Canadian college football thread

[Steve_Atwater]

I'd like to devote this thread to my personnal favorite type of College football: Canadian college football. Yes, Canadian colleges do play the game, and have done so for a very long time. The very first university football league in Canada, the Canadian Intercollegiate Rugby Football Union, formed by teams in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario, began playing in 1898.

This year, 27 universities from 8 of the canadian provinces will compete under the auspices of the CIS (canadian interuniversity sport), hoping to win the Vanier Cup, awarded anually to the national champions of college ball in Canada. The caliber of play is a few steps down from what you see in the NCAA. But the feel is very much the same. No matter wich side of the border you're on, rooting for your alma mater doesent compare to rooting for your favorite pro team.

Over the next few months, i'll keep you posted on what's happening in the CIS. But first, little disclaimers. A) I don't pretend to be the definite reference in CIS football. I don't have what most people would call "a life", but it hasnt yet gotten to the point where I study boxscores from every game played around the land. I'll just try to give PSF members an overview of what's happening up north. And B) I have no pretention to objectivity either. I'm an alumnus of University of Montréal, and a season ticket holder of that school's program. So, I'm biased.

With that in mind, let's begin, shall we?

Just like the NCAA, the CIS is divided into conferences. But the conferences are based more on geography, and less on strategic alliances targeted at getting huge TV contracts than what you see in the US. The 4 conferences are: The Atlantic conference (teams from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick), the Quebec conference, the Ontario conference, and the Western conference (teams from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia). Teams play eight games season, for the most part. Another difference with the NCAA is that the CIS as a playoff system. Every conference plays a semi-final and a final. Then, the 4 champions play the national semi-finals, and the winners play for the Vanier Cup wich this year, will be contested in scenic Saskatoon Saskatchewan.

Now, here are my picks for this year.

Canadian college football, not unlike its US counterpart, as a few powerhouses, a couple of storied programs who are in the hunt everyear. And no school perhaps fit the definition of a powerhouse like Halifax's St-Mary's University Huskies. In the 4 team atlantic conference, every team is in the mix, but the Huskies have established themselves as perennial favorites, winning 6 conference championships in a row, before finishing 3rd last year. But when you doubt, you go with the Huskies.

The Ontario conference is the conference of parity. No team is able to dominate year in and year out like you see most everywhere else. The Wilfrid-Laurier University (Waterloo) Golden Hawks are the defending national champions. And you can always expect teams like the Western Ontario Mustangs (London) and the McMaster Marauders (Hamilton) to be in the hunt. But most experts are calling this one for the Ottawa University Gee-Gee's. So, I'll go with the flow, but you've been properly warned that I could be wrong on that one.

The west as it's own super power: Last year's national finalists from the University of Saskatchewan. They're number 2 in the pre-season top 10 rankings, and it is widly expected that they will run away with the west again this year.

Mostly thru lying, stealing and cheating, Québec City's Laval University Rouge et Or as established itself as a dominant force in Canadian college football, winning three National crowns in just 9 years of existence. But this year will be the changing of the guard in Québec. The Montréal University Carabins under rookie head coach Marc Santerre, will roll to a 7-1 record, and avenge back to back conference championship game losses, inflicting Laval a early exit they so badly deserve. Then, they'll win the Vanier Cup, but we'll focus on that later. Laval and Concordia University (Montréal) will be tied at 6-2. Sherbrooke University will place 4th, ahead of Bishop's (Lenoxville) and the Mcgill university Redman (Montréal) who didn't play out they're 2005 season after the program was rocked by a hazing incident, will struggle in a big way.

So there you have it. I wish everyone here on PSF a good Canadian college football season. We'll see you at the ballgame ;)

[Steve_Atwater]

The first big clash of the season in Canadian college football will happen this sunday. Les Carabins de l'Université de Montréal (ranked #3 in the country) will square off with Le Rouge et Or de l'Université Laval (ranked #1), in the first of two (and most probably three) meetings between the two clubs this season. This game will be played on Laval's home turf in Québec, with the rematch in Montréal coming on October 28th.

Also worth noting, in the Ontario conference, Ottawa (#4) meets Wilfrid-Laurier (#5).

