USports Football Roundup

[jerrym]

McGill University is dropping the name "Redmen" from all its male sports teams, including the football team, because of its association with Indigenous groups.



For 2019-20, the teams will be known simply as the McGill teams and a committee will be formed to choose a new name in time for the 2020-21 season. The women’s teams are called the Martlets.

The name was not adopted as a reference to Indigenous peoples but has developed that association at times during the school’s history.

“Today, ‘Redmen’ is widely acknowledged as an offensive term for Indigenous peoples, as evidenced by major English dictionaries,” McGill principal and vice-chancellor said in a statement (https://mcgill.ca/principal/communications/statements/decision-about-redmen-name). “While this derogatory meaning of the word does not reflect the beliefs of generations of McGill athletes who have proudly competed wearing the university’s colours, we cannot ignore this contemporary understanding.”

McGill alumni in the CFL include Bombers LB Jesse Briggs, Eskimos offensive lineman Qadr Spooner and B.C. Lions receiver Shaquille Johnson. NFL offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, now also a doctor, played for the school.
https://3downnation.com/2019/04/13/mcgill-drops-redmen-nickname-over-racial-concerns/

[jerrym]

Eleven of the top 20 CFL Scouting Bureau's top prospects in their final 2019 ranking played for USports teams.



Mathieu Betts, a defensive end from the Laval Rouge et Or, is the top-ranked player on the final prospect list released Friday by the Canadian Football League’s Scouting Bureau in advance of the 2019 Draft.It’s the first time a U SPORTS product has been ranked No.1 heading into the draft since Manitoba’s David Onyemata – who has played the last three seasons with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints – topped the final rankings in 2016.
Betts, ranked No.2 on the first list released in August before moving up to No.1 on the second list in December, was named the nation’s top down lineman for the third consecutive season. He became the first player in history to claim the J.P. Metras Trophy three times and the first to win four major U SPORTS awards during his career, after being named Rookie of the Year in 2015. ...


In total, 11 U SPORTS stars cracked the April Scouting Bureau list, including players from Laval, Laurier, Windsor, StFX, Concordia, Waterloo and UBC.
Fifty-six U SPORTS players were selected in the 2018 CFL Draft out of 69 total picks (81.2 per cent), including four in the first round. ...
Details surrounding the 2019 U SPORTS East-West Bowl – showcasing the next generation of CFL stars that will vie for coveted spots on next year’s Scouting Bureau – will be announced on Monday. The 2018 game featured all 15 U SPORTS prospects to appear on at least one Scouting Bureau list this season below. ...



