NFL: invasion of Quebec fans in New York for Matthew Bergeron

In the stands of Metlife Stadium this Sunday, we should not be surprised to hear a few local church words in French and to see several sweaters adorned with the number 65. It is a veritable invasion of Quebec fans who are preparing to descend on New York, with around fifteen buses full of fans coming to support Falcons guard Matthew Bergeron in the duel against the Jets.

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At the heart of this contingent, two buses will leave directly from Victoriaville, the town to which Bergeron remains attached. The idea germinated immediately after the emotional evening of the draft at the Victoriaville golf club, when the Falcons made the local hero the 38th overall pick in the second round.

“We were just waiting for the schedule to come out, hoping for a match on the East Coast so that it would be more accessible to the people of Victoriaville than a match in Atlanta,” underlines Willy Boivin, whose podcast First and Goals was the instigator of the project.

In the first 24 hours, a first bus filled up. In one week, two other buses, including one leaving from Quebec, were full.

“You have to remember that at that time, no one knew that Matthew would be up for it, or even that he would see the field. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into,” Boivin rightly recalls.

A few months later, there is no doubt that Bergeron’s career has taken off well. Not only is he a starter and he played every offensive play for the Falcons, but the analytical site Pro Football Focus just awarded him the highest grade (94.9) among all offensive linemen in the NFL for his game on Sunday last, against the Saints.

Proud people

Guy Désilets, who also gave a big helping hand in the project, was not surprised by the enormous enthusiasm that this trip to New York aroused.

“In Victoriaville, it’s the same! The world quickly became proud of Matthew, as they were of Phillip Danault before him. When people from our area perform, it’s a great feeling of pride.

“For many people who have never attended an NFL game, this will be a great adventure. We will arrange for Matthew to see us from afar in the stands,” he said about the group of 170 people who will invade section 143 of Metlife Stadium.

Among them, there will be the mayor of Victoriaville, Antoine Tardif, who would not have missed the expedition for anything in the world.

“It’s crazy steep! It shows that Matthew is the pride of Victoriaville, but of all Quebecers too.

“I can’t even imagine the butterflies that all the Victoriaville residents and all the Quebecers present in the stadium will have when we see him enter the field. There will be hundreds of us with him on the offensive line to block. We are going to experience this Cinderella story from the front row,” he rejoices.

People at mass!

In the early hours of the morning, a contingent of buses full of football fans prepared to set off for New York.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MARTIN MASSÉ

In the end, there will be many more than the 170 people from Victoriaville. These buses are part of a delegation of eight which are headed by the Rêve Sportif agency.

Then, seven other Express Tours buses also converge on New York with more than 350 Quebecers on board.

“It makes me trip! “It’s certain that it was originally a trip to see a Jets game, but we sold it all by talking above all about Matthew Bergeron,” rejoices Martin Massé, who is behind the trip as manager of Between 2 tailgates and who will feed the hungry.

“We had people on a waiting list and we couldn’t offer more buses because we were limited in terms of hotel rooms. I don’t know if it’s just the Bergeron effect, but I’ve never seen that!” he assures.

Everything is ready for a big football party in New York!

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MARTIN MASSÉ

NFL Canada gets involved

This great story of support even reached the league offices. NFL Canada, which heard of the Quebec epic in New York, decided to send Falcons tuques and a few Bergeron jerseys to be drawn, and then have the events documented by a videographer.

“We’re talking about a big contingent, it’s very special for him and his family. NFL Canada asks us a lot of questions about this trip,” says Bailee Weisz, of the Excel Sports Management agency, which represents Bergeron.

“Quebec fans for Matthew, they are all in. I was in Victoriaville the night of the draft and I quickly realized it. We are very excited. Matthew started training with us around this time last year when he finished his season at Syracuse. He immediately became part of the family and quickly became a leader. Everyone appreciates it,” she continues.

For Football Quebec

Matthew Bergeron will wear cleats bearing the image of Football Québec, a cause he supports as part of the NFL “My Cause, my Cleats” program.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY NFL

To perfectly complete the symbolism of this match, Matthew Bergeron will wear special cleats in the colors of Quebec as part of the “My Cause, my Cleats” program, which aims to support a personal initiative.

In this case, when his shoes are sold at auction in addition to the donations raised, the money will be given to Football Québec for the development of football in the province.