“I’ve never known anybody to achieve anything without overcoming adversity.”- Lou Holtz

Lou Holtz’s famous quote applies to many athletes far and wide from continent to continent, and for former X-Men football wide receiver and recent Grey Cup champion with the B.C. Lions, Akeem Foster, persevering through adversity came in his second year at StFX University.

Foster came to StFX as a highly touted recruit out of Ajax, Ont., with a lot to prove. The 6’5, 215 lbs behemoth who was lauded for his exceptional athletic ability in high school, certainly didn’t disappoint in his first full season wearing the blue and white, as he caught 18 passes for 333 yards and a touchdown in his rookie season. Not bad for a kid who originally wanted to pursue professional basketball before making the switch to football in high school.

“Growing up I always knew I wanted to be a professional athlete, but I wanted it to be in basketball. I loved basketball growing up and it wasn’t until high school that I made the switch to football because the football coaches liked my size and athletic ability,” Foster notes.

That size, athletic ability and wide personality that everybody came to love in his first year of AUS football at StFX came to an abrupt halt at the start of his second season as Foster failed to acquire enough academic courses needed for student-athletes to maintain their eligibility and he was forced to sit out the entire season. The devastating experience left Foster at a crossroads in his young career.

“It was a very humbling experience for me,” says Foster. “I was not taking football as seriously as I should have been and I was really just going through the motions. As upsetting as it was to miss a full season, it allowed me to rekindle my thoughts toward life and football.”

And for Akeem Foster it may have boiled down to one defining moment that turned it all around for the big receiver, as he recalls a specific meeting with the X-Men coaching staff that proved to be the turning point in his young career.
“The coaching staff brought me into their office and basically told me that I had the talent to be a great player, but warned that if I didn’t get my head on straight and take the game and my schooling seriously then I wouldn’t accomplish anything. I took so much away from that meeting and it really was a blessing for me. Ever since that moment I have applied myself to being the best that I could possibly be.”

X-Men football head coach Gary Waterman also recalls that meeting as a stepping stone in Akeem’s career. “We just told him to smarten up,” Waterman laughs. “No, seriously, Akeem was always a joy to be around but I don’t think he realized how good of a football player he really was. He loved to play, so when that was taken away from him in his second year, it was a wake-up call. He came to camp in great shape the next season and the rest is history.”

History so they say, but the numbers Foster put up in his CIS career will go down in X-Men football history as some of the best stats of all time. In his third year with the blue and white the rangy receiver had 32 catches for 574 yards and three touchdowns. He was also named an AUS all-star that season. Foster saved his best for last however, as in his fourth season he finished third in the AUS conference with 37 receptions for 595 yards and four touchdowns. More importantly he was named an AUS all-star for the second straight season and received recognition as a CIS first-team All-Canadian. Foster is currently the second all-time leading receiver in X-Men football history, which is quite remarkable considering he only played three full seasons.

Fast forward to the 2011 CFL season, and the 25th overall draft pick of the B.C. Lions in 2010 was one of the starting receivers on opening day. Foster emerged as a  revelation for the Lions this past season, collecting six touchdowns for 533 yards in the regular season, and playing a big role in the Lions playoff run, which ultimately ended in a Grey Cup Championship in only the second season of Foster’s professional career. So was Foster surprised he had the impact he did so early in his career?

“Not at all,” Foster quips. “I am a very confident person, and I worked extremely hard in the off-season so I knew that if I came to camp prepared the coaching staff would give me an opportunity, and I am grateful they did. “Playing beside league veterans such as Arland Bruce and Geroy Simon was a big part of my success as they took me under their wings and really prepared me for the adjustment period to professional football.”

As for the Grey Cup victory?

“It is definitely something you dream about growing up and it is a once in a lifetime experience. Growing up, getting a late start in football, developing my skills and learning to execute every play and every down, it is just a remarkable feeling and something I will never forget,” says Foster.

During the off-season Foster was able to take a couple weeks out of his schedule and come back to the StFX community where he became not only a complete football player, but also a complete person. “Never forget your roots,” Foster states. “Without Antigonish I wouldn’t be who I am today. Myself, Kwame Osei, Cauchy Muamba (B.C.Lions) and Henoc Muamba (Winnipeg Blue-Bombers) are making it a tradition to come back to Antigonish every off-season and train for a little while. It is such a good time and it’s just like old times, we love it.”

Coach Waterman also noted the X-Men football team benefited greatly from Akeem Foster’s appearance on campus. “It is great he stays connected with us. He practiced with our players and helped out in video sessions while he was here training, which he didn’t have to do. Akeem wanted to contribute and show our players that it is possible to make a career out of this sport. He was just a tremendous asset during his time here and our players really enjoyed him.”
 
And you know you have made an impact on a University when there is a sandwich named after you.  The ‘Akeem Dream’ is a chicken sandwich named after Foster that is sold in the cafeteria at the StFX Student Union Building. “It’s great,” Foster laughs. “It is always great to come back and have the best sandwich this side of the Milky Way. Joyce, Rose and all the ladies in the SUB have been great to me and I can’t thank them enough.”

Akeem has seemed to enjoy a lot of success since the prevalent turning point in his second season of football at StFX but what exactly does the future hold for Mr. Foster?

“Personally I am a perfectionist. I am going to keep climbing the ladder and doing the right things. You never know where this life will take you so you just have to keep your body and mind healthy. Of course there will be highs and lows but it’s about maintaining an even keel and staying focused.”

Don’t worry Mr. Holtz, Foster seems to have the whole dealing with adversity thing down to a science.