<tbody>
RANK
NAME
POS.
UNIVERSITY
HOMETOWN
HT.
WT.
AUG. 30
DEC. 6


1
Mathieu Betts
DL
Laval
Montréal, Que.
6-3
250
2
1


2
Shane Richards
OL
Oklahoma St.
Calgary, Alta.
6-8
336
4
2


3
Justin McInnis
REC
Arkansas St.
Pierrefonds, Que.
6-6
205
5
3


4
Zach Wilkinson
OL
Northern Colorado
Vancouver, B.C.
6-5
285
8
17


5
Hergy Mayala
REC
Connecticut
Montreal, Que.
6-2
204
3
6


6
Jonathan Kongbo
DL
Tennessee
Surrey, B.C.
6-5
254
1
4


7
Drew Desjarlais
OL
Windsor
Belle River, Ont.
6-5
325
NR
NR


8
Maleek Irons
RB
Ohio
Chilliwack, B.C.
6-1
229
11
8


9
Kaion Julien-Grant
REC
StFX
Toronto, Ont.
6-2
208
14
13


10
Alex Fontana
OL
Kansas
Toronto, Ont.
6-2
300
9
5


11
Brayden Dickey
WR
New Mexico
North Vancouver, B.C.
6-5
245
NR
NR


12
Samuel Thomassin
OL
Laval
Québec City, QC
6-6
330
12
16


13
Maurice Simba
OL
Concordia
Laval, Que.
6-8
320
18
11


14
Jesse Gibbon
OL
Waterloo
Hamilton, Ont.
6-5
300
NR
NR


15
Robbie Smith
DL
Laurier
Brampton, Ont.
6-2
245
15
12


16
Kurleigh Gittens Jr.
REC
Laurier
Ottawa, Ont.
6-0
191
13
9


17
Michael O’Connor
QB
UBC
Orleans, Ont.
6-5
225
20
19


18
Brady Oliveira
RB
North Dakota
Winnipeg, Man.
5-10
220
7
10


19
Malcom Lee
DB
UBC
Surrey, B.C.
6-2
200
NR
NR


20
Alexandre Savard
REC
Laval
Québec City, Que.
6-5
242
10
7

</tbody>


https://usports.ca/en/sports/football/m/news/2019/04/1454998817/laval-s-betts-headlines-11-u-sports-standouts-on-final-top-20-prospect-list-for-2019-draft

[jerrym]

Here's a list of players who previously appeared on earlier CFL Scouting Bureau's list but did not make the final list. Trivel Pinto was suspended for cocaine use and accepted a two year ban and will have his CFL eligibility deferred for one year.




<tbody>
NAME
POS.
UNIVERSITY
HOMETOWN
HT.
WT.
AUG. 30
DEC. 6


Fraser Sopik
LB
Western
Toronto, Ont.
6-0
196
19
14


Jamie Harry
DB
Ottawa
Lachine, Que.
6-2
200
17
15


Trivel Pinto
REC
UBC
Toronto, Ont.
5-11
190
NR
18


Nate Anderson
DL
Missouri
Toronto, Ont.
6-4
255
NR
20


Dejon Brissett
REC
Richmond
Mississauga, Ont.
6-2
195
6
NR


Jamel Lyles
RB
Manitoba
Surrey, B.C.
6-0
210
16
NR

</tbody>


https://usports.ca/en/sports/football/m/news/2019/04/1454998817/laval-s-betts-headlines-11-u-sports-standouts-on-final-top-20-prospect-list-for-2019-draft

[jerrym]

Here's an article on Aaron Franklin who transferred from NCAA Div I Utah State Aggies to Bishop's University, despite growing up in LA, and won Most Outstanding Player and Newcomer of the Year awards.

https://usports.ca/en/sports/football/m/news/2019/04/2981954305/getting-to-know-aarron-franklin-bishop-s

[jerrym]

QB Chris Flynn will become the first player ever to have his Saint Mary's University jersey (#1) retired. Well deserved.

[AngeloV]

QB Chris Flynn will become the first player ever to have his Saint Mary's University jersey (#1) retired. Well deserved.

Agreed. He was a great QB.

Having said that, he was playing on a team in which attending class was somewhat optional. I had 15 former teammates play with St Mary's between 1990 and 95.

[jerrym]

First round draft picks University of Waterloo 6'5" 300 lb OL Jesse Gibbon, drafted by Hamilton, and Windsor's 6'5" 325 lb OL Drew Desjarlais, drafted by Winnipeg, are visiting the New York Jets this week. They have already attended a Pittsburg Steelers mini-camp.

Six foot four, 250 lb York University SB/ST Nikola Kalinic attended the Buffalo Bill mini-camp on the weekend.

[jerrym]

The url below provides a detailed report on the USports QBs who will be attending CFL TCs this year:

https://www.cfl.ca/2019/05/15/u-sports-quarterbacks-report-cfl-training-camps/

[jerrym]

UBC DB Stavros Katsantonis has been given a four year ban for testing positive for a prohibited anabolic agent (SARM LGD-4033).

[jerrym]

Below is a brief description of three of the eight top 20 prospects on the first CFL Scouting Bureau 2020 Draft report.


2019 Lieutenant Governor Athletic Award finalist (https://usports.ca/en/sports/football/m/news/2019/04/2922738699/aoty) and reigning Hec Crighton Trophy winner (https://usports.ca/en/awards/news/2018/11/400722509/calgary-qb-sinagra-highlights-2018-award-winners-and-all-canadians) Adam Sinagra of the Calgary Dinos highlights a group of eight U SPORTS players on the initial prospect list released by the Canadian Football League’s Scouting Bureau Thursday in advance of the 2020 Draft.

