre this year and anchor our offensive line, are you up for that? 

TA: Damn straight coach and thank you!

JS: Great, you can start today by getting your a** into the gym son

I knew “Jumping Jack Flash” quite well as he had married into the Bochen family who lived across the road from my Baba & Gigi Andryo. I had the utmost of respect for Jack, his wife Sharon and the entire Bochen family as both Wayne & Ronnie coached me in hockey over multiple seasons, but that single call from Jack changed me so much. I had played with the Lockport Cowboys Midget Football Club the year prior, getting a considerable amount of playing time that year particularly because of a thin roster, injuries and hockey season competing for talent in town. Our record was a disaster,  I wasn’t sure I would continue to play as the football season crossed over my hockey season as well as my referring season (which funded me quite well), but Jack changed that all in one call - he wanted me!

 As a sixteen year old to receive such a call was overwhelming, not only boosting my confidence, but it evidently created my base for self discipline and commitment. I got into the gym, worked hard, and that year our team record improved dramatically because of Jack Smith and what he did for the Cowboys. Jack recruited incredibly well, he got the right person for the right position, educating us each on how our individual purpose & play contributed to the overall success of the team. Jack also made you feel part of something bigger, you were “part of the football community” - you were connected, had belonging and knew you could voice your self expression, all necessary in building a strong community.

That fall I made the Blue & Gold Provincial All Star team with two teammates which ultimately took me and my game to the next level. I got to attend camps that had professional coaches who exposed me to structured learnings; listening, vision, technique, strategy, which included following a game plan and “audibling” or the allowance to modify your course slightly when you encounter something unexpected at the line of scrimmage without warning, we learnt how & when to pivot, thinking on our feet, making decisions based on what you were taught without aborting the primary focus of our game plan and of course we made many mistakes along the way, but that’s learning. 

 Attending these camps enabled me to go to war with and against some incredibly talented athletes who challenged me to get better, many who would become teammates or were my new found opposition in battle. I would have a “cup of coffee” with the University of North Dakota, then spend the next four years with the Winnipeg Hawkeyes Football Club of the Canadian Junior Football League, pursuing my post secondary education, mastering my skills while building lifelong friendships with coaches, players and our supporting cast that still remain in tack today. I’d learn much more about strategy, watching film; knowing my competition's tendencies intimately, getting a better grasp on human behavior like knowing when to follow and when to lead as no one wanted to disrupt the locker room’s chemistry over one’s ego. I would ultimately meet my wife Maria because of my association with the Hawkeyes and the family that shrouded us. 

 I look back and realize that my post secondary education was vital, you could say critical, but sports (because I was still playing hockey) provided validation and balance in connecting a lot of dots that would impact my business career. I had the perfect environment to learn; understand a comprehensive playbook, over practice that playbook, understand your opposition, go out and execute on your learnings, pivot as needed, measure team success which included defeat (by watching film), make changes and get ready for the next battle. I think I learnt as much on the field & in the locker room as I did in Business School.  

That call from Jack Smith had such a significant impact for me in multiple facets, but the biggest take away Jack left me with was to make everyone feel important, have purpose and how each of us play a part in the overall success of a team or community, recognize that and reward it. Today I use Jack’s methodology when I’m tasked to build a team or a board of directors and it’s never failed me yet.

 To you Jack Smith, I owe you.