2011 CIS Football Team Preview: Queen's Gaels
Source: Queen's Sports Info
2010 regular season record: 3-5
2010 regular season standings: 6th OUA
2010 playoff record: 0-1
2010 playoff finish: Loss OUA Quarter-final 40-19
to McMaster Marauders
After coming off a 2009 season that saw Queen’s capture their fourth Vanier Cup in school history, the 2010 team was a much younger squad in comparison to the ’09 juggernaut. Despite the youth and inexperience in some areas, the Gael’s managed a playoff berth after going 3-5 during the regular season. Queen’s lined up against the McMaster Marauders in the OUA quarter-final but were unable to keep pace. In the end were outmatched by a tough offensive Marauders team in a 40-19 loss.
Head Coach Pat Sheahan enters his 12th season with the Gaels and
will look to improve on his career 62-42 as Queen’s head
coach. Last year Sheahan broke the 100 career regular season win
mark spanning 22 seasons split between Concordia and
Queen’s.
The 2010 season allowed for a new generation of Gaels to grow and
blossom on the young talented squad. Rookie linebacker Sam Sabourin
of Stittsville, Ont., led the way on defence in his first year as
he was named the OUA rookie of the year after setting a new school
record for solo tackles in a season with 50. John Miniaci of
Toronto, and Stephen Laporte of Ottawa, Ont., will be looked upon
to bring a veteran presence and strong leadership to an already
sound defensive side of the ball. Defensive wizard Pat Tracey
(Assistant Coach) was at it again in 2010 as his defence allowed
the fourth lowest points against last season and will look to
improve upon that in the upcoming year.
On offence, the Gaels will see second year pivot Billy McPhee of Burlington, Ont., take over the starting role from last year’s starter Justin Chapdelaine of Abbotsford, B.C. Chapdelaine in pursuit of a CFL career will switch from the quarterback position to wide receiver giving the Gaels another threat on the offensive side of the ball. Last year in his rookie season, McPhee got a taste for competition at the CIS level as a backup last year tallying 296 yards and two TDs.
Veteran running backs Ryan Granberg of Sherwood Park, Alta., and John Widgett of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., will be trusted with the ground game for the season with the departure of Jimmy Therrien. In eight games last season Granberg sparkled in a backup role running for 517 yards and four TDs.
Joining Chapdelaine as McPhee’s targets will be Giovanni Aprile of Toronto, who is coming off an impressive 34 receptions for 476 yards in his third season. Gaels all-time leading scorer Dan Village of Abbotsford, B.C., returns for his fifth and final year as the Queen’s kicker and punter. Last year Village passed Jamie Galloway in all-time scoring and now sits alone with 271 points. He will also make a run at the all-time CIS career scoring top 10 as he sits only 25 points away.
The Gaels will look to return to their 2009 OUA and CIS Championship form for the 2011 season.
Quote from head coach Pat Sheahan:
On the upcoming season:
“Although we may have not had the same success from
2009, we certainly grew from our experience and will be able to
transform that into stronger results this season. Our young core
now has a full year of experience under their belt and I have every
reason to believe we will be a contending team this year. We have
several offensive weapons waiting to showcase their skills and the
defence is coming into championship form – I also expect our
special teams to be much improved from last year. We will contend
in 2011.”
On the 2011 recruiting class:
“This year’s recruiting class will help
transform our roster for years to come and keep us in contention as
we mature as a team. We have secured several talented players in
key positions and some will compete for playing time this season.
The future looks very plentiful.”
Head Coach Pat Sheahan:
- Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2011):
12th season
- Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2011): 23rd
season
- Career regular season record with team: 53-35
- Career regular season record in CIS: 101-68-1
- Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs
only): 62-42
- Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only):
116-83-1
OFFENCE
Key returning players:
QB Billy McPhee enters his second season at Queen’s. McPhee dressed for seven games backing up at quarterback last year. He made 10 completions for 119 yards and threw his first career touchdown on Sept. 18 vs Guelph.
RB Ryan Granberg enters his fourth year with the Gaels. Granberg played in all eight regular season games in 2010 season and led all Gaels in rushing yards with 517. His 517 yards were good for sixth in OUA total rushing yards for 2010 season.
OG Derek Morris returns for his fourth year with the team. A participant in 2011 East-West Bowl, Morris saw his playing time in 2010 cut short due to injury. Morris started Queen’s opening game against McMaster before dressing as a backup in each of the Gaels final three games, including their playoff matchup against the Marauders.
WR Justin Chapdelaine returns for his third season with the Gaels. Set a Gaels single game record with six passing touchdowns in win over Toronto on Oct. 9 last season. Chapdelaine finished the season with seven rushing touchdowns and rushed for at least one touchdown in five straight games from Sept. 25 to Oct. 23. He finished ninth in the CIS with 1878 yards passing. Chapdelaine will make the switch from quarterback to receiver for the 2011 season.