Sinagra, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound quarterback from Pointe Claire, Que., was named the most outstanding player in U SPORTS football last season. The fifth-year arts student had 3,233 passing yards in 2018 to set a new U SPORTS record, as he led the Dinos to a perfect 8-0 season in Canada West play and the most potent offence in the nation, averaging 570.9 yards per game. Sinagra ranked second in the nation in passing touchdowns with 23 and led the conference with a passer rating of 126. He also earned Canada West Hardy Cup MVP Honours in the 2016 season as the Dinos advanced to the Vanier Cup.

“Adam's confidence level and his leadership have really emerged…It's something we didn't see a lot of in his first two years where he was more of a quiet leader. Now, he says the right things at the right time and shares the information with his receivers and line," said Dinos head coach Wayne Harris Jr. " He learned what it's like to prepare as a professional – the way he watches film, makes notes in meetings on our systems and our opponents has significantly changed…Everything he has learned has helped him be a better quarterback.”

Of the eight U SPORTS standouts who cracked the first Top 20 rankings of the season, the first two come from the highly-successful Laval Rouge et Or program with offensive lineman Ketel Assé at No. 7 and linebacker Adam Auclair at No.8, respectively.

Last season, Assé was named a First Team All-Canadian, while Auclair captured the Bruce Coulter Award as Vanier Cup Defensive MVP. Auclair also won the Presidents’ Trophy as U SPORTS Defensive Player of the Year in 2017.

The first Scouting Bureau list also includes players from Alberta, Carleton, Montreal, Waterloo and Western.

​https://usports.ca/en/sports/football/m/news/2019/09/2403547764/cfl-scouting-bureau-calgary-s-sinagra-headlines-eight-u-sports-standouts-on-initial-top-20-prospects-list

[jerrym]

Western Mustangs remain atop the USports football rankings for the third consecutive week with the Montreal Carabins in second place.



The Calgary Dinos (4-1 / 288 points) were the biggest losers in the sixth poll of the campaign, dropping four spots to eighth position after suffering their first conference defeat since 2017.

Rounding out the new top 10 are the No. 3 Laval Rouge et Or (3-1 / 417 points / no change), No. 4 McMaster Marauders (4-1 / 332 / up one position), No. 5 Guelph Gryphons (4-2 / 323 / up one), No. 6 Acadia Axemen (5-0 / 299 / up one), No. 7 Saskatchewan Huskies (3-2 / 297 / up two), No. 8 Alberta Golden Bears (4-1 / 204 / up one), as well as the previously unranked Waterloo Warriors(4-1 / 204) at No. 10.

Alberta edged Waterloo for ninth place thanks to a higher number of media votes. The Warriors crack the national top 10 for the first time since the Sept. 19, 2017 poll (No. 9) and for only the second time since 2007.

Top-ranked Western extended a pair of impressive OUA winning streaks Saturday at Windsor. Thanks to four touchdown passes from veteran quarterback Chris Merchant and 593 yards of total offence, the Mustangs are now undefeated in 26 straight games overall against OUA opponents dating back to the 2016 Yates Cup final and 28 straight in regular season action dating back to Week 2 of the same campaign.

At Montreal, things weren’t as easy for the RSEQ-leading Carabins, who edged visiting Concordia 20-17 thanks to a blocked field goal attempt late in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile at Saskatoon, Calgary suffered a 29-15 setback against the now seventh-ranked Huskies, who also handed the Dinos their only loss of 2018, a 43-18 upset in the Canada West championship match. ...



<tbody>
RANK
SCHOOL
RECORD
MEDIA POINTS
(1ST PLACE)
ELO POINTS

TOTAL POINTS
PREVIOUS RANKING


1
Western
6-0
234 (11)
240
474
1


2
Montreal
5-0
227 (5)
224
451
2


3
Laval
3-1
209
208
417
3


4
McMaster
4-1
188
144
332
5


5
Guelph
4-2
147
176
323
6


6
Acadia
5-0
107
192
299
7


7
Saskatchewan
3-2
137
160
297
9


8
Calgary
4-1
160
128
288
4


9
Alberta
4-1*
140
64
204
10


10
Waterloo
4-1*
92
112
204
NR



</tbody>


https://usports.ca/en/sports/football/m/news/2019/10/2848146439/u-sports-football-top-10-6-western-remains-on-top-calgary-slides-to-no-8

[jerrym]

Sad news for Carleton Raven fans: they lost this year's Panda Game 32-10. However, the game had a record attendance of 24,600 - currently an impossible dream for the Argos.



