Andrew Nowacki
{{Short description|Canadian football player (born 1980)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox CFL biography
| name = Andrew Nowacki
| full_name =
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| import = no
| position1 = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{Birth-date and age|October 10, 1980}}
| birth_place = Stoney Creek, Ontario (now Hamilton, Ontario)
| number =
| college = Murray State
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lbs = 198
| CFLDraftedYear = 2004
| CFLDraftedRound = 3
| CFLDraftedPick = 26
| CFLDraftedTeam = Edmonton Eskimos
| playing_years1 = {{CFL Year|2004}}–{{CFL Year|2011}}
| playing_team1 = Edmonton Eskimos
| career_highlights =
- Grey Cup champion (2005)
| CFL-archive = https://web.archive.org/web/20150623205449/http://www.cfl.ca/roster/show/id/747
}}
Andrew Nowacki (born October 10, 1980) is a former professional Canadian football wide receiver. He last played for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Eskimos in the third round of the 2004 CFL Draft. He played college football for the Murray State Racers.
College career
Nowacki began his collegiate career at Scottsdale Community College before transferring after two seasons to Murray State University.{{cite web|url=http://www.esks.com/roster/show/id/378 |title=#88 Andrew Nowacki |work=Edmonton Eskimos |access-date=2009-07-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707190407/http://www.esks.com/roster/show/id/378 |archive-date=2009-07-07 }} From 2001 to 2003, Nowacki played in 24 games recording 53 receptions for 608 receiving yards. He led the Racers in receiving as a redshirt senior with 43 catches for 477 yards.
Professional career
Nowacki was selected in the third round (26th overall) by the Edmonton Eskimos in the 2004 CFL Draft.{{cite news |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3028167&l_id=&t_id= |title=Esks pleased with '04 draft |date=April 28, 2004 |work=Our Sports Central |access-date=2009-07-10}} As a rookie, Nowacki rarely played only recording one catch for seven yards.{{cite web|url=http://www.argonauts.on.ca/roster/show/id/378 |title=Andrew Nowacki |work=Canadian Football League |publisher=CFL.ca |access-date=2009-07-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026111525/http://argonauts.on.ca/roster/show/id/378 |archive-date=2010-10-26 }} Entering 2005, Nowacki's roster spot was in jeopardy before the Eskimos final season against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.{{cite news |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Edmonton/2005/06/16/1091233-sun.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912001511/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Edmonton/2005/06/16/1091233-sun.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=September 12, 2012 |title=Last chance to impress |last=Prince |first=Gerry |date=June 16, 2005 |work=Edmonton Sun |publisher=Slam! Sports |access-date=2009-07-10}} He ended up on the team's inactive list to begin the season.{{cite news |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Edmonton/2005/07/07/1121124-sun.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120719201139/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Edmonton/2005/07/07/1121124-sun.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 19, 2012 |title=Lefsrud back in the trenches |last=Prince |first=Gerry |date=July 7, 2005 |work=Edmonton Sun |publisher=Slam! Sports |access-date=2009-07-10}} He was activated on July 14 after running back Mike Bradley suffered a knee injury.{{cite news |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Edmonton/2005/07/14/1131392-sun.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713190220/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Edmonton/2005/07/14/1131392-sun.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 13, 2012 |title=The big driver |last=Prince |first=Gerry |date=July 14, 2005 |work=Edmonton Sun |publisher=Slam! Sports |access-date=2009-07-10}} After making a few appearances, Nowacki suffered a finger injury{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050806.wprinter0806/BNStory/Sports/ |title=Printers debuts on top |date=August 6, 2005 |work=The Globe and Mail |access-date=2009-07-10 }} {{Dead link|date=September 2013|bot=RjwilmsiBot}} causing him to miss a few games. He was re–activated on September 29.{{cite news |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Edmonton/2005/09/29/pf-1240664.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716194012/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Edmonton/2005/09/29/pf-1240664.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 16, 2012 |title=Wiltshire's streak comes to an end |last=Huntington |first=Jonathan |date=September 29, 2005 |work=Edmonton Sun |publisher=Slam! Sports |access-date=2009-07-10}} In 2005, Nowacki recorded 18 catches for a total of 151 yards. Following the selection of Pat Woodcock by Edmonton in the CFL Dispersal Draft, Nowacki was possibly going to lose his job as the Eskimos fifth receiver.