Myles Gibbon on life as a Lion

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Myles Gibbon signs autographs for young York fans after the Lions’ homecoming loss to the Ottawa Gee-Gees.
Montreal-born quarterback Myles Gibbon, 2013 has been a busy year. He recently returned to Canada to play for the York Lions and complete his graduate studies. This past March, he participated in the Reebok 2013 Canadian Football League Combine, and has led the Lions to a 2-3 record so far this season. Myles sat down with Excalibur to let us get to know him a little better. We talked about his hectic schedule, his time at the University of South Alabama, and the Lions’ roster this year.
Excalibur: When did you start playing football, and why did you choose the sport?
Myles Gibbon: I saw it on TV one day when I was seven. I watched Brett Favre and the Packers play and just turned to my dad and said, “I want to try it.”
E: And look at how far you’ve come! Though I’m sure you could use a breather along the way. What do you like to do during downtime?
MG: It’s actually hard to find downtime! But when I do, I love just sitting back and watching some TV. I’m always on the move, so when I can, I just chill out and relax. I take advantage. It also helps a bunch when there’s a game on!
E: What are you doing your master’s degree in, and where do you hope it will take you in the future?
MG: Kinesiology. Hoping it will help me [pursue a career in] coaching. I got a great opportunity to continue my education, so I’m taking advantage of it.  My personal goals have been just to succeed. We want to win and by me playing well, we can achieve that. If we win, then the stats will handle themselves.

E: What made you decide you wanted to return to Canada? Why did you decide to play for the Lions here at York? 
MG: I graduated and decidedI would continue school and football closer to home. Being at South Alabama, I would have had to split playing time with another quarterback. With my last years upon me, I want to play every snap. The Lions offered everything I was looking for: a great school, program, and a football team on the rise.
E: Now that school has started up, how do you keep the balance between your studies and football?
MG: It’s tough; you need to always be on the move, making sure you stay organized in your work. Football plays a huge role and takes up most of our time. But regardless, school needs to remain a top priority, especially to those finishing their degrees.
E: What was this past summer like for you, in terms of your schedule?
MG: This summer was just intense for training. I hit the gym every day and got out on the field, throwing with the new guys, trying to get them into the new playbook as soon as possible.
E: What personal goals do you hope to achieve this year with the Lions?
MG: [My] personal goals have been just to succeed. We want to win and by me playing well, we can achieve that. If we win, then the stats will handle themselves.
E: What are some training methods that help prepare you physically and mentally for games? 

MG: Once we are in season, we are on a very light lifting program, so it’s more the mental aspect. From there, it’s all about watching film and getting into the playbook, making sure we all know and un- derstand the little details.
E: How is the roster this year?
MG: It’s great. A lot of new guys that are making an impact this year will become great players in the future. We also got lucky with some amazing transfers who could come in right away and make plays for us.
E: What is the most memorable moment of your football career?
MG: My first game at my old school in South Alabama, and being the first Canadian quarterback to start there and just running out of the tunnel to 30,000 fans, including my family, watching in the stands. It was an amazing experience. Football is like a religion down there and everyone wants to be involved. I feel that is the biggest difference, but I can see the school and program here at York moving towards that direction and getting the student body and community involved. It’s a great place to be.
Milica Markovi?
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