Football fans at Saint Francis Xavier University, in Antigonish, N.S., are used to cheering for the blue and white. This year, X-Men fans will be cheering for those same colours as National Football League teams vie for a chance to play in the Super Bowl. That’s because a former student, Henoc Muamba, now plays for the Indianapolis Colts, a team that is two wins away from a Super Bowl Championship. St. FX football coach Gary Waterman is more than just a fan of Muamba. “I just think he's a class act, first and foremost, and he's so talented as an athlete,” says Waterman. Muamba was a star player for four years at StFX and was drafted first into the Canadian Football League back in 2010. This is Muamba’s rookie season in the NFL and the former St. FX star played 13 of 16 games for the Colts. Waterman talked to Muamba Thursday morning and says it looks like Muamba could be back in the lineup Sunday against New England. “Definitely becomes more personal when you have someone that you know and you've coached and you've been associated with actually playing, especially playing in meaningful games,” says Waterman. Steve Snyder played with Muamba at St. FX. He says he always believed his teammate would reach the NFL. “You're talking about a guy who's as passionate, as enthusiastic, and as hard working as anybody I've ever met,” says Snyder. “And this isn't just in football, this is in everything.” Hayden Peters is a third year player at X, who wears Muamba's old number, 10. “I use him as motivation,” says Peters. “He really is an inspiration to all of us.” Waterman says the success Muamba has attained in professional football is a positive recruitment tool for St. FX and Atlantic University Sport. “We have a guy that came to St. FX and is now in the NFL and he played his entire career here, so it can be done,” says Waterman. It's often been said the St. FX ring is one of the three most recognized in the world. If Muamba and the Colts go all the way, he could be the first person to have, two of the three. With files from CTV Atlantic's Dan MacIntosh
