Men’s Football
Carleton to host U SPORTS East-West Bowl for first time in the nation’s capital
U SPORTS sits down with one key athlete, coach, and staff member of each U SPORTS athletic program in our interview series “Getting to know…”
- Name: Aarron Franklin
- School: Bishops University
- Sport: Football
- Position: DB, Free-Safety
- Year of eligibility: 1
- Program: Psychology
- Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
1. What attracted you to Bishop’s University?
The way the Canadian football game is played is what had me interested in coming to Canada. Head coach Cherif Nicolas really expressed culture while I was communicating with him. A slogan Bishop’s University has is “BE AMBITIOUS. BE PURPLE. BU.” This alone told me Bishop’s University is a community that sticks together at all times while allowing you to grow as an individual and that’s exactly what I needed.
2. What’s your favourite memory, and your greatest athletic achievement as a U SPORTS student-athlete?
My favorite memory is playing against SMU. The first time we played SMU we got blown out and I also got injured. The second time we played SMU as a team you could see the development and the change that was coming for the Gaiters. Being my first year at Bishop’s University I received Most Outstanding Player and Newcomer of the Year for football for the 2018-19 season.
3. Where are you hoping your path will take you after university?
Everyone who plays sports usually has a dream of playing at the professional level and that is also mine. If that doesn’t workout I would love to be a mentor for troubled youth, or work with kids and adults with autism.
4. Who’s had the greatest influence on your athletic career?
My mom, sisters and grandma because when things weren’t always the best they have always pushed me to keep going. They were always there step by step wanting the best for me. Also my community because growing up in Los Angeles, it is very easy to get stuck in certain lifestyles that don’t benefit you, so seeing what bad the community could do to you pushed me wanting more for myself.
5. Who is someone in the sports world, past or present, with whom you’d love to have dinner with? Why?
Deion Sanders because as a defensive back he brought that swagger on and off the field. He just had that “it” factor. I need him to give me some pointers.
6. What is your pre-game ritual? Do you have any superstitions/idiosyncrasies around preparing yourself for a game?
I usually just pray and listen to music.
7. What’s your go-to song to get pumped up for practice or a game?
Dreams and Nightmares by Meek Mill
8. What’s your favourite social media account to follow?
The Shade Room on Instagram
9. If you could try another sport, what would it be and why?
I would want to try hockey because I think I’m amazing at ice skating, and since being in Canada, it’s kind of grown on me.
10. What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you as an athlete?
When I was about 12, I used to play basketball and I scored the winning shot in the wrong hoop.