So far, the decisions have been relatively straightforward for Johnny Forzani.
Encouraged by coaches who marveled at his athletic ability, it was logical enough to make the transition from basketball, the sport at which he excelled at E.P. Scarlett High School, to football, the sport that was in his blood.
And Forzani didn’t have to mull things over for very long when an opportunity presented itself to begin his professional career for his hometown team, the Calgary Stampeders.
But what if his father, legendary Stampeders receiver Tom Forzani, indicates he’d like the Stampeders to unretire his No. 22 so that his son can wear it for the Red and White?
“I don’t know,” replied the younger Forzani, who is also a receiver. “I don’t think I would want to wear 22. That’s his deal. He earned (the honour) with all the work he did here. He got his number retired and it should stay retired. To unretire it and give it to me? That’s just too much. It’s already enough to have the expectations of the family name but then if I’m wearing his jersey? That’s just taking it a bit too far.”
Forzani may never have to worry about it because speculation is that jersey No. 80 — the number he wore at Washington State — is the one that will be waiting for him when he reports for training camp.
Still, father and son certainly have a lot in common in addition to their surname and position. You see, basketball was Tom Forzani’s sport of choice until he went to Utah State. 
“It’s kind of a funny situation,” said Johnny Forzani. “I’ve always loved football but I just never really got into it when I was younger. When I was playing basketball (at Douglas College in New Westminster, BC) the basketball coaches from Idaho came up to recruit my best friend and I was going to go down to Idaho with him to play basketball. But they said I was built like a football player, that I was really fast and that I should be playing football. That’s what started the whole thing. I started running 40s, that got me in the door, and I went from there.”
He certainly did. Forzani starred for the Calgary Colts in 2008 as he led the Prairie Football Conference with an average gain of 21 yards per catch. He was named a first-team conference all-star and was the PFC’s rookie of the year.
The baptism by fire continued the following year when he went to Washington State University.
“Our team was awful (the Cougars were 0-9 in conference play and 1-11 overall) but I had a pretty good first year,” said Forzani. “(The losing) was frustrating but I learned a lot while I was there in the year-and-a-half I was there. You have to adapt very quickly to play at that level, especially in my case because I had only played football for a year and here I was playing for a Division 1 Pac 10 school against teams like USC and Notre Dame.”
Forzani made nine catches for 265 yards at Washington, with two of the receptions going for touchdowns. One of the scores came in a game against Arizona State and went 99 yards, which tied an NCAA record.
Now comes an opportunity to play for the Stamps.
“I’m super-happy with how things have worked out,” he said. “Everything happens for a reason. If the move to football hadn’t happened, I don’t know what I’d be doing now.
“I’m taking this as the next step. I’m going to prepare myself to get ready so I can play as best as I can. I don’t easily get satisfied in anything I do and I want to continue to improve. I’m kind of hard on myself I guess you could say. I have a lot more to do before I’m satisfied with myself.”
It’s an attitude that is sure to make his father proud. Tom Forzani, who is among the franchise leaders in every major receiving category, is one-third of an amazing family legacy with the Stampeders.
Older brother Joe joined the club in 1968 and John arrived in 1971. It was Tom’s turn in 1973 and the brothers played side by side by side for three years. By the time Tom finished his distinguished career in 1983, there had been at least one Forzani on the Stampeders roster for 16 years.
“Obviously, it carries added weight and added pressure because they did a lot for this team and for this city,” said Johnny Forzani. “I know there are going to be a lot of comparisons and it’s a challenge you have to step up to. I’m going to challenge myself and embrace it and take it for what it is. But I don’t dwell on it too much.
“I’ve got to play my game and hopefully it works out good for me as it did for them.”
Tom Forzani, naturally, is happy to see his son continue the family tradition of wearing the white horse.
“I think it’s great,” he said. “Of course you want your son to be able to play in his hometown. It benefits him in a lot of ways. It’s exciting for him. It’s going to be a fun time in his life.”
At the same time, the elder Forzani recognizes the burden of family expectations that his son will be carrying.
“It will certainly show his character,” he remarked. “He has to understand that he can only do as good as he can do. To do that, he has to work hard and I really think he’s ready for that. He’s ready to work hard.”
Johnny Forzani’s connection to the Stamps goes beyond bloodlines — head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is his godfather.
“I love Huff,” said Forzani. “I always have. He’s been so good to me. I’m excited. I know he’s going to be hard on me and I’m going to learn a lot and that’s what I’m looking forward to.”