Colby Roberts, STFX football

A "message in perseverance," Roberts overcomes injury, diabetes diagnosis to become a starter on X-Men O-line

By Corey LeBlanc

 It was almost three years ago—only a couple of months after the COVID-19 global pandemic started to put a vice grip on Nova Scotia—when Colby Roberts received life-altering news.

The STFX X-Men football player was diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes.

“I wasn’t feeling well. I was always thirsty and I couldn’t stop eating,” he says

Because he was experiencing what are often tell-tale signs of the disease, his mother Tara—who has Type-2 diabetes—decided to test his blood glucose level.

“It was nuts,” Roberts remembers of the sky-high reading of 22 that showed up on the screen. She whisked her son to the emergency room and after further testing doctors confirmed a Type-1 diagnosis; his pancreas was only able to produce little, or no, insulin, which meant his life would now include injections of the hormone that allows glucose (sugar) to enter the body’s cells and produce energy.

Roberts admits, “It was a shock.”

Along with taking insulin, his daily routine now included frequently testing his blood sugar levels to ensure that they are not too high, or too low; both carry health ramifications, if it remains uncontrolled.

“I had to make some changes,” he notes.

Although he “always ate healthy,” Roberts explains that he “really cleaned up” his diet after the diagnosis, which resulted in a “healthy” 40-pound weight loss.

“I eat more candy now than I ever did, which is a little bonus,” he quips of one of the ways in which he restores his blood sugar level when experiencing a low. To maintain a constant eye on his glucose levels, Roberts wears a monitor that sends readings to his phone and Apple watch. During practice, a member of the X-Men training staff monitors his devices. If there is a deviation, particularly a low, they will help the student-athlete spring into action. Roberts keeps what he calls his “first-aid kit” nearby, which is packed with juice, candy and snacks; ingredients that are key to helping him return his glucose reading to a safe level.

“I do everything that I can—make sure I know what I am putting into and doing to my body,” he explains.

While making all these major lifestyle changes, he was also continuing his lengthy recovery from a torn ACL and meniscus, along with a partial one of the MCL, which included multiple knee surgeries.

“It is a great story,” X-Men head coach Gary Waterman says—one that he describes as a “message in perseverance.”

Despite the challenges his student-athlete has faced over the past couple of years, he praises Roberts for being a great teammate.

“Colby never got down—he is always smiling,” Waterman adds.

Although Roberts may downplay the challenges he has faced since his diabetes diagnosis, his X-Men mentor points out, “It wasn’t easy for him.” After making the switch from the defensive to offensive line, the now 6’1” and 316-pound athlete began to earn increased playing time.

“Everyone is so happy for him and his success, it is super exciting for everyone in our program,” Waterman says.

This season, one in which the defending AUS champions have posted a 6-0 record – so far, Roberts has been a stalwart starter at left guard on the White and Blue offensive line.

“I am really enjoying it,” he says. Earning a starting spot on one of the top-10 university programs in Canada is the latest chapter in a football story for Roberts that began in the sixth grade, after his family moved home to Glace Bay.

“I loved it—and I have been playing ever since,” he says.

As for what appealed to him about the sport, Roberts suggests his body type is a perfect fit.

“I have always been a big guy,” he notes.

Roberts laughs as he repeats a sentiment his mother often offered: “You are not meant to be a ballerina.” Describing it as “very unique,” he takes pride in how football has a “place for athletes of all shapes and sizes.”

“And, most importantly, I think, it is the ultimate team sport,” Roberts says.

After playing in the bantam and pee wee classifications, he took the field with the Sydney Academy Wildcats, a neighbouring high school that boasts the only varsity football program in Cape Breton. While moving up the ranks, he also caught the attention of coaches with Football Nova Scotia, including Dave Van Den Heuvel—an Antigonish native, who is now the X-Men’s offensive coordinator.

“When we were with Team Nova Scotia, [Van Den Heuvel] would always ask me to move to the O-line, but I would always say ‘no,’” Roberts remembers, with a laugh. He credits his coach for the mentorship he provided during the transition to offensive line. Nevertheless, although he was used to “playing on both sides of the ball”—something that is commonplace on high school teams with smaller rosters—Roberts admits he initially bristled at the move.

“I couldn’t have done it without him,” he says in crediting Van Den Heuvel for the mentorship he provided during the transition.

Roberts adds, “I am very thankful that it has gone smoothly.”

His successful move to the O-line has been one of the key ingredients in another strong season for the white-and-blue, one in which they led the Atlantic University Sport conference with a perfect 6-0 record at the time of the conversation with Roberts.

Noting that his team is “not satisfied,” he says, “We are staying humble, still grinding and trying to get better every day.”

Roberts explains that they are focused on winning another Loney Bowl as conference champions, and then earning their way to a U SPORTS national title game.

“We are taking it one game at a time.”

Just like he has taken it one day at a time while dealing with the adversity of the past couple of years.

“It didn’t seem like much but, as I talk about it, I guess I have come a long way,” he says.

Roberts praises everyone who has been there for him, including his X-Men coaches, staff and teammates. And, most importantly, his beloved mother.

“She is pretty much my pancreas,” he offers, in an attempt to illustrate how important she has been in helping him navigate living with diabetes. Noting that like any parent, she wants him to be as healthy as possible, Roberts says he would “never be able to do it without her.”

The 23-year-old, who will graduate this spring with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Kinetics, plans to continue his studies toward becoming a physical education teacher.

“I don’t know where I would be [without STFX],” Roberts says, when asked about his Xaverian journey.

He adds that attending STFX is the “best decision that I ever made in my life.”