WINNIPEG 鈥� Nicole Collaros switches on the Zoom chat, apologizing that husband Zach might join in late.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback is trying to get their oldest daughter to sleep, but Sierra doesn鈥檛 like the play call.
鈥淭his is our life,鈥� Nicole said with a laugh during the team鈥檚 recent bye week. 鈥淲e don't sleep, and it just seems to be getting worse. It's supposed to be getting better, but it's getting worse.
鈥淭hree (children) has been the game-changer. Two, we were good. And then three, it's like they all end up in bed with us at some point. It's like we play musical beds. It's wild.鈥�
Reluctant-sleeper Sierra is four-and-a-half years old. Daughter Capri turns three this month and son Dean is seven months.
It鈥檚 a busy household similar to many families, but with the added intensity of a six-month stretch of long days as Zach focuses on helping the Blue Bombers get to a fifth consecutive Grey Cup.
It hasn鈥檛 been a typical season for the CFL team.
The Bombers started 0-4, went to 2-6, won eight straight and then lost to the Toronto Argonauts in a game that would have clinched first place in the West Division. They only grabbed the top spot in the final regular-season game with a field goal as time expired for a 28-27 victory over the Montreal Alouettes.
Now, Winnipeg is hosting the division final against the rival Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, with the winner advancing to the Grey Cup in B.C. on Nov. 17.
Despite such a roller-coaster season, Nicole said Zach remained even keel and didn鈥檛 show added stress at home.
Her No. 1 concern after a game is his health.
鈥淚鈥檒l say, 鈥楢re you hurt?鈥� He鈥檒l say, 鈥楴o鈥� or 鈥業鈥檓 just a bit banged up,鈥欌�� she said.
鈥�(Sometimes) it鈥檚 hard for him to get out of bed the next morning. That鈥檚 very normal. It sounds so crazy. That鈥檚 not normal, but it鈥檚 normal in football life.鈥�
She鈥檒l gauge how he鈥檚 feeling mentally after a loss by saying it was a 鈥渞ough鈥� one, and asking if he鈥檚 all right. He鈥檒l reply that he鈥檒l be OK and then it鈥檚 back to their routine.
鈥淲e order McDonald's after every home game, a late-night cheat, whatever you want to call it,鈥� she said with a smile. 鈥淲e listen to music, generally, and go to sleep.
鈥淭hat's our hanging time after the game, we rarely actually talk about the game.鈥�
The players鈥� spouses and girlfriends often get together, and talked about the team鈥檚 early struggles. They asked each other how their partners were after a loss. The consensus was in a 鈥渂ad mood.鈥�
鈥淏ut now coming up it鈥檚 a totally different end and we鈥檙e going to the West final,鈥� Nicole said.
鈥淚 think I can speak for some of the wives, too. We knew they were going to turn it around. Whatever it took, they're there for each other.鈥�
Becoming a father has made a difference in how Zach handles the inevitable ups and downs in sports.
鈥淲e laugh because I said, 鈥業f this was a game in 2015, 2016, you would have lost it. You would have been really upset or angry for a few days,鈥欌�� Nicole said. 鈥淚 truly think having the kids and a family changed the way he looks at things.鈥�
Nicole was a kindergarten teacher in Toronto when they met in 2015 while he played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. They married in February 2019, a year that also featured his trade from Saskatchewan to Toronto and then to Winnipeg in October.
Although he鈥檚 often at the stadium on practice days for up to 12 hours, he鈥檚 home for dinner and family time before they tag team the bedtime ritual. Next is a bit of couple time, then a few hours in his office watching more film.
Sometimes she鈥檒l drop by the stadium with the kids to grab daddy time between practice and meetings.
Zach tries to watch the girls鈥� soccer and basketball games, as well as their dance and gymnastic classes. On the team鈥檚 off days 鈥� he still goes to the stadium for a workout 鈥� they have family outings.
He gets time for a phone call the next day after seeing the girls play soccer.
鈥淭he beginning of the season, (Sierra) was afraid to go out there on the field when it was actually live action,鈥� he said.
鈥淟ittle by little, she鈥檚 gotten better and better. She ran off today and said to her mom, 鈥楳ommy, I did it, I didn鈥檛 cry.鈥欌��
It鈥檚 those type of family moments he doesn鈥檛 want overshadowed by work, admitting there was some 鈥渨orry鈥� during the team鈥檚 early skid.
鈥淵ou try to not let doubts seep in, but that is human nature,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen things aren鈥檛 going your way, you start to question is the process correct?
鈥淏ut you also have to rely on the foundation of things that got you to where you are. Not just me, but the team in general.鈥�
Nicole is a 鈥済reat sounding board鈥� and understands what鈥檚 required for him to perform at this best.
鈥淒uring the week, my wife carries the brunt of our family鈥檚 life, is really the captain, so to speak, at home,鈥� Zach said.
鈥淭his might come off as a clich茅 or something, but when I walk in the door at five or six or whatever time it is, any worry or stress I had at work kind of falls off.
鈥淚 open the door and my daughters, every single day, they say, 鈥楧ad!' and they run to the door. And then you get into dad mode. 鈥� You鈥檝e got your job and you do your job, but once you get home kind of your second job starts.鈥�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.
Judy Owen, The Canadian Press