In OUA football action, the 51st edition of the Panda Game between the Ottawa Gee-Gees and the crosstown Carleton Ravens saw the Gee-Gees post a 32-10 victory and retain the Pedro the Panda Trophy for a second straight year (http://www.oua.ca/sports/fball/2019-20/releases/marquee_matchup_carleton_ottawa_panda_recap). A record (and sellout) crowd of 24,600 showed up at Ottawa’s TD Place for the game. ...

As for the game itself, the Gee-Gees opened the scoring on a rouge, but the Ravens responded with a first-quarter field goal and then a second-quarter touchdown pass from Tanner DeJong to Quinton Soares, taking a 10-1 lead. Ottawa struck back after that, though; a safety put them back within seven, and then Carleton running back Nathan Carter fumbled in the end zone and the Gee-Gees’ Tramayne Stephen recovered for a game-tying touchdown.

After that, Réshaan Davis forced a fumble from DeJong and Francis Perron recovered and took the ball 22 yards for a touchdown that put Ottawa into the lead. Gee-Gees’ running backs Jordan Burgher and Donald Shaw then added further touchdowns, leading to Ottawa’s eventual 32-10 win. The Gee-Gees gained only 211 offensive yards on the day compared to the Ravens’ 405, but their defence came up big time after time, and their offence capitalized when it counted. ...

This win improved Ottawa’s all-time record in the Panda Game to 34-17, and also marked their third win since the game returned in 2013. The Gee-Gees are now 4-2 on the year, and will host the 1-6 Windsor Lancers next week. The 2-4 Ravens will host the 5-1 McMaster Marauders.
https://usports.ca/en/sports/football/m/news/2019/10/1567991766/monday-morning-quarterback-gee-gees-triumph-over-ravens-in-51st-panda-game

[jerrym]

The OUA playoffs began last week with Guelph beating Carleton 22-17 and Waterloo upsetting Ottawa Gee Gees 44-21.



AUS: Mount Allison (4-4) at Bishop’s (4-4)
OUA: Waterloo at Western, Guelph at McMaster
RSEQ: Concordia (2-6) at Laval, McGill (3-5) at Montreal
CW: Manitoba (4-4) at Calgary, Alberta (4-4) at Saskatchewan
Following the conference finals on Nov. 9, champions will battle in the Uteck Bowl (RSEQ at AUS) and Mitchell Bowl (OUA at Canada West) national semifinals on Nov. 16, with the winners advancing to the 55th Vanier Cup on Nov. 23 in Quebec City.
<section class="o-content-block" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(43, 43, 43); font-family: Hind, sans-serif;">FRC-U SPORTS FOOTBALL TOP 10 (#10)

For the second straight season, U SPORTS is using the ELO Rating System for the calculation of its weekly national rankings. Powered by RankR, ELO’s unique algorithm blends a statistical calculation with customized variables that is adaptable across a range of sports. For more information, click here (https://usports.ca/en/news/2018/08/3250287500/u-sports-top-10-launches-new-statistical-format).

<tbody>
RANK


1
SCHOOL


Western
REG. SEASON RECORD
8-0
PLAYOFF RECORD

0-0
MEDIA POINTS (1st place)
205 (11)
ELO POINTS

210
TOTAL POINTS

415
PREVIOUS RANKING

1


1
WESTERN
8-0
0-0
205 (11)
210
415
1


2
Laval
7-1
0-0
199 (3)
196
395
2


3
Guelph
6-2
1-0
157
168
325
3


4
McMaster
6-2
0-0
161
140
301
4


5
Acadia
8-0
0-0
117
182
299
5


6
Montreal
6-2
0-0
157
126
283
6


7
Saskatchewan
5-3
0-0
124
154
278
7


8
Calgary
6-2
0-0
146
112
258
8


9
Waterloo
4-4
1-0
101
98
199
NR


10
Regina
3-5
0-0
27
70
97
NR

</tbody>



Honourable Mention: Carleton (91), Mount Allison (90), Alberta (78), Manitoba (71), McGill (55)

</section>https://www.cfl.ca/2019/10/29/u-sports-top-10-western-still-no-1-heading-conference-semi-finals/

[jerrym]

Acadia Axemen blew out Bishop Gaiters 31-1 in the Loney Bowl with Dale Wright gaining 118 rushing yards and 3 TDs.

