Paul Woldu: The Juggernaut Returns Home

"This is not your first time, this is not your last time, but this is your damn BEST time!"-Corey Chambiln
"There's nowhere I 'd rather be than here right now."-Paul Woldu
Martin Short mentioned the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the fact that he is a huge fan of the CFL on the June 14th episode of Conan, Conan O'Brien's current late nigh talk show, he also mentioned that there was a time in the CFL (1961-1998) where there were confusingly so, both the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Ottawa Rough Riders. However this should have ended after the 1966 season by virtue of the Saskatchewan Roughriders winning that year's Grey Cup 29-14 at Vancouver's Empire Stadium now Empire Fields where the B.C. Lions returned to play the majority of the 2010 season due to renovations to B.C. Place Stadium for the 2010 Vancouver/Whistler Winter Olympics and the 2011 Grey Cup, which by the way the B.C. Lions won. Renovations included expansion of seating capatcity and a retro fit that included a retractable roof. Ironically the first game played by the Lions at Empire Fields was against the 2010 Saskatchewan Roughriders who would go on to lose the 2010 Montreal Alouettes, after having already lost the previous years Grey Cup to virtually the same team on a too many men penalty, there were 13 men on the fileld, there should only be 12.


Paul Woldu, whom the Riders acquired as a free agent this past off season, played on both of those Alouettes teams. In 2009 he led the Alouettes with 19 special teams tackles, 6 defensive tackles and 1 interception for a 72 yard touchdown. In 2008 with 15 of them, Paul finished third on the Alouettes in special teams tackles. Paul Played in 3 straight Grey Cups from 2008-2010, losing only the 2008 game to the Calgary Stampeders who were quarterbacked by former Saskatchewan Roughrider, Henry Burris, who is now the starting quarterback for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, against whom the Saskatchewan Roughriders play their regular season opener on June 29th.


In 2006 whilst still a member of the Regina Thunder, Paul attended training camp with the Roughriders before his collrge career even began. He was the youngest player at camp at just 21, not turning 22 until September. He played in one pre-season game against the Edmonton Eskimoes. His 2012 regular season home opener will be July 8th againstthose same Eskimoes.


After the 2006 training camp with the Riders, Paul then joined the U of S Huskies. With the CIS Saskatchewan Huskies Woldu was a CIS First-Team All-Canadian and a Canda West First-Team All-Star. He registered 18 tackles, an interception and five knock downs. He played in the 2006 East-West All-Star Game.


For Paul foorball is a family affair, Eldest brother, Bereket (B.K.) Woldu, played for the Miller Marauders, Regina Rams (when they were still a junior team) from 1994-1996 and went on to be the Head Coach of the Sheldon Williams Spartans until the end of 2010 high school football season, his second eldest brother, Peter, went to Campbell Collegiate with a budding rapper, who would later have a couple videos on youtube, an obscure cover called "Lifecheck" by the Pocket Dwellers and a collaboration with Mike Ballan of the Poison classic, "Every Rose has Its Thorn", those videos are no longer available. But, in his only year at Campbell Collegiate (1997-1998 school year), that budding rapper cut a wide swath and left his mark in many areas: Grade 8 basketball and volleyball, volleyball line judge, and met many long term friends including, Danny Elder, Co-Owner of Off Axis, Evan Tyler, who is currently a Toronto based rapper and visual artist, Ira Lee, who is an international rap sensation and Peter Woldu's brother, and Grade 9 Leboldus Golden Sun, Paul Woldu.
Peter also played for the U of S Huskies,but unlike Paul, for whatever reason, he is not living his football dream, he is currently working at the South Albert Shopper's Drug Mart.


"It's great to know where you come from, but it's better to know where you're going!"-Sinoris Moss
If the last four seasons are any indictation, Paul is going to be a great success with the Riders this season and not simply because he is from here, but because he is an immensly talented player and 3 time Grey Cup finalist.


He had 1 pass knockdown in his first pre season game this season.


-Jade Duckett