Little movement in the national rankings this week, but we may just have a new front-runner on monday, we'll see.

position/team/record/ points/ first place votes/ last week

1. Laval (0-0) 147 (13) 1
2. Saskatchewan (1-0) 130 (1) 2
3. Montréal (0-0) 112 3
4. Ottawa (1-0) 104 5
5. Wilfrid Laurier (1-0) 89 (1) 4
6. McMaster (1-0) 75 6
7. Manitoba (1-0) 53 9
8. Acadia (0-0) 47 7
9. UBC (1-0) 22 NC
10. Alberta (0-1) 16 8

[Steve_Atwater]

The first big confrontation of the season lived up to his billing. The Laval Rouge et Or (#1) squeaked one by the Carabins de l'Université de Montréal 25-20. Montréal lead 20-8 midway trhu the 3rd quarter, but the Rouge et Or came back to preserve it's number 1 ranking.

Saskatchewan defeated Regina and remains at number 2. The Ottawa Gee Gee's defeated the defending national champions of Laurier to affirm themselves as the front-runners in the Ontario conference. They move up one spot in the National rankings, at number 3. Montréal comes in 4th while the Marauders of Macmaster round out the top 5.


1. Laval (1-0) 149 (14) 1

2. Saskatchewan (2-0) 130 (1) 2

3. Ottawa (2-0) 116 4

4. Montréal (0-1) 107 3

5. McMaster (2-0) 79 6

6. Manitoba (2-0) 76 7

7. Acadia (1-0) 54 8

8. Wilfrid Laurier (1-1) 49 5

9. UBC (1-0) 28 9

10. Alberta (1-1) 15 10

[brady_branch]

Who's leading the Atlantic conference?

Ottawa's looking mighty good there.

[Steve_Atwater]

St-FX and Acadia are both at 2-0, but Acadia is ranked higher in the national standings right now.

[brady_branch]

St-FX is my favorite, probably.

[Steve_Atwater]

After a short break, back with the Top 10 in the CIS for this week.

1. Laval (4-0) 150 (15) 1

2. Saskatchewan (5-0) 132 2

3. McMaster (5-0) 121 3

4. Manitoba (4-0) 100 4

5. Ottawa (4-1) 87 5

6. Concordia (4-0) 80 6

7. Laurier (4-1) 58 7

8. Montréal (2-2) 40 8

9. Alberta (3-2) 22 10

10. UBC (2-2) 13 NC

The big game of the week will be the matchup between #2 Saskatchewan and #4 Manitoba in Saskatoon on saturday. We'll also keep an eye on #7 Laurier taking on #3 McMaster in Hamilton. Those games will go a long way in determining the final standings in the West and in Ontario.

[brady_branch]

Let's see... since Saskatchewan and Manitoba can't both lose, I'm not sure who I want to win. In the other one, though, it's gotta be McMaster.

[Steve_Atwater]

It was a bad week to be a top 10 team playing at home against a lower ranked top 10 opponent. Both Saskatchewan and McMaster lost, thus slipping in the rankings.


1. Laval (5-0) 148 (13) 1
2. Manitoba (5-0) 137 (2) 4
3. Saskatchewan (5-1) * 100 2
4. Ottawa (5-1) 100 5
5. Concordia (5-0) 97 6
6. Laurier (5-1) 90 7
7. McMaster (5-1) 58 3
8. Montréal (3-2) 44 8
9. Alberta (3-2) 28 9
10. UBC (3-2) 23 10

The big game this weekend will be #5 Concordia travelling to Québec to take on #1 Laval on sunday.

[brady_branch]

Where's Concordia located? I love Quebec as a city, and I've visited Laval (my dad got his Masters there!), so I'm not sure who I'm going for in that one.

Not looking too good for Montreal there... :(

[Steve_Atwater]

Concordia is the "other" english university in Montréal. Kind of in the shadow of McGill.

The key for the Carabins will be to win the next two games on the road against Bishop's and Sherbrooke. It's makeble. Then we'd be 5-2 before the game against Laval at home on the last weekend of the season. We'll have to win some games on the road if we want to get out of the conference, but the defense is what wins games, especially in the playoffs. And the Carabins' defense as been playing better and better, so everything is possible.