{{cite news |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Edmonton/2006/04/13/1533021-sun.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714070606/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Edmonton/2006/04/13/1533021-sun.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 14, 2012 |title=Esks call for Collier |last=Huntington |first=Jonathan |date=April 13, 2006 |work=Edmonton Sun |publisher=Slam! Sports |access-date=2009-07-10}} Despite the Woodcock selection, Nowacki recorded 17 catches for 147 yards in 2006. He was re-signed by Edmonton on January 11, 2007.{{cite news |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Edmonton/2007/01/11/3300073-sun.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721082529/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Edmonton/2007/01/11/3300073-sun.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 21, 2012 |title=Frenzy free zone |last=Huntington |first=Jonathan |date=January 11, 2007 |work=Edmonton Sun |publisher=Slam! Sports |access-date=2009-07-10}} In the Eskimos first preseason game on June 16, 2007, Nowacki recorded four receptions for a total of 46 yards.{{cite news |url=http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/sports/story.html?id=71ff45fc-d2ac-4284-bde6-d2e7a670d5b7&k=8335 |title=Same old, same old for Esks |last=Hall |first=Vicki |date=June 16, 2007 |work=The Edmonton Journal |access-date=2009-07-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509223104/http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/sports/story.html?id=71ff45fc-d2ac-4284-bde6-d2e7a670d5b7&k=8335 |archive-date=May 9, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} After a few injuries to the Eskimos receivers to begin the season, Nowacki began to take a bigger role in the offense.{{cite news |url=http://www2.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/sports/story.html?id=e99ca52e-9622-48cc-bb9b-bb8c02b348bc |title=Esks May Be Juggling Lineup |last=Davis |first=Darrell |date=July 20, 2007 |publisher=Regina Leader-Post |access-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005195326/http://www2.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/sports/story.html?id=e99ca52e-9622-48cc-bb9b-bb8c02b348bc |archive-date=October 5, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} On August 13, 2007, in a game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Nowacki caught his first career touchdown pass.{{cite news |url=http://www2.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/sports/story.html?id=21f4ba55-ec2e-4532-a80a-1d32ec36365d |title=Tiger-Cats laid low by Eskimos' defence |last=Hall |first=Vicki |date=August 13, 2007 |work=Canwest News Service |publisher=The Star Phoenix |access-date=2009-07-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509223533/http://www2.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/sports/story.html?id=21f4ba55-ec2e-4532-a80a-1d32ec36365d |archive-date=2012-05-09 |url-status=dead }} On the following possession for Hamilton their receiver Jason French also a Murray State University graduate, caught a touchdown. The two touchdown catches for Nowacki and French came one minute apart.{{cite news |url=http://www2.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/sports/story.html?id=fee17d47-75b0-4cf7-b863-5e27f16e9c2b |title=Austin in running for coach of the year |last=Vanstone |first=Rob |date=August 14, 2007 |work=The Regina Leader-Post |access-date=2009-07-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509223559/http://www2.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/sports/story.html?id=fee17d47-75b0-4cf7-b863-5e27f16e9c2b |archive-date=2012-05-09 |url-status=dead }} In the game where quarterback Ricky Ray broke Warren Moon's Eskimos record for most passing yards in Eskimos history, Nowacki caught a five-yard touchdown pass.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/ray-eclipses-moon-as-eskimos-rout-als-1.664803?ref=rss |title=Ray eclipses Moon as Eskimos rout Als |date=September 15, 2007 |work=CBC Sports |access-date=2009-07-11}} In 2007, Nowacki had 47 receptions for 465 yards with two touchdowns. In 2008, Nowacki played in every game recording 28 catches for 369 yards with two touchdowns. He started the West Semi-Final and caught three passes for 27 yards.
Personal
He married his girlfriend Erica on February 14, 2009. His sister Renata coaches volleyball at Southeast Missouri State University.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{93rd Grey Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nowacki, Andrew}}
Category:Canadian football wide receivers
Category:Edmonton Elks players
Category:Murray State Racers football players