Photo Electric Umbrella/Liam Richards
Words by Rob Vanstone
The process of taking a knee is not reserved for quarterbacks.
Consider the case of Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker Micah Teitz, who proposed to Maddie Wilton-Clark on April 7 beside Lake Minnewanka (in Banff National Park).
The couple is to be married on March 4 in Calgary, with a honeymoon in the Dominican Republic to follow.
“It just feels like life’s going good for me right now,” says Teitz, who has completely recovered from a serious groin injury that prevented him from playing as much as a down during the 2022 Canadian Football League season.
“I’m the kind of guy who always has a good outlook on everything, but right now, especially, I’m feeling on top of the world.”
Such was the mindset in 2021, when Teitz seized his first opportunity to be a starter from Day 1.
The former University of Calgary Dinos standout was named the Roughriders’ most outstanding Canadian after registering 63 defensive tackles and three sacks in 13 regular-season games.
“That was huge,” he recalls of the breakout season, which came three years after he was selected by Saskatchewan in the second round (14th overall) of the 2018 CFL draft.
“It seems like everybody who is drafted from a U Sports school is wanting an opportunity and waiting for it. It just comes to so few people. I was very proud that I could be a Calgary kid, born and raised in Calgary, going to the University of Calgary, and then being able to make my way in the CFL.
“As Canadian football from the grassroots level gets better and better, it seems like more and more of these kids are going to the NCAA or doing prep schools and stuff like that.
“I’m not going to say ‘fake Canadian,’ because all these guys are truly Canadian and it’s on their passports, but I’m very proud to be as Canadian as you can be, playing in the CFL.
“It just meant a lot to me to actually do what I did (in 2021) and show everybody that I can do it, and it’ll be more of the same this year.”
Teitz has been waiting to once again demonstrate his skills since being injured in the 2021 West Division semi-final.
He was sidelined after making five defensive tackles against the Calgary Stampeders, who lost 33-30 in overtime at Mosaic Stadium.
Teitz was forced to miss the West final, won 21-17 by the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and the injury was slow to recover during the off-season. He left the field during a May 21 training-camp workout and eventually underwent surgery.
The recuperative process was gradual, but steady enough that he was on the cusp of returning to the lineup near season’s end.
Now, with additional healing time, Teitz is in especially good spirits about what the days, weeks and months ahead are likely to bring.
“All is 100 per cent now,” the 6-foot-2, 225-pounder says. “I’ll be at training camp as a full participant. I’ll be out there with the fellas again and doing a good job.
“It’s a crazy feeling. I got to about 100 per cent maybe a bit after Christmas. I had been injured for over a year and not feeling correct, so it has been a real blessing (to have recovered) and I’m very grateful to have it behind me.”
That is especially exciting for Teitz when you consider that he has sat out two of the past three seasons — the 2020 campaign having been wiped out by COVID-19.
The perpetually positive Teitz used that time proactively by working toward a real-estate license.
“That was kind of my COVID career,” the 26-year-old son of Martin and Hope Teitz says. “During the off-season, the important women in my life spoke to me and said that I had to figure something out for my future, so I decided to do the real-estate course. I finished it and did everything. I haven’t done anything real estate-related, but that might be my career once my football career is over.”
The emphasis — beyond the looming nuptials and honeymoon — is to return to the lineup with a flourish.
“Last year was so tough to sit out, because I had so much success (in 2021),” Teitz says. “People were buying my jerseys. I was establishing great relationships within the community.
“Including the COVID season, this will be my sixth year with the club, so I was just establishing myself. To be abruptly out, it was tough, but I love football, I love the CFL and I love the Riders, so I can’t wait to play again.”
The objective is to play until Nov. 19, when the Grey Cup is to be held at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, and ultimately make it a two-ring year.
