The CFL of the 1950s and '60s, was "a little more legendary and folksy than it is today," remarked Ross Clarkson.
The 63-year-old Maple Ridge native, who is currently a contract English professor at the University of Ottawa, grew up in that era, before spending seven years in the league—where he played for the BC Lions, the now-defunct Ottawa Rough Riders, and the Hamilton Tigercats.
For Clarkson, the opportunity to play in the national league was a combination of timing, skill, and luck.
"When I was hitting about nine or 10 years old [and a student at Glenwood Elementary], they started the minor football bantam, peewee leagues in Maple Ridge," he recalled.
"Then, as I got to be in bantam [with the Maple Ridge Rams], they started the football program at Maple Ridge High."
During this time, he said, there "was a real transition that happened from football being a game, to it being sort of an American-style bootcamp."
Essentially, what this meant was that during tryouts, practices, and training, players were put through more difficult physical regiments "than you have ever experienced in your life... to the point that either you cross the threshold, or just decide the game isn't for you."
By the time he was in Grade 12, Simon Fraser University (SFU)—which was still a relatively new institution—had started offering football scholar-ships to high school students.
"I was kind of lucky as a football player," Clarkson said.
'I got a scholarship from Maple Ridge High to go play for SFU, so I just kind of hit it at the right time."
And a knack for the game ran in his family.
"My uncle was actually a player in the CFL, too. He was a running back for Edmonton, who got traded to Calgary," Clarkson explained.
But he was never forced to choose the same path, in fact, quite the opposite.
"In those days, parents didn't really push their kids like they do today," he elaborated.
In fact, football wasn’t even Clarkson's first choice.
"I actually liked basketball more and to me, it was more fun," he admitted. "But football is what I was good at."
He had talent on the court, too. "When I went to SFU, they said I could play basketball too, just not on the scholarship, but it was a little much to do both."
Clarkson played in the CFL from 1973 to 1980, catching a total of 158 passes for 2,402 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns.
His foray into teaching, began in his mid-40s.
He made the decision to go back to school, after spending some time working in the reforestation business in BC.
“When my [football] career ended, it kind of caught up with me, and I wasn’t all that skilled in the '9 to 5—so to speak,” he said.
"The great thing about football is it really does make you mentally tougher, which I really appreciate."
That mental toughness "helped me make the decision to go back to school."
Clarkson returned to the class-room, worked his way to a PhD and master’s degree in English, "and got it about eight or nine years ago."
He recently found an old photo of himself in football gear.
"I look about 10 or 11," he said. Reflecting on where he’s come from since that photo was taken, and the path of his career and life thus far, Clarkson was succinct: "It's all worked out pretty good for me."