[brady_branch]

Mon équipe préferé en Québec est le Rouge et Or, parce que mon père a étudie-la.

How horrible was that?

[Steve_Atwater]

(deleted by Steve_Atwater)

[Steve_Atwater]

Mon équipe préferé en Québec est le Rouge et Or, parce que mon père a étudie-la.

How horrible was that?


Hey you're pretty close my friend. It's "Mon équipe préférée au Québec est le Rouge et Or, parce que mon père a étudié là".

Well done

[Steve_Atwater]

We almost had a new number 1. Laval barely hung on to defeat #5 Concordia on sunday. Besides that, it was a rather uneventful weekend. Saskatchewan dropped to number 6 after loosing for a second straight week, this time to provincial rivals Regina, on a rouge on the very last play of the game. Wich is kind of a lame way to win a football game but it's legal. So I guess we have to not hate the player, but rather hate the game...

1. Laval (6-0) 148 (13) 1
2. Manitoba (6-0) 137 (2) 2
3. Ottawa (6-1) 112 4
4. Concordia (5-1) 102 5
5. Laurier (6-1) 94 6
6. Saskatchewan (5-2) 78 3
7. Montréal (4-2) 55 8
8. Alberta (4-2) 42 9
9. UBC (3-2) 26 10
10. Western Ontario (5-2) 16 NC

No top ten matchup this weekend in the CIS. Maybe Regina can pull another upset against #2 Manitoba. Or maybe the teams from the maritimes can come out of nowhere and cause trouble for the Québec teams. But don't be surprised if it's status quo in the standings when I post here again.

[brady_branch]

Le Rouge et Or ont gagné! Mon équipe préférée en le (top 10) est Ottawa, parce que mon cousin étudie-la.

[Steve_Atwater]

Well, it was a tough weekend to be a favorite in Canadian college ball. The #1, #4, #8 and #9 ranked teams in the country all went down to defeat. If the losses of number 1 Laval, 7-2 against #6 Montréal (the lowest scoring game in the CIS this year) and number 4 Concordia 29-15 to unranked Sherbrooke were rather inconsequential, both teams having secured home playoff games for next weekend already, the same can't be said for McMaster and Windsor who are both out. Since they have one more round of playoffs to play, the Ontario conference started a week earlier than the other conferences. And both favorites lost.

In the west, Manitoba won to boost it's record to 8-0, wich should assure them of going into the playoffs as the number one ranked team in the land.

That means the matchups for next week's conference semis are set. They are:

In Québec: McGill vs Laval
Montréal vs Concordia

Ontario: Queen's vs Ottawa
Western vs Laurier

West: British Columbia vs Saskatchewan
Regina vs Manitoba

Atlantic: St- Francis Xavier vs St-Mary's
Mount Allison vs Acadia

My picks will be coming up a little later on

[brady_branch]

I know next to nothing about Canadian college football, but I know a fair bit about Canadian colleges, and I want SFX to win the Atlantic, UBC to win the West, Ottawa to win Ontario, and Laval to win Quebec.

[Steve_Atwater]

Well, things get serious in the CIS this weekend. So here are my picks for the semi-final games to be played tomorrow.

In the Atlantic, I said it in my first post, when in doubt, you go with St-Mary's. So I'm picking them over St-FX, and Acadia will most probably defeat Mount Allison. Then again, who wouldn't?

Ontario: Ottawa shouldn't have much trouble with Queen's. But here's the upset special. Western over Laurier, who werent so impressive this year when they faced good teams.

West: That's pretty straight forward. Saskatchewan will face Manitoba in the conference finals. But expect the Bisons to have a tough time against Regina.

Finally, Québec. I would like to see McGill beat Laval. But it probably won't happen. When the two teams met in the regular season, McGill took an early lead thanks to their solid passing game, but Laval came back in the second half. The forecast is for great passing weather, wich gives Mcgill some hopes. But they'll fall short, unfortunately.

