Cornish returns to Canada

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Ask a Canadian about sports and he or she will most likely bring up hockey. After all, it is the country’s national pastime. But one native Canadian is more interested in pursuing a football career north of the border.

“It is definitely a dream come true to go home to Canada and play football,” former University of Kansas running back Jon Cornish said in a press release yesterday.

Cornish, who was not selected in last weekend’s NFL Draft, has decided to continue his football career with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.

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Cornish, who was not selected in last weekend’s NFL Draft, has decided to continue his football career with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.

Cornish was drafted in the second round of the CFL Draft by the Stampeders in 2006, but chose to return to Kansas for his senior season. The Stampeders remained interested in Cornish, who agreed to sign a contract with the team rather than field free-agent offers from NFL organizations.

He plans on finishing his psychology degree at the University before reporting to training camp in May.

Cornish may need to make some adjustments to his new league. In the CFL, the playing field is 10 yards longer and nearly 12 yards wider than the playing field in American football. Canadian football teams are allowed 12 players on the field as opposed to the standard 11-man American system. In addition, Canadian teams are allotted only three downs to obtain a first down instead of four.

“I think playing on a wider and longer surface will allow me to utilize my speed better,” Cornish said. “The one thing that hurt my chances in the NFL should be an advantage in the CFL.”

Returning to his native country should help ease the pressure of playing professional football. He hails from New Westminster, British Columbia, just one province away from his new home in Calgary, Alberta.

Cornish will get a chance to play close to home when the Stampeders finish the season by visiting the British Columbia Lions.

He said he is confident he will receive plenty of playing time with his new team and be able to adjust to the team’s offensive scheme.

“I feel that I am a very knowledgeable football player, having learned many things from coach Mark Mangino and (former Kansas running backs coach) Earle Mosley,” Cornish said.

Calgary begins its 20-game regular season on June 15. Regular season play continues through November and is followed by a six-team playoff for the Grey Cup.

Kansan sportswriter Asher Fusco can be contacted at afusco@kansan.com

— Edited by Joe Caponio

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