Wednesday, August 24, 2022. 07:30
MONTREAL – Last Thursday evening, in Tennessee, in the small town of Bell Buckle, an 18-hour drive from Quebec, Quebec quarterback Nathan Brisebois led his new school team to a 37-7 triumph.
Beyond his impressive statistics (four touchdowns and more than 100 yards rushing), this beautiful and atypical story would have been impossible a few years ago. But the portrait and reputation of Quebec football have changed.
At a very young age, Brisebois was attracted by the path of American institutions.
“With my dad, we always watched NCAA and NFL videos. It impresses me to see the big stadiums full and the players. I immediately fell in love with this sport,” explained Brisebois earlier this summer.
The six-foot-one, 195-pound left-handed quarterback therefore took great measures to live this experience in turn. His entourage contacted a multitude of American schools to test the waters and the steps were successful. Brisebois and Jaycob Sauvageau, his friend and teammate at Saint Joseph Seminary, chose to continue their journey at The Webb School preparatory school, south of Nashville.
“As soon as I had my first interview with them, it clicked right away. It came to create a little crush right away and, when I went to visit them, they welcomed me like a king,” said Brisebois, who is from Bécancour.
On the other hand, what Brisebois might never have guessed was the reaction of the students of the school for his first game. They arrived at the field displaying his number 5 to show them their support.
The context was all the more interesting for Brisebois because the number one quarterback position was destined for him. Although he was not involved in his recruitment, the team’s new coach, Evan Gay, is excited regarding his arrival.
“The first thing I did, I went to Hudl to see some of his matches on Canadian soil in order to assess him,” admitted Gay, who discovers, day by day, the extent of his talent. .
“He is doing very well and his teammates are happy to be around him. He’s a good young man with great potential,” added the quarterback specialist.
Thanks to his mobility and the fact that he is left-handed, Brisebois has two assets in his arsenal. Realistically, though, he’s not joining a school with a great reputation, so there’s still some way to go to win over college clubs.
“I think he might be the best quarterback I’ve ever managed when he graduates. And one of my former quarterbacks got a full scholarship from TCU (Texas Christian University, a Big 12 first division program in the NCAA). I believe he might top him,” predicted Gay.
Brisebois therefore landed in an environment favorable to its emergence. On the other hand, at 17, even such a beautiful dream can become difficult to manage on a daily basis.
“Of course I feel a little more stressed, but with a lot of excitement at the same time because it’s like a dream that I’ve been waiting for for a while and for which I’ve worked hard. You have to take the plane, it happens in a new language, it’s a new life”, admitted the athlete who will be able to count on the support of those close to him, including his father, Martin, a former football player and participating in strongman competitions.
No doubt, this life in the country where football is king comes with a certain rigidity, a higher level of expectations. The style of the coaches sometimes becomes military.
“The new coach is precisely a former soldier, replied Brisebois, knowing that it will not always be a cakewalk. Anyway, I think it will be pretty strict, but I like it that way. With my old team, it was very intense too, I’m used to it. »
Nathan Brisebois adheres to stricter “coaching”
“In my opinion, the first weeks will be a bit difficult. It will be to break the cycle a bit and then it will be fine. I will have so many things to do, both studies and practices, so it will be difficult to think regarding my family. At times, I will get bored, but I think it will be fine, ”he judged.
In this school which counts on approximately 25% of international students, Brisebois believes that his teammates will give him a great place even if he arrives from Quebec. If ever some players hesitate to line up behind him, they will be encouraged by his first game which confirms his skills for success in Tennessee.
On a more technical level, Brisebois already knows that a great accent will be intended to improve his footwork and his technique when he throws passes by moving from the protective pocket. The work does not seem to scare him to continue his ascent.
“Of course playing professional would be my first goal, but I’m taking it one step at a time. It’s still quite difficult to break into this environment, there are so many good players. It remains that my ultimate goal is to go to the NFL, ”said Brisebois, who notably followed the path of Jonathan Sénécal and receiver Xavier Gaillardetz.
Regardless of where Brisebois will end up, his journey demonstrates above all the extent of the possibilities available to Quebec athletes. Dreaming big doesn’t hurt anyone and it can go a long way.
Brisebois doesn’t mind being away from home
