TORONTO – They say that one person’s misfortune makes another person’s happiness. Without directly rejoicing at the difficulties experienced by the Alouettes, Benoît Marion, color bearer of the Argonauts, was naturally very happy with the domination of his team on Saturday in Toronto.
“Montreal retains an important place in my heart, but I am very, very happy in Toronto even though we have a very good team,” admitted Marion, all smiles, after her team’s 39-10 victory.
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A defensive lineman who can also be used on special teams, Marion has been enjoying great success with the Argos for almost two years. Selected in the third round by the Alouettes in the 2020 draft, the former Université de Montréal Carabins tried to find his place within his hometown club. However, he was released by the Alouettes at the end of training camp in 2021, becoming a rare Quebecer escaped through the cracks by the Montreal organization.
Photo Benoît Rioux
“It’s not something that I took personally,” commented Marion. This is the reality of professional sport and the Canadian Football League. There will always be players who will be cut. I’m not the only one this has happened to. But when I play against them, it may have a special flavor.
Marion, 27, could very well have decided to give up football after being released by the Alouettes, but the 6 ft. giant. 5 in. finally managed to establish himself with the Argonauts, winning a Gray Cup in the process.
A family sold to the Argonauts
On the pitch at BMO Field, after Saturday’s match, it was the entire Marion family who proudly displayed the colors of the Toronto team, crowned champion in 2022. The player’s sister, Paule, couldn’t believe it not to be photographed by a Quebec media in the clothes bearing the image of a club in…Toronto.
“Benoît has worked so hard to get where he is, proudly launched his father Yves. He is successful, he is doing well, he is well integrated into the team and we are very, very happy. Since he was young, Benoit has been a team player.
In the Argonauts locker room, his teammates were teasing the man with the red beard by hearing him speak in French during this interview.
“We have a united locker room, we have established a culture where each player has confidence in his teammates, mentioned the number 93 of the Argos. When all three phases of our team work and we work together, we are successful. Our offense can put a lot of points on the board, our defense can stop anyone and our special teams make big plays and cause turnovers.”
The same cannot be said of the Alouettes…
“The Alouettes form a good team and I think it’s a club that is well managed by the coaches, nevertheless estimated Marion. I know several players on the other side. I am happy for Marc-Antoine Dequoy, with whom I have already played. He knows the season of a star player. On the other hand, when you take the field, it’s always nice to beat those you know.”
Many guests
The two teams will meet again on Friday in Montreal. Marion should then have at least twenty guests, with family, friends, former teammates and coaches. In addition to playing for the Carabins, from 2016 to 2019, the athlete from Ville St-Laurent first played with the Cactus du Collège Notre-Dame and with the Phénix du Collège André-Grasset. A future with the Alouettes might have seemed like a natural fit, but Marion is now making her mark in Toronto. Once again, the family will display the Argos colors on Friday in the stands of Percival-Molson Stadium.
“We know very well that the Alouettes are going to be waiting for us in Montreal,” Marion finally projected, in view of the next game.