Laval 30-17

And probably the best matchup of the weekend, Montréal at Concordia. There will be a lot of Carabins fans in the stands at Concordia, including yours truly. Concordia really pounded the Carabins in their regular season matchup.

Here are the two keys to the game in my book:

Key #1 may very well be the health of a player I'm pretty sure most Carabins fans are unfamiliar with. FB Jonathan Lapointe left last week's game against Laval with a leg injury. He's a key element in the Carabins ground game. Montréal will have to keep all-CIS LB/safety Sammy Okpro in check, to allow RB Joseph Mroué to do his thing on the ground. If Lapointe isnt playing, that might be hard to do.

Also, big matchup on the other side of the ball. Giving QB Scott Syvret time to pass is of critical importance for the Stingers. So watch the matchup between second year speed rusher extraordinaire Martin Gagnier of Montréal, and whomever lines up against him. Those are the matchups I'll be watching, while rooting loudly for my Carabins.

In all and all, a hard fought game, with Montréal prevailing 15-12.

[Steve_Atwater]

Well it was a bitter end to the season for the Carabins de l'Université de Montréal on saturday. A 23-3 loss at Concordia, altough it can hardly be called a road game since there must have been at least 60% of Montréal fans in the stands.

There were two major plays that changed the game. One, at 6-0 Concordia in the second quarter, the Carabins went for it on 3rd and 1 at the goal line and failed to score. Then, trailing 6-3 in the third, we intercepted a pass from QB Scott Syvret, interception that was called back on a horrible, horrible roughing the QB call by the referee. Concordia scored on that same drive and never looked back.

Anyhoo, season is over. Little disapointing, but perhaps we had to high hopes for this team, with a rookie coach and a pas-de-deux at quarterback. But most of the big elements will be back next year.

There's always a nect year.

Elsewhere, no real surprises. It'll be Concordia vs Laval in Québec, Laurier vs Ottawa in Ontario, Saskatchewan vs Manitoba in the West and St-Mary's vs Acadia in the Atlantic.

[Steve_Atwater]

Time for my picks:

I'm going with: St-Mary's

Laval :(

Ottawa

And the upset special:

Saskatchewan

[Steve_Atwater]

There will be no undefeated teams in the CIS this year.

My upset special paid off as the Saskatchewan Huskies ousted the only team that had gone undefeated so far, #1 Manitoba in last weekend's western final.

On saturday, the Huskies will have to travel to Ontario to face that province champions, the Ottawa Gee Gee's, in the Mitchell Bowl (a.k.a. national semi-final #1). I don't believe the Huskies will get trough that one. Ottawa 19-6.

Turns out I had another upset special. I tought St-Mary's were favorite against Acadia, they were underdogs. And Acadia won. But the result of that game frankly don't matter much. All Acadia got was bragging rights in a rather weak atlantic conference... and they'll also get a spanking courtesy of Laval in tomorrow's Uteck Bowl (national semi-final #2). Perhaps, perhaps, the Axeman could pull out the upset if they were hosting the game. But in Québec City, in front of 13-14 thousand enthousiastic Rouge et Or fans, I'm this close to betting the meal money on Laval. Big. 38-7

So, Laval vs Ottawa in the Vanier cup in 8 days. Should be a dandy.

[brady_branch]

I could only be marginally happier.

[Steve_Atwater]

The Hec Crighton award, the Canadian equivalent of the Heisman trophy, was awarded last night during a banquet held in Saskatoon Saskatchewan, site of tommorow Vanier Cup. Here's the Canadian press story about the evening.


Windsor Lancers running back Daryl Stephenson wins Hec Crighton Award

TIM COOK



SASKATOON (CP) - Ask Daryl Stephenson about his aspirations and the Windsor Lancers running back gets right to the point.

"I want to play football as long as I can," he says. "I'll do anything, I'll play anywhere. I just want to play as long as I can and that is what I am focused on right now." Stephenson's plans were given a boost Thursday when he won the Hec Crighton Award as Canadian university football's most outstanding player, one of four athletes honoured at the annual university awards night.

Concordia Stingers linebacker Patrick Donovan won the Presidents' Trophy as the most outstanding defensive player for the second straight year, Waterloo Warriors tackle Chris Best won the J.P. Metras Trophy as the best down lineman and Calgary Dinos quarterback Dalin Tollestrup won the Peter Gorman Trophy as the top rookie.

