Upon signing with his hometown team last week, running back Sean Thomas Erlington made a heartfelt gesture by reaching out to the most dedicated Alouettes supporter he knew.
“My initial call was to my grandfather,” the 31-year-old shared. “He’s been my biggest fan throughout my entire career. Even when I was playing for Hamilton, he was rooting for me, though maybe not as enthusiastically when we faced the Alouettes (laughs). He’s a die-hard fan, and I have fond memories of attending games with him when I was younger. I knew it would mean the world to him, so I wanted to share the news.”
Pierre Thomas, Thomas Erlington’s grandfather, proudly sported the official 110th Grey Cup Championship hat after the Als’ victory over the Bombers on Nov. 19. He made sure to show it off to his grandson, who was still with the Ticats at the time. “I jokingly said, ‘ew, why are you showing me that? I don’t want to see it (laughs),’” recalled Thomas Erlington. “But when I called him about signing with the Alouettes, I told him, ‘now you can wear that hat with pride, and I won’t mind you showing it to me anymore.’ He put two and two together and knew I had signed with them.”
After spending six seasons with the Tiger-Cats in Hamilton, Thomas Erlington, a Laval native, felt it was time to return to his roots.
“Staying in Hamilton was an option,” he explained. “But personally, once William Stanback left and was released, I felt it was the perfect opportunity to join the Alouettes.”
When free agency commenced on Feb. 13, he wasted no time inking a one-year deal with his new team. While transitioning to a new environment is typically a challenge for most athletes, Thomas Erlington’s situation is unique.
Having played for the University of Montreal, where he clinched a Vanier Cup in 2014, Thomas Erlington has ties with several current members of the Alouettes organization, including general manager Danny Maciocia, assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Byron Archambault, and others. Despite being drafted in the final round of the 2017 CFL Draft after finishing his USports career with the Carabins, Thomas Erlington harbors no resentment towards the Alouettes for overlooking him.
“Being drafted was always a dream, but I never felt entitled to it,” Thomas Erlington reflected. “I just wanted a chance to prove myself in the CFL.”
Looking ahead, Thomas Erlington is eager to contribute to the Alouettes’ lineup, especially given the potential opportunities arising from the departure of veteran fullback James Tuck. His goal is to be a versatile asset, making an impact in the passing, running, and blocking aspects of the game.
“I want to be a valuable asset on the field, whether it’s making plays or helping my teammates make plays,” Thomas Erlington emphasized. “As long as I can contribute and be involved, I’ll consider myself fulfilled as a football player.”
