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Concordia Stinger wide receiver Sylvain Girard has signed a one-year contract with the National Football League's Cleveland Browns, an expansion team. Girard is the third Stinger since 1995 to join the NFL ranks, a feat unparalleled by any other Canadian institution.
You will remember from a feature article in CTR on April 1 that four years ago, Girard, a native of Chicoutimi, couldn't play football or speak English. He's in top shape at 6'1" and 195 pounds, and has run a 40-yard dash in a lightning-fast 4.24 seconds.
Only a week ago, the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League drafted Girard fifth overall in the first round of the Canadian college draft. He was the first athlete from a Canadian college chosen in the draft.
The 23-year-old Girard, who just graduated in Exercise Science, is now fluently bilingual and has distinguished himself academically. He was twice named Academic All-Canadian and twice won the Ed Meagher Trophy, which is awarded to the Stinger player who achieves the most in the classroom.
The Stingers' Denis Montana, a wide receiver from St. Jean,
was signed by the Houston Oilers as a free agent in 1996. Since
then, he has been with the Montreal Alouettes, the Toronto
Argonauts, the Calgary Stampeders and the New England Patriots.
He is currently under contract with the Miami Dolphins.
