On its way to Sunday’s championship game, the Grey Cup stopped to honour an amateur player on Tuesday afternoon.

Although tradition prohibited Grade 12 student Jayden McMillan from hoisting the century-old cup, the trophy’s presence helped celebrate the player’s latest achievement — a $5,000 scholarship from the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. 

A surprise award ceremony was held at St. Mary’s High School on Nov. 10, completely unbeknownst to McMillan, who was called to the theatre alongside the rest of the football team. They were met by representatives from the Canadian Football League upon arrival. 

“So then I got here, and then I heard ‘McWhinney,’ and I was like, did I actually win that?” he said. 

“Then this happens, and it’s a lot to take in.”

Since 2022, the Glenn ‘Keeper’ McWhinney Scholarship Fund has been awarded to one high school or post-secondary football player residing in the host city for that year’s championship games. 

Named after the late Edmonton Eskimos quarterback, the award recognizes players who have shown dedication to the field, perseverance, and the ability to overcome obstacles while maintaining courage and humility. 

“My dad believed that we were all talented, but we didn’t all have opportunity,” said Jeff McWhinney, Glenn’s son, who presents the award each year.

“We wanted to make opportunity for everybody.”

Jeff spearheaded the scholarship after his dad’s death in 2012. He explained that the concept came from things that Glenn valued, such as inclusivity, and hardships he faced, such as a broken neck — an injury that ended his career in 1956 — and a subsequent cancer diagnosis.

“My dad was given nine months to live, and he lasted nine years,” said Jeff. 

“So, that was pretty cool, but when he passed, we knew we had to do something.”

Winning student is the epitome of perseverance, says coach

McMillan, who started playing at six, has had to overcome his own injury-related hurdles over the years, starting with a broken arm in his bantam year and later a broken leg while playing on the Grade 11 team. 

His coach, Mike Schwieder, remembered it well. It was their second game of the season.

“He broke his leg in two places last year during a game,” he said.

“It took him months to return to school. I don’t think he walked for a month…it was a terrible, terrible journey coming back.”

Schwieder said that McMillan was hesitant to return to practice once he was cleared. Whether on the field or the sidelines, Schwieder said he constantly kept a positive attitude despite his personal circumstances. 

When he saw the scholarship posting, Schwieder said throwing in McMillan’s name was a “no-brainer.”

“He’s part of the glue that holds this team together,” he said.

“He loves the game so much; he loves what it does for him and the teammates and the camaraderie, and so he pushed through that.”

But it hasn’t always been easy, said McMillan, who recently sustained an ankle injury while playing on the senior team this season. He said these setbacks have been nothing if not notable, but also rewarding. 

“It took a lot of time and mental warm-ups to get back into playing football, but I’m so happy I did,” said McMillan. 

“It’s been me for the past how many years, 12 seasons — it’s been my identity, and it’s great to have something to show for it.”

He said he’s not sure whether he’ll pursue the sport in the future, but whatever he does in post-secondary, the scholarship will help open doors to different programs. McMillan closed with a simple message.

“Play more football,” he said. 

“We need more kids in football.”