2011 CIS Football Team Preview: Ottawa Gee-Gees

Source: Jeff Junke, Ottawa Sports Info

2010 regular season record: 7-1
2010 regular season standings: 1st in OUA
2010 playoff record: 1-1
2010 playoff finish: Lost 26-25 to Western in OUA final

The 2010 season was one of excitement and heartbreak for all Gee-Gees fans. After getting out to a blazing 5-0 start, including a nail biting 20-19 win over long-time rivals Western, the Gee-Gees were suddenly brought back down to Earth with a humbling 40-35 loss to the University of Toronto. The Gee-Gees would close out their season with two dominant wins over Laurier and Guelph however, good enough to clinch first overall in the OUA. The post-season however was more of a challenge for the Garnet and Grey. Facing off against Laurier in the OUA semi-final, the Gee-Gees squeaked out a 32-31 win over a determined and gritty Golden Hawk squad. Making their second Yates Cup appearance in three years, the Gee-Gees were forced to face off against Western for the second time, a team they had only beaten by a point before. Trailing most of the game, the Gee-Gees came alive in the final minutes to lead 25-23. However after a powerful drive down the field, Western would dash the dreams of the almost 7 000 Gee-Gees fans in attendance with a late game field goal to win 26-25.

Despite ending on a disappointing note, the 2010 Gee-Gees football season was extremely successful. In all, eight Gee-Gees were named to the OUA first all-star team including Brad Sinopoli, Steven Hughes, Pat D’Amico, Cyril Adjeitey, Matt Bolduc, Sébastien Tétreault, Chayce Elliot, and Matt Falvo, while six of these players were named to CIS all-Canadian teams (three first team, three second team). Sinopoli’s success also didn’t end there as he would go on to win the 2010 OUA most valuable player trophy, and the 2010 Hec Crighton Award, all before being drafted, and later signed, to the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders.

The 2011 season looks to bring in some new blood and new veteran leadership to the Gee-Gees storied football tradition, on both the coaching and playing fronts. This, the 111th year of football at the University of Ottawa, features a coaching staff made up of Jean-Philippe Asselin as head coach, dropping the interim label from last year, assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Cory McDiarmid, offensive coordinator Chris Coulson, offensive line coach Irv Daymond, and defensive line coach Corey Goff. Josh Sacobie, the 2007 OUA most valuable player, is also returning to the Gee-Gees as a quarterbacks coach following a silver medal performance with Team Canada at the senior football world championships in Austria.            

With a strong team of recruits, and a strong team of coaches, all with valuable CIS and CFL experience, expectations for the forthcoming 2011 season are very optimistic.

Quote from head coach:

“I am very happy and honoured to be back as head coach for the uOttawa football team. It’s exciting to have the opportunity to keep building on what we achieved, and to keep working towards the ultimate goal of bringing home the Vanier Cup.”

Head Coach: Jean-Philippe Asselin

- Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2011): 2
- Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2011): 2
- Career regular season record with team: 7-1
- Career regular season record in CIS: 7-1
- Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs only): 8-2
- Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only): 8-2

OFFENCE

Number of returning starters: 27 players in total

Key returning players:

Steven Hughes, Rec
A transfer from York in 2009, Hughes enters his third season with the Gee-Gees and his final year of eligibility in CIS football. A three time OUA all-star (2007, 2010 – 1st team, 2009 – second team), Hughes has also made a name for himself in the Gee-Gees all-time record books even after his short tenure with the team. Currently, the Ottawa native sits second for number of receptions in a season (57, 2010), third in receptions in a career (13, 2 Oct, 2010 vs. Toronto), and fourth for most yards in a game (183, 3 Oct, 2009 vs. Laurier). If Hughes has another season like his last, where he made 57 receptions for 664 yards and four touchdowns, good enough second overall in the OUA, he will also break Chris Evraire’s Gee-Gees record for most yards in a career (3031), where he sits just under 600 yards back (2435).

Brendan Gillanders, RB
Gillanders returns for his third season with the Gee-Gees after sitting out most of last season due to injury. Initially a bright light in the Gee-Gees arsenal in his rookie season, where he rushed 137 yards in 31 attempts and made 25 receptions totalling 232 yards, Gillanders will look to make an impact in the wake of notable departures such as Cyril Adjeitey and Chayce Elliot. Gillanders was healthy enough to play last year’s Yates Cup against Western however, making six receptions for 80 yards and rushing 52 yards in 12 attempts, recording one touchdown.  

Shavin Fernando, OL
Standing at 6 feet, 3 inches and coming in at an impressive 292 pounds, Fernando will be the new man in charge on the offensive line after the departure of Gee-Gee star veteran Pat D’Amico. Going into his third year of eligibility, Fernando will be looking to tackle his new status as a team captain full on.

