A chance meeting at a local hardware store has a former Lambton College basketball player moving from the hard court to the gridiron.
Jay Trojek was working in the lighting department at Lowe's when he was helping a customer pick out some patio fixtures. That random customer turned out to be Vince Flamia, the recruiting coordinator for the University of Windsor football team.
Flamia says he was out running errands and looking to get started on some home renovations.
"I was just doing some shopping with my fiance and then Jay comes up to help us out. I look at the size of the him, 6'6" frame with big long arms, so I start thinking that this guy must be an athlete. I look over to my fiance and she gives me one of those 'you gotta be kidding me' looks. We started talking about his athletic background and it turned out he played on the Lambton College basketball team. He told me to look up some of his highlight film, the kid has a tremendous vertical, he's so athletic and moves very well."
The Windsor native averaged 4.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 14 games with the Lions' basketball team last season. He thinks some of those skills that helped him excel at basketball, should be able to transfer to football.
"It's been such a change, but I'm getting use to it. I was hitting the court at Lambton College basically every morning, then I started putting on my cleats and doing some training at Norm Perry Park," says Trojek. "My intensity and energy I bring should help me make the switch, both sports are fast pace and I feel with my size and speed can help me excel at both sports."
Trojek, who played football in high school, was looking at continuing his basketball career until this opportunity came about. Turns out, the self proclaimed lighting expert's future in football is a bit brighter.
"Two months ago I never thought I'd be going back to my high school sport of football," says Trojek. "When Vince started talking about me coming to play football for Windsor I thought he was just joking around, I even laughed a little bit. Then he gave me his card and said he was dead serious and it sort of went from there."
The Lancers had the second fewest receiving yards, and third fewest receiving touchdowns in the OUA last year. It's hoped Trojek can help improve the team improve in some of those areas.
"They said they want someone who can get in the red zone, catch jump balls, someone who can make big plays down the stretch," says Trojek. "From my understanding that's what they're looking for, but I'm just here to learn and get better and do whatever they need of me."
Windsor scored a touchdown in just 12 of 23 trips to the red zone last season.
At 22 years old, Trojek is a little older than the typical university recruit, but Flamia says some athletes develop later. He says much more goes into to recruiting a potential player than what they can do on the field.
"My biggest thing is I want to recruit the person first, then we'll develop the student, and then we'll develop the athlete," says Flamia. "If a kid is coming from high school, what does the librarian think about him, or the custodian. Is he picking up after himself? Is he a respectful kid? These are the kind of people we look for."
Flamia says that was the case here, as everyone he spoke to had great things to say about Trojek.
"His coworkers speak very highly of him, his boss had a lot of good things to say about him, he's a dedicated worker and a very respectful kid."
He says it's not everyday you find a new recruit while out running some errands, but thankfully his fiance is a good sport about it. His latest recruit could be beneficial in more ways than one, as Trojek jokes now he'll be able to help Flamia with his renovation needs during the season.
"We laugh about it now, I actually transferred down to the Windsor store for when I'm in school, so I told him if he needs anything I got him covered," says Trojek.
Flamia thinks Trojek should be able to jump in and compete for a spot right away.
Trojek says he's looking forward to helping anyway he can, joking that if they need someone to change light bulbs that he's their guy.
"Well I have plenty of experience and with my size I could probably reach it easier too," Trojek.
