To say Chris Schultz had seen it all as a football player would be an understatement. Not many players, especially Canadians growing up in southern Ontario, could say they had a chance to play U.S. college football at a major university (Arizona), for Tom Landry as a member of "America's team" in the NFL (Dallas Cowboys), and as a member of the CFL's most storied franchise, the Toronto Argonauts.
Not only did the Burlington native Schultz excel at his offensive lineman position, but he also overcame numerous injuries that would have slowed down lesser men. When it came to knee operations, Bobby Orr had nothing on this guy.
"When you include college, I had 17 training camps," said Schultz, looking back with pride and a touch of amusement. "Man, that's over a year in training camps!" Anyone who has suffered through "two-a-days" knows this would not be a pleasurable experience, nor would lining up opposite the 6-foot-8, 290-pound giant on the line of scrimmage.
"One of the nicknames they stuck on me was Sybil, after the character that had multiple personalities," said Schultz, whose intensity on the field contrasted with his easy-going, friendly nature off it. "(Former slotback) Andrew Murray gave it to me, and then the coaches even picked up on it for a year."
While the two-time all-Canadian had many memorable moments as an Argo, including the 1991 Grey Cup win, his favourite surprisingly came during a heartbreaking loss. "The fondest memory I have was the 1987 Grey Cup (a 38-36 loss to Edmonton), because nobody expected us to be there," said Schultz.
During his playing days, Schultz was very active in the off-season representing the Argonauts as a member of their charity basketball team and at other worthy cause functions, a schedule that has continued into his retirement. When he is not busy organizing golf tournaments for the Children's Wish Foundation or overseeing courses in leasing at McMaster University, Schultz can be heard on local radio station THE FAN 590 as a part-time football commentator on their weekly "Football Sunday" telecasts that are broadcast during the season. He was also a main contributor to the 1996 FAN FORECASTER, a football guide book that hits the stores across Canada and in parts of the U.S. on July 15th.
This page, and all contents, are Copyright © 1996 by Toronto Argonauts Football Club, Toronto, Canada.