Photo/MIKE MALONEY TORONTO ARGONAUT Kevin Eiben speaks with members of the Orangeville Outlaws Varsity squad before practice last Thursday. While the start of the 2010 season is still over a month away, preparations are full swing for the Orangeville Outlaws.

Since mid January, the Outlaws have been training and practicing two nights a week at the ACTS Fitness Centre and things are starting to shape up well for the teams.

This past week, though, the players had a bit of a break from their regular routine of training and practice when Toronto Argonaut linebacker Kevin Eiben stopped in to speak with the players.

A nine-year veteran of the Canadian Football League, Eiben was born in Delta BC and started playing ball when he was just five years old. Playing football all the way up through high school, he went onto play for Bucknell University in Pennsylvania before being drafted by Toronto in 2001, where he has played ever since.

Speaking to both the Bantam and Varsity squads last Thursday night, Eiben stressed to the players the key requirements to succeed in, not just football, but any sport. "First, it takes a lot of hard work and with that - commitment to keep with it and see it through. If you have a passion for something like I did growing up with football, you have to stick with it."

He went on to add another key to success is proper nutrition. "A lot of these kids today grow up sitting stuck in front of a television eating terrible foods that do nothing but make them gain bad, bad weight. I tell these kids that once you gain that bad weight, you have to work that much harder to get it off and the first step to doing that is starting eating healthy."

One of the best ways to start eating healthy is "Think carnivorous rabbits - eat everything that is green, lettuce, asparagus, spinach and broccoli. Eat a ton of protein. You know a good carb now and then, good pasta to get that energy". In addition to staying away from things like deli meats and processed foods which are full of chemicals which really are not good for you, Eiben says "Don't live on white bread, don't live on donuts, cookies, ice cream because you know it's just going to slow you down"

On the game of football itself, he is encouraged by the growth of the sport in Canada over the past few years, particularly at the grassroots level. "We are hockey nation but people involved in the sport are really starting to realize how important football is to Canada". While acknowledging the influence of the NFL he points out that the CFL is just as good as is evident by the number of people from south of the border coming up here to look at our players; adding "just look at how they are picking up a lot of our talent and taking it back down to the NFL".

But, like all good things, Eiben knows that eventually the days on the field will end. "Not everyone can be Damon Allen playing well into their 40's" noting at some point players have to transition to life off the field and getting a good education is just as important. He does believe however it is possible to purse your passion for the game and get a good education in the process. This he knew, not just by looking at himself in the mirror, but by constantly seeing the ever increasing quality of talent being put on the field by colleges and universities across Canada.

And that is something that Outlaws executive president Steve Ceolin hopes that visits by players like Eiben can impress on his charges. "It's good for the guys to see just what is possible. With the growth and success of our programs, we are starting to get interest from CIS schools. They are coming out to our games then coming over after and wanting to talk with some of the players. Guys like Kevin are good for them to meet, a home grown player and see it is possible. He is an example of what you have to do - need to do and show them if you focus enough on your dream you can make it."

And that focus will soon be moving out onto the field for the Outlaws. Both the Bantam and Varsity squads hope to see action in exhibition play in Waterloo April 17th and then on the weekend of May !st, the Outlaws will be holding a day long Football Jamboree at the Orangeville Fairgounds. Over 25 teams have been invited ranging in ages from Atom to Varsity which will see teams competing in a controlled scrimmage environment. From there, it's onto the regular season with the Outlaws first home games scheduled to take to the Westside gridiron on the May long weekend.