KADE GATES

Running back Shane Buchanan is entering his fourth year of eligibility with the University of Saskatchewan football team. Buchanan has always called Saskatoon home and has been with the Huskies for six years now.

“This is my sixth year on the team, most people don’t know that you can play six years but because I red-shirted, I’m now in my sixth year,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan first suited up for the Huskies in the 2011–12 season, playing in two games as a special teamer and earning a single tackle. Buchanan has known that he wanted to be a Huskie since he attended St. Joseph High School in Saskatoon.

“I’m a local guy, from Saskatoon so the decision was easy. If you’re from Saskatoon, there’s nowhere you’d rather play than the U of S,” Buchanan said.

This season is Buchanan’s fourth year playing running back with the Huskies, and he came into it off of a big season last year, where he averaged 67 all-purpose yards a game. He has made the most of his playing time this year too, averaging 5.6 yards per carry while adding a touchdown and 50 yards receiving out of the backfield.

Although this season Buchanan lost his starting role in the offence to second year back Tyler Chow, he has adjusted to his new role well.

“It’s a difficult adjustment not knowing exactly how much you’ll play on offence or when I will, but I’ve been really focused on doing well on special teams,” Buchanan said. “I’m getting a lot of action on special teams, so it keeps me warm and ready when I need to come in at running back. Mentally, you just need to prepare like you are going to play and assume that you will play and make sure you’re ready when you do get called.”

The Huskies are at a crossroads in their season, sitting with a 2–2 record and in a four-way tie for second in the Canada West, but Buchanan and the Huskies are trending upwards, having won their last two games and seeming to be as focused as ever.

“Right now, we’re just taking it one game at a time. Of course we always plan to make playoffs and we just need to work on getting a win each week so that we can get into the playoffs and hopefully host a home playoff game,” Buchanan said.

Over the years, Buchanan has amassed many great football memories but his favourite memories are of the annual Support Our Troops game.

“I don’t know if it’s one specific memory, but I guess the thing I enjoy most about playing here is getting to honor our troops in a game every year in our annual Support the Troops game,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan is a big fan of electronic and house music, and he stays very busy with football and working on his second degree, but still enjoys making the most of his free time.

“While football and school do take up most of my time, when I do have free time I like to play rec sports. Last summer, I played slo-pitch and second term this year, I look forward to playing basketball,” said Buchanan.

Buchanan has already gained a degree in commerce in April 2015. He is now into his first year in the College of Law and has begun studying to become a lawyer.

“I’d like to become a lawyer and work at a firm in Saskatchewan. Ideally, I’d like to stay in the city of Saskatoon,” said Buchanan.