MONCTON’S DARIN BURNS CHASING HISTORY
By: Allan Ly
RP Show Intern
The word impossible is not in Darin Burns’ vocabulary.
Darin Burns, a former CFL defensive lineman, is making a comeback into football at the age of 56.
On Saturday Burns will suit up for a game in the Maritime Football League, a seven-team loop which includes Burns’ Moncton Mustangs. The Toronto product feels he is physically up for the challenge.
“I run a 5.2-40 (yard dash) … I’m benching 225 lbs for 25 reps,” explained Burns when he talked to the Rod Pedersen Show Friday from Moncton Chrysler Superstore.
Burns will try to achieve something he believes has never before been done; play high level football in six different decades.
All of the efforts by Burns are a testament to his mentor, former CFL player Bruce Smith. Bruce Smith is a Grey Cup Champion and played in the CFL from 1972-1979; unfortunately, he passed away from cancer in 2013.
“Here’s a guy that I met when I was in foster care and group homes, and he took me to a group home and mentored me,” said Burns emotionally.
“I wanted to be like Bruce, so I started to lift weights and train, which he brought me to the gym, and I played defensive line. He was in real estate; I went to real estate.”
Burns is in phenomenal shape, and co-host Darren Dupont pointed it out on the show Friday, “I mean, he looks like every villain, every scary monster, like he’s in shape, man.”
Peers of Burns are not surprised with what Burns is doing.
“Maybe at first a little bit surprised,” said former CFL Roughrider Stew Fraser on the Rod Pedersen show. “But now, when you sit back and think of it, he’ll do anything for football, and it’s great for publicity for football.”
There has been an enormous outpouring of support for Darin Burns, but there always have to be haters, and that doesn’t faze him.
“I’ve had a few people [provide negative feedback], but I don’t know those guys there; they don’t know football from a baseball, so I don’t really worry about what they have to say.”
The game will be available Saturday at the Moncton Mustangs Facebook page or available at MonctonMustangs.com. Kickoff scheduled 4:30 pm ET/1:30 pm PT.
(Follow Allan Ly on Twitter at @AllanTheIntern)