RB John Widgett returns for his fourth year at Queen’s. Widgett started every game for Queen’s during the 2010 season and recorded his first career touchdown with a six yard reception on Oct. 23, 2010 vs. York.
Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):
RB Jesse Andrews – Arnprior DHS, Arnprior, Ont.
Jesse stands 6’0, 210 lbs., and is the best RB to have played
at Arnprior in many years. He led the Redmen to the Ottawa Valley
Championship in 2010. Jesse is a great cut back runner who plays
with courage and toughness. He will be an exciting young newcomer
to the Gaels this year.
WR Curtis Carmichael – Birchmount Park SS, Toronto, Ont.
Curtis is 6’0,185 lbs., and is a gifted athlete with great
speed and agility. He will be a big play guy for the Gaels very
soon.
OL Nick Romanchuk - St Robert CHS, Richmond Hill, Ont.
Nick was the biggest offensive line player in the 2011 Canadian
recruiting class. He stands 6’10 and weighs 320 lbs. He will
be a difference maker soon.
Key losses:
2011
REC Devan Sheahan
OL Matt O’Donnell (Cincinnati Bengals - NFL)
REC Blaise Morrison
RB Jimmy Therrien
REC Chris Ioannides
DEFENCE
Key returning players:
LB Sam Sabourin enters his second season in the CIS. A breakout year in 2010 saw him record 64 tackles (setting a new school record for solo tackles with 50), two sacks and one interception on his way to being named the OUA rookie of the year.
DL John Miniaci enters his third year with Queen’s. He was named Gaels defensive lineman of the year in 2010 after finishing second on the team in sacks with 4.5 and third on the team in tackles with 29.
DL Derek Wiggan enters his second season with the Gaels. Wiggan is coming off a rookie season that saw him start in all eight regular season games. He recorded his first career sack in a game against York on Oct. 23.
DB Andrew Lue is set to begin his second season in Kingston with Queen’s. Lue played in seven games in 2010 for the Gaels, recording 15 solo tackles and five assisted tackles. He made first career interception on Oct. 16 vs. Laurier.
LB Stephen Laporte enters his fourth season with the Gaels. Laporte recorded career highs in solo (16) and assisted (13) tackles during 2010 season. He will be leaned on to lead a young and upcoming group on defense.
DL Frank Pankewich is set for his third season in the tri-colour. Pankewich led all Gaels in sacks last year with six and was second on the team in tackles with 29 which are both career highs for the defensive lineman.
Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):
LB Luke Ball - Holy Cross CHS, Kingston, Ont.
Luke was arguably the top recruit in Kingston this year. He has
great versatility and toughness and is very mobile for a big guy
(6’4, 230 lbs.) He will add some intensity to the
Queen’s defense moving forward.
DB Colton Ballou - Harry Ainlay HS, Edmonton Alta.
Colton is the top DB coming out of Edmonton this year. He stands
6’3 and weighs 195 lbs. He was highly sought after by a
number of Canada’s top programs. Ballou is a gifted student
and a great player who will fit in nicely at Queen’s.
DB Christophe Smith - Vanier College, Montreal, Que.
Christophe (6’2, 198 lbs.) held down a starting corner
spot on what was arguably the best pre-university football team in
Canada in 2010. The Vanier Cheetahs from the Montreal suburb of St.
Laurent in the Quebec AAA Cegep league were highly touted and
heavily recruited after the 2010 championship season. Christophe
has a tremendous upside with great size and speed. A great fit for
the Gaels secondary.
Key losses:
DB Alex Daprato
DB Addison Rich
SPECIAL TEAMS
Key returning players:
K/PUNTER Dan Village set a new team record last year with 271 career points, passing Jamie Galloway whose record stood since 1992. Village currently sits 19th (tie) in career regular season scoring in the CIS and 39th (tie) in the CIS with 44 career field goals. Based on his previous season statistics he is expected to break into the top 10 in each category.
Former Players in the CFL and NFL
CFL
WR Rob Bagg - Saskatchewan Roughriders
RB Bryan Crawford – Toronto Argonauts
RB Mike Giffin - Montreal Alouettes
DT Matt Kirk – Hamilton Tiger-Cats
LS Kevin Scott – Hamilton Tiger-Cats
SB Brad Smith – Edmonton Eskimos
LB Chris Smith – Toronto Argonauts
DT Dee Sterling – Edmonton Eskimos
DE Shomari Williams – Saskatchewan Roughriders
NFL
Matt O’Donnell – Cincinnati Bengals