BlueBombers.com Staff

WINNIPEG -- Day two of Blue Bomber training camp opened up at 7:45 a.m. Monday morning, under gloomy dark clouds. The rain started soon after practice commenced and continued throughout the first session. Day three of camp commences Tuesday morning at 7:45 a.m., and as usual, fans are encouraged to attend.

One of the new faces in Bomber training camp is veteran kicker Dan Giancola. Giancola is competing with Alexis Serna and Bradley Pierson for the placekicking job, and you’d be hard pressed to find another player who is relishing his opportunity more than Giancola.

“I’m just so excited to be out here, it’s hard to even put into words,” said Giancola during a rainy morning practice.

Giancola’s story is one that belongs in a book dedicated to perseverance and determination. If he makes the Blue Bombers, his contagious, positive outlook on life and the story behind it is one that will be told by Giancola himself, as he plans to get heavily involved in the community if he gets a roster spot.

He broke into the CFL in 1999 with the Toronto Argonauts after attending 131 free agent camps over a ten year period. After winning the 1999 Grey Cup, he bounced around before having to quit football and deal with a string of family illnesses.

First it was his mother-in-law who was struck with cancer. Six months later his father-in-law was diagnosed with a grade four tumor. Four months after that, Giancola talked his wife into going for a colonectamy because it became apparent the illness ran in the family. Sure enough, she needed surgery to remove her cancer. And just to top things off, Giancola’s father, four months after his wife had seen the doctor, had a seizure.

Giancola is glad to report that only his father-in-law is still battling the disease.

“It was rough,” he said. “I’m really, truly, grateful for this opportunity. It took me ten years to get a chance the first time, only five years this time,” said Giancola.

Giancola thanks Bomber head coach Mike Kelly and director of player personnel John Murphy for his chance to make the Bombers. And when he says he really appreciates it, the sincerity is evident.

“I’m just grateful for a chance, that’s all.”

Ronyell Whitaker, a defensive back who was signed by the Blue Bombers yesterday, was on the field this morning and showed his veteran presence by breaking up some passes and flying around the ball.

“I really like it here,” he said when asked how his first day went.

“It’s such a good group of guys, which makes a huge difference”.

“My fiancé spent two years in Winnipeg, so I had an idea what it was like here.”

Whitaker was last with the NFL’s Detroit Lions in 2008, and has also spent time in the NFL with Tampa Bay and Minnesota.

Other thoughts from Monday’s training camp:

- Although the weather wasn’t the greatest, a few fans were scattered throughout the morning and afternoon practices.

- The receivers, once again, were all spectacular on Monday. Bowman and Franklin continue to catch everything that is thrown near them, with Franklin showing exceptional speed.

- The secondary, particularly Willie Amos and John Eubanks were great in the one-on-one drills and scrimmage.

- Stefan LeFors and Bryan Randall both had solid days today.

Transactions: The Bombers released quarterback Darrell Hackney.

Player of the day: Defensive back John Eubanks

Eubanks, sporting his noticeable red shoes, was all over the field today. He broke up numerous passes during the scrimmage and one-on-one drills, while coming away with an interception during the team part of the practice. Ronyell Whitaker was also very impressive in his first full day on the field.

Other Notes: Fans are encouraged to attend training camp practices; however it is prohibited to film any part of practice. Recording devices of any kind are strictly prohibited. Tomorrow’s practice times are 7:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The Blue and Gold game will go Friday, June 12 at 6:30 p.m. And yesterday, over 2000 fans came out to the 3:30 p.m. practice. The Winnipeg Football Club thanks everyone for attending and their continued support.