October 19, 2012

Stamps’ young vet Fraser coming into his own

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Jonathan Anderson | Stampeders.com

CALGARY — Safety Eric Fraser joined the Calgary Stampeders in 2010 after being chosen as the team’s first-round selection (eighth overall) in the 2009 CFL College Draft.

Gaining confidence

Eric Fraser

“I definitely feel more confident. Coming in, you never know what to expect. This year, I feel as the season has gone on, I have felt more and more comfortable in what my role is and how I can help this team.”

– Eric Fraser on fitting into a key role in the Stamps’ defence

Two weeks ago in Winnipeg, Fraser participated in his 50th CFL regular-season game and fans of the Red and White have been lucky enough to see Fraser’s progression as he nears the end of his third season.

“I’m a bit more aggressive now,” notes Fraser. “A bit more willing to try and make plays and make a difference in the game.”

Though Fraser figures to have many seasons ahead of him, the Burnaby, B.C., native and Central Michigan alumnus has already accumulated some good memories as a pro.

“I think going to the playoffs the first three years was memorable,” he says. “My first sack, my first interception. . . anything you do for the first time is always memorable.”

In his first season as a starter, Fraser has set a new career high with 46 tackles and sits one off his career best in interceptions with one, which he returned for touchdown on July 7 in Toronto.

“I definitely feel more confident,” says Fraser. “Coming in, you never know what to expect. This year, I feel as the season has gone on, I have felt more and more comfortable in what my role is and how I can help this team.”

Fraser sets aside personal goals for himself, but maintains the most important objective each season is the team goal of getting to the Grey Cup. That means getting to the Grey Cup in Toronto is the only result that will make this year a true success.
“Every year I write down numbers and things I want to do,” he says. “But it’s hard. Coming into this year, I had never been a starting safety and I didn’t know what to expect. There are still a few goals, but every year the team goal is to win the Grey Cup.

“I came from a successful college program where we won three championships in four years, so to not have won one in the pros is a little disappointing.”