By Geoff Crane
Stampeders.com
It can feel like that first uncomfortable day at a new school, wondering how you’ll fit in, if your classmates will accept you and where you’ll sit for lunch.
Then comes that moment of relief when you see an old friend or familiar face and you know things are going to be just fine.
Earlier in the off-season, the Stampeders completed a trade and welcomed a couple of new faces in defensive back Jasper Simmons and wide receiver Dan Buckner.
Buckner joins a deep Calgary receiving corps that features Jeff Fuller, a long-time friend and teammate from his basketball days in high school.
“We’ve been really good friends, basically like brothers,” says Buckner from his home in Dallas, which is a mere 15 minutes away from Fuller’s residence. “I know his whole family, so yeah, we go way back.”
Buckner and Fuller first met up on the basketball court as teammates shortly after Fuller’s family moved to Texas from California. They would go on to travel the U.S. playing basketball and then see each other on the football field playing for rival high schools.
“We both played pretty much the same positions and we have the same type of build,” says Fuller. “Just being in the same area, we watched a lot of each other play.”
It was Buckner who broke the news of their Calgary reunion to Fuller.
“I didn’t even know the trade was made,” recalls Fuller. “And he called and was like ‘Yeah, I’m going to be with the Stampeders next year.’ I just started laughing. I haven’t been on a team with anybody who was a childhood friend, ever.”
Buckner isn’t the only new Stampeders who will enjoy some familiarity in the Red and White’s locker room this season.
Simmons, the other half of the deal, will be alongside his former Argos counterpart Lin-J Shell.
The two spent the 2011 CFL season together as members of the Double Blue – Simmons a fresh CFL rookie and Shell the experienced veteran.
“He was one of the guys I was around and I paid attention to,” says Simmons, recalling how skilled Shell was at playing at a high level. “I feel like he’s a pretty cool, laidback guy that I know wouldn’t have any problems talking to me and teaching me and helping me to learn the defence and get up to speed as soon as possible.”
Simmons is eager to get to work, contributing to a defensive squad that was one of the stingiest in the league in 2014. He knows he’ll need to figure out the system quickly and is excited to bring his skills to the table to help Calgary in an effort to repeat as Grey Cup Champions.
“It would be good to come in and at least see somebody that I know,” he says. “I’ll feel more comfortable coming in and adapting to the team and I know (Shell) will help me in a lot of different areas with learning the defence and things like that.”
While Buckner knows there will be an advantage to having a friend on the team to help him acclimate, he and Fuller agree it shouldn’t be difficult transitioning into a winning organization.
“Coming into an environment like Calgary, it shouldn’t be a problem even if I didn’t know anyone there,” says Buckner. “I knew some guys who said it’s like family there and the environment makes you feel like you’re at home. The seniors and the veteran players help take on the new guys. I’m just ready to get up there and meet everybody, not just Jeff.”
“Dan’s a guy who is pretty confident and comfortable with himself, so I think his transition coming in here will be pretty easy,” agrees Fuller.
“He’s another big receiver, which is something I know Bo likes. A big guy who can run with strong hands and he’ll bring a lot to the organization as far as those skills.”
Along with former teammates Simon Charbonneau-Campeau and Arthur Hobbs, who reunite from their days as Hamilton Tiger Cats, the new Stamps faces will seem somewhat familiar going into the 2015 season.
With the awkward “first day of school” jitters eliminated, this squad can move forward, focused on keeping Earl Grey’s cup in the Stampede City.