Alex Morrison, FB
Going into his fourth year of eligibility with the Gee-Gees, Morrison will provide some size and valuable experience in his new and enlarged role on offence. The Ottawa native and criminology major will build on consistent results from the past two seasons. In three games last season, Morrison rushed for 28 yards in 6 attempts and 28 yards in four attempts in one of uOttawa’s two playoff games. Both Morrison and Coach Asselin are excited about this new role on offence. 

Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):

Matt Bergeron, OL, Ottawa Sooners
Bergeron comes to the Gee-Gees from the Ottawa Sooners after being named a 2010 Ontario Football Conference (OFC) all-star. Bergeron was also a member of the Sooner’s OFC championship team in 2009.
 
Maxime Lepinay, Rec, Université de Sherbrooke
Lepinay is changing team colours from Vert et Or to Garnet and Grey this season as he joins to bolster a large contingent of receiving veterans. A participant in the 2007 Bol d’Or, Lepinay made six receptions for 72 yards, but sat out most of the 2010 Quebec football season. Lepinay will look to make an impact with the Gee-Gees this season, his first in the OUA.  

Key losses:

Brad Sinopoli
Matt Bolduc
Pat D’Amico
Cyril Adjeitey
Alex Fortier-Labonté

DEFENCE

Number of returning starters: 29 in total

Key returning players:

Tyler Sawyer, LB
Now in his fourth-year, this human kinetics major will be looking to continue the success he has experienced for the past two years. Over the past two season, Sawyer has accumulated an impressive 65 total tackles (34 in 2009, 31 in 2010 respectively), including 52 solo tackles (27 in 2009, 25 in 2010) and two sacks in 2010. In last year’s two playoff games, Sawyer also made 12 solo and four assisted tackles. With these stats, Swayer has finished second among Gee-Gees behind only Mike Cornell in 2009 and James McNaughton in 2010. Along with teammates Chris Daly and Trevor Seal, Sawyer’s job this year will be to help fill the leadership and experience gaps left by McNaughton and Sébastien Tétrault.

Chris Daly, DB
Charging right behind Sawyer this year will also be fourth-year psychology student Chris Daly. Like Sawyer, Daly has exploded as a real defensive force for the Gee-Gees since his sophomore year with the team. Daly, for his part, has racked up 59.5 total tackles over the past two seasons (30.5 in 2009, 29 in 2010 respectively), including 54 solo tackles (27 in both 2009 and 2010) and five interceptions for 19 yards.

Trevor Seal, LB
Seal, going into his third-year in geography and geomatics at uOttawa, has been a valuable asset since his rookie season with the team in 2009 and has produced respectable numbers ever since. Last year proved to be his best season yet where he started in six games, recording 23.5 total tackles (19 solo, 9 assisted), one interception, and an assisted sack. Seal and the Gee-Gees will hope to see a third-straight year of improvement in 2011.

Nick Lecour, LB
The 2010 Gee-Gees rookie of the year, Lecour will look to take a bigger leadership role this season after starting five games and recording 7 total tackles.

Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):

Matt Kassner, DB, Acadia
Another transfer joining the Gee-Gees is Kassner who is coming to uOttawa after sitting out in 2010 to explore employment opportunities. A defensive back with the Axemen from 2006 to 2009, Kassner recorded 12.5 total tackles and two broken up passes in 2009. 

Alexandre Labonté, LB, Collège de Valleyfield
Labonté will be coming to uOttawa to pursue a degree in business administration, as well as add size to the Gee-Gees D-line.

Kevin Carmichael, DL, Collège François-Xavier-Garneau
A 2010 CÉGEP all-star as a defensive tackle, Carmichael comes to the Gee-Gees after playing for four years with the Élans de Collège François-Xavier-Garneau.

Key losses:

James McNaughton
Chayce Elliot
Sébastien Tétrault

SPECIAL TEAMS

Key returning players:

Matt Falvo, Kicker/Punter
Certainly one of the most exciting Gee-Gees players to watch this season will be Falvo, who is going into his fourth-year of a public administration degree. Last year proved to be Falvo’s best, making 18 of 21 field goals, punting for 2133 yards, totalling 86 points, good enough for third in the CIS, and even recording a surprise touchdown pass. With these statistics, Falvo was named to the OUA first all-star team and to the second academic all-Canadian team for the first time in his CIS career. Falvo also holds the uOttawa record for longest punt (68 yards), sits second for longest field goal (47 yards), and is only 13 field goals away from breaking the record for most field goals made in a career (current record: Ara Tchobanian, 54). With definite skill, strength, and a tireless work ethic, Falvo has a chance to go down as another Gee-Gees great.