[jerrym]

Calgary Dinos dominated Saskatchewan Huskies 29-4 despite losing star QB Adam Sinagra to injury in the third quarter. Backup Josiah Joseph looked very good in going 9/10 to add 95 yards to Sinagra's 197 yards, while the Dino defence limited Huskie RB to "only" 112 yards instead of his average of 166 yards.

[jerrym]

After losing three consecutive Dunsmore Cups, the Montreal Carabins finally defeated the Laval Rouge et Or 25-10, despite Laval QB Thomas Bolduc passing for 331 yards. The Carabins took a 16-3 lead at halftime.

[jerrym]

Despite going 8-0, being ranked #1, and being undefeated against OUA teams since 2016, the Western Mustangs were defeated by the McMaster Marauders 29-13 in the Yates Cup.



Hallett was one of many McMaster defenders leaving their mark on the game, as the league’s second-ranked point preventers shone time and time again to overcome the OUA’s top offence. Eryk Bujalski paced the pack with seven tackles, Nate Edwards picked up two of his team’s five sacks on the day, and Josh Cumber reeled in Mac’s additional interception of the game.

While the defence as a whole stood tall, however, a key figure on the other side of the ball claims Player of the Game honours. After completing over 70 percent of his passes (17-for-24) for 238 yards and establishing a steady presence under centre after a frantic start, McMaster QB Andreas Dueck was awarded the Dalt White Trophy as the game’s Most Valuable Player.

McMaster will now head west to face the University of Calgary, conference champion from Canada West, in the Mitchell Bowl next Saturday, with a chance to play for the Vanier Cup. The Marauders haven’t played in the national title game since 2014; a year in which they also beat the Mustangs in the OUA final in London.
https://3downnation.com/2019/11/09/mac-attack-no-1-western-melts-down-as-mcmaster-pulls-upset-for-yates-cup/

[jerrym]

Chris Merchant has won the Hec Crighton Trophy as UFootball's MOP.



Merchant followed up an impressive 2018 by completing 159-of-232 pass attempts this season (68.5 percent) for 2,378 yards and 14 touchdowns. But Merchant was just as dangerous when he called his own number, rushing the ball a career-high 77 times for another 438 yards and six majors.

The Mustangs’ leader hit his stride in his team’s 40-23 win over Queen’s in Week 2. Merchant’s arsenal was on full display as he passed for a season-high 355 yards with two touchdowns, while adding another score on the ground. He would close the season with a dominant stretch of play, racking up over 1,000 passing yards and nine total touchdowns in the final three wins of the regular season over Windsor, Waterloo, and Ottawa, respectively. Merchant would finish the year topping all OUA quarterbacks in pass efficiency at 167.7. ...

Statistics aside, one of the most impressive aspects of Merchant’s season was an ability to guide an offence that featured several young players on the offensive line, as well as a changing of the guard in the backfield. The poise and veteran leadership he had amassed in Western’s long postseason runs in recent years were imperative to the team manufacturing yet another undefeated campaign.

https://3downnation.com/2019/11/21/western-mustangs-qb-chris-merchant-wins-hec-crighton-trophy/

[jerrym]

At the half Calgary Dinos lead Montreal Carabins in a defensive struggle until late in the second quarter due to pressure on both teams QBs. However, the offences then started to get going.

[jerrym]

Leading 20-13 QB Adam Sinagra did not play it safe with less than two minutes to go. Instead he threw a 43 yard pass completion to Tyson Philpott that helped pin the Carabins near their goal-line when the Dinos failed to gain another first down. Overall Sinagra was the best player on the field, as he also threw two TDs.

[OV Argo]

Leading 20-13 QB Adam Sinagra did not play it safe with less than two minutes to go. Instead he threw a 43 yard pass completion to Tyson Philpott that helped pin the Carabins near their goal-line when the Dinos failed to gain another first down. Overall Sinagra was the best player on the field, as he also threw two TDs.


Congrats Dinos !!! - not surprising that a vet, all-star QB was a big difference here - facing a very tough Carabins D, but one that was depleted by the early loss of an all-star, play-making DB in Dequoy - who might have helped shut-down the Dinos receivers some

An outstanding football game IMO