Doing the Bisons Proud
One Manitoban goes from the U of M, to Chicago, and now to Miami for the year’s biggest game
ROMER BAUTISTA STAFF
PHOTO: DAVID IAN LIPNOWSKI
Playing on the frozen grass of Soldier Field is nothing new to Israel Idonije, the Chicago Bears’ fourth-year defensive lineman, especially when you consider that Idonije first made a name for himself playing on the frozen fields of University Stadium here at the U of M.
What will be a new experience for Idonije, however, will be competing in the biggest game of the season, on the grandest stage of the year, Super Bowl XLI. That is where Idonije and his Chicago Bears will battle with the Indianapolis Colts to determine the year’s best team.
It’s quite the accomplishment for someone whose favourite sport wasn’t always football.
“Growing up, I wanted to be Michael Jordan,” chuckled Idonije as he spoke to students at River Heights Collegiate, when he returned home during Chicago’s bye-week in October.
Luckily for Idonije, the coaches at Vincent Massey High School in Brandon noticed that his size and skill set made him a perfect suit for football instead, and urged him to join the team.
His skills and strength continued to grow during his CIS career with the Bisons, with whom he had a terrific four years. During his tenure with the team, Idonije racked up numerous awards, including the J.P. Metras Trophy in 2002 for the nation’s top lineman, all-star and all-Canadian selections in 2001 and 2002, and the award for Manitoba Male Athlete of the Year, presented by the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sports Broadcasters Association, in 2002. On the field, Idonije had similar success, leading the Bisons to a Vanier Cup appearance in 2001.
After declaring himself eligible for the 2003 draft, Idonije garnered attention from several NFL teams, but the only team to draft the 6- foot-6, 275-pound defensive lineman was the CFL’s Ottawa Renegades.
Although he had no reservations about continuing his career in Canada, Idonije’s ultimate goal was to play in the NFL. So when the Cleveland Browns came knocking that same summer with a contract, it was an offer that Idonije could not refuse.
Despite getting cut by the Browns without getting on the field for a single game, Idonije did well enough to draw the attention of the Bears, enough for them to take a chance on the freeagent in 2004. It was a move that both parties should be thankful for.
In his first two years with Chicago, Idonije carved himself a niche with the Bears, playing mostly on the special teams unit. His numbers didn’t jump off the page, but they were impressive enough to garner a four-year offer sheet from the Buffalo Bills, meaning that the Bears had to match the Bills’ offer, or risk losing Idonije.
Well, the Bears matched the offer-sheet, and it may have punched their ticket to the Super Bowl, as Idonije has made big plays in each of the Bears’ playoff wins this year.
In the NFC divisional against the Seattle Seahawks, Idonije made a play that didn’t even show up in the stat book. With the Seahawks punting in overtime, Idonije broke through up the middle, forcing Seahawks punter Ryan Plackemeier to shank an 18-yard punt. That gave the Bears the field position necessary to drive down for the game-winning field goal.
Then in the NFC championship, with the New Orleans Saints driving on the first possession of the game, Idonije sacked Saints quarterback Drew Brees to push the Saints out of field goal range, instead forcing a punt. The Bears would strike first a couple of drives later, and never look back, cruising to an easy 39-14 win.
Now, Idonije is just one win away from becoming the second CIS player to win a Super Bowl ring. All that stands in his way is the Indianapolis Colts.
The Colts will be a tough test for the Bears, who had the third-ranked defence in the league during the regular season. The Colts bring enough offensive weapons to the table to start a war. Heading that list are quarterback Peyton Manning and wide receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. Idonije and the Bears defence will need to create a pass rush to limit the numbers these three put up if they want to hoist the Lombardi trophy Sunday night.
One thing’s for sure, Idonije and the Bears will have not just an entire campus, not just an entire city, but an entire province cheering them on the entire way.