Stephenson, a 23-year-old human kinetics student in his third year at Windsor, claimed his second straight CIS rushing title with 1,140 yards on the ground, becoming the first player to rush for 1,000 yards in three straight seasons,

The six-foot-two, 220-pound junior also led Ontario and tied for second in the nation with 11 touchdowns. He led the Lancers to a 6-2 mark and their first home playoff game since 1976.

Stephenson credited his physical style as one of the keys to his success. He said he was a speedster in high school, but in university he learned that he had to give the hits as much as he took them.

"My coaches really stressed that a lot," he says. "I noticed that when you start being a physical runner, defenders start to back off and that is when the big runs come."

Stephenson beat out Acadia receiver Ivan Birungi, Laval quarterback Benoit Groulx and Regina Rams pivot Teale Orban for the award.

Western receiver Andy Fantuz, who now plays for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, was last year's winner.

Donovan is the second player to claim the Presidents' Trophy in consecutive years, joining UBC's Mike Emery who won in 1981 and '82. Donovan finished with 48 1/2 total tackles, two sacks and an interception in leading one of the most dominating defences in the country.

The trophy has actually been in the Donovan family for three years. His brother, Mickey Donovan, who also played with Concordia, won the award in 2004.

"I guess it's the blood," Patrick Donovan said after he was given the award. "You'll have to talk to my dad about that."

Also nominated were Wilfrid Laurier linebacker Jesse Alexander, Acadia linebacker Steve Faoro and Manitoba linebacker Cory Huclack.

Best, chosen fourth overall in the 2005 CFL draft by the Roughriders, dominated at left tackle with his strengths at trap and run blocking. Coaches praised his ability to make primary, secondary and even tertiary blocks.

He was happy to get the recognition in a province where he one day might play.

"I've already been drafted so it can't really help my draft status," Best said. "I guess it just makes me slightly more high profile coming in."

Acadia guard Adam Rogers, Saskatchewan offensive lineman Jordan Rempel and Montreal defensive end Martin Gagne were the other finalists.

Tollestrup was Calgary's starting quarterback despite being just 18 and excelled behind an injury-plagued offensive line. He passed for 1,941 yards and six touchdowns and finished second on his team with 258 rushing yards.

He is looking forward to being a key member of the Dinos into the future.

"We were definitely young this year, so big things to come in the future," Tollestrup said. "All I can say is big things coming in Calgary."

Saint Mary's kicker Justin Palardy, Guelph running back Nick Fitzgibbon and Montreal Carabins linebacker Joash Gesse were the other nominees.

[Steve_Atwater]

It'll be a rematch of the 2004 Vanier Cup in a little over 24 hours from now when the Laval Rouge et Or meets the Saskatchewan Huskies for supremacy in canadian college football. As usual, there can be no controversy, no co #1. One team will come out on top, hoisting the Vanier Cup high.

It's a real tough game to call. Laval were strong all season lead by the play of quarterback Benoit Groulx, a solid running game, and a squad of wide receivers lead by Nicolas Bisaillon, who if we believe his problems with the law, might just end up with the Dallas Cowboys before too long.

And that's not saying anything about their defence. Leathal against the run. Tough, but not overwhelming against the pass. If the weather forecasts hold true, and it's 30 degrees celcius below freezing and windy at kickoff time, having a good run defense might just be all you need.

I don't know the Huskies so well, havent seen them play this season. But they have a surprising capacity to bounce back. They seemed down and out after two straight losses during the regular season, but they finished strong, defeated Manitoba and Ottawa on the road in the playoffs, and now, they find themselves at home to play the biggest game of the year.

Can they avenge two straight losses in the Vanier Cup, including a 7-1 loss againt Laval two years ago? That game's pretty much a tossup in my book.

The cup will be won on field position. The biggest player on the field for both clubs might just be the punter. If one out-punts the other really badly, his team will win. I believe it's gonna be that kind of a scratch and claw affair.

And an ugly score probably. 11-8 Saskatchewan.