Colston Loveland and his family arrived in Chicago Friday via a non-stop flight from Twin Falls, Idaho, less than 18 hours after the Michigan tight end had been selected by the Bears with the 10th pick in the draft.
"It's been a crazy last couple 24 hours, for sure," Loveland said during his introductory press conference at Halas Hall. "[A] blessing, excited to be here … I love everyone here. The coaching staff is great. I'm excited to go win games."
Chicago is located about 1,600 miles from Loveland's hometown, Gooding, Idaho, but it may seem more like a million miles. The new Bears tight end described Gooding (population 3,802) as "like the smallest town in Illinois; just a bunch of land, horses, cows, pivots, windmills in the mountains."
Despite the vast differences between Chicago and Gooding, Loveland does not appear to be concerned about culture shock. After all, he traveled even further at the age of 18 to attend Michigan, which boasts an enrollment of more than 50,000 students and the largest stadium in the United States with a capacity of 107,601.
"I've always been pretty personable, and I love meeting new people," Loveland said. "It was different, for sure. I didn't know anyone at Michigan when I got there. But being on a team helps a lot. My art class was super close to the dorms, so I made friends pretty easy. Then, like I said, being on a team, you're around [teammates] every day, so you get to know people. I loved going to Michigan. I love trying new things. I love meeting new people."
Loveland was unfazed transitioning from small town prep star to playing in front of 100,000-plus fans at the Big House for a national powerhouse.
"At the end of the day, it's just football," he said. "You're going out there and playing the same sport you've been playing since you've been growing up, and if you overthink it and think too much, it can kind of get in your way. But I just like to think it's just football. I've been doing this for a long time. There might be a little more people in the stands, but just keep the main thing, the main thing."
While Loveland will embark on a new chapter of his life Chicago, he'll always remain proud of his background. In what resembled a scene from the movie "City Slickers," Loveland explained to reporters what it was like growing up in Gooding. He discussed riding calves and steers in rodeos, branding cows and building barbed wire fences.
It all added up to Loveland becoming "Idaho tough," a term that Bears general manager Ryan Poles used to describe the 6-6, 248-pounder.
"Where I'm from, really Idaho as a whole, all everyone does there is work," Loveland said. "Seeing how my parents grew up, they just worked their butts off. Everyone in the community [is] very blue collar. It's just a different lifestyle up there. I'd say that's what 'Idaho tough' is. Growing up that way, it's just different. I wouldn't say a lot of people are built for it. But it's a blessing being from there. I learned a lot of lessons and it's going to take me a long way."
During Loveland's Zoom call with reporters Thursday night, taxidermy heads of elk were visible on the wall behind him. It turns out he watched the draft at his aunt and uncle's home in Gooding. It's the same location he visits every April to brand baby cows—something he did as recently as two days before the draft.
"They always have a branding every spring," Loveland said. "It's pretty much like 800 heads. We're out there in the mornings, you're in a group, so it's two people. I'm holding the head, so I'll flank it. Someone's on the back legs holding the legs and you'll brand it, vaccinate it, flip the ear, do whatever. That's what branding is. Stuff like that is always fun; to get together, spend time with the family, friends and get some work done."
The hard work Loveland has done on the farm has benefitted his football career. Poles said Thursday night that the hand strength the tight end developed in part by erecting barbed wire fences is evident on his game tape.
"My brother [and I], we'd always lay fence, build fence," Loveland said. "You lay it down in the winter. Most of the time it breaks anyway, so you have to put the fence back up. If you've ever played with barbed wire, it's tough. It will rip you up, for sure."
