‘We’re very proud’: Al Ford reacts to grandson being drafted by Riders

The last name on the back of Al Ford’s next Saskatchewan Roughriders jersey will be his, but it also will have a different meaning.

His grandson, Jaxon, was selected by the Riders in the second round (11th overall) of Tuesday’s CFL draft out of the University of Regina Rams program.

“I have a couple (of jerseys) that don’t have numbers on them, so I’ll slap the numbers on that one,” Ford said Wednesday.

The ties to the team run deep for the Ford family.

Al played for the Roughriders from 1965 to ’76, winning a Grey Cup with the Green and White in ’66. He was the team’s general manger from 1989 to ’99, winning a Grey Cup in that role in his first season.

Now his grandson, a defensive back who has played every level of football in the Queen City, will get a chance to carry on the Ford legacy.

“It’s really convenient he got drafted here and I am happy for it because now we will get to see him play live a lot more than we would if he got drafted somewhere else,” Al said. “In Jaxon’s mind, I think he cared, but he didn’t let on that it would have been the best choice.

“He’s always sort of had a soft spot for (Regina). He could’ve gone other places for university football but he wanted to be part of the Rams. Now he gets to stay here and be a part of the Riders.

“He has some steps before that happens, but I think he probably has a good chance of playing football for the Riders.”

What number that jersey will have remains up in the air as of now. While Jaxon wore Al’s No. 21 at the University of Regina, that number is currently worn by Riders defensive back Nelson Lokombo.

Al said he was at home watching the draft Tuesday night, and with pundits not expecting Jaxon to get picked until Round 3 or 4, Al’s wife had gone upstairs to order some pizza.

“Everybody is hoping for the best and according to all the people, we were surprised he went that early – well, the people were, but we weren’t,” Al said. “We thought he certainly was capable of going early in the draft so we are really happy for him.

“I had to back (the coverage of the draft) up and I told (my wife) to ‘Come down and watch this.’ She was very excited and we were both very happy for him.”

Jaxon grew up going to Riders games with his grandpa, and now he’ll get a chance to run out of the tunnel and onto the field as many Roughriders have done before him.

“Since I was nine years old, it has been a true dream of mine. Going to my grandpa’s house and seeing a picture of him catching a touchdown at old Mosaic there, I think that’s where the dream (began),” the younger Ford told reporters after the draft.

While Jaxon was busy in the hours after getting selected — heading down to Mosaic Stadium to have a tour and meet the coaches as well as the media — he did stop by his grandfather’s house afterwards.

That’s where Al offered his grandson some advice.

“It’s probably more of a coach’s advice than a father’s advice: ‘Just stay humble and work hard and things will work out for you,’ ” Ford said.

There was also a connection between Ford and current Riders general manager Jeremy O’Day. Ford was the team’s general manager when he convinced O’Day to leave the Toronto Argonauts and sign with Saskatchewan as a free agent in 1999.

“Jeremy is a good man and he was a really good player for the Roughriders. Hopefully he doesn’t have to go through many seasons like last year because he is a smart man and I’m sure the Riders are going to be better this year,” Ford said.

While the Ford family will take some time to celebrate, Jaxon will soon head to Saskatoon to join the Riders for rookie camp, which runs May 10-12.

“He’s a lot more athletic than I ever was so that will be good for him when he’s trying to make the roster,” Al said. “We’re very proud of what he’s accomplished. I have had the ability to be with him along the way because he was here in Regina and I think that was important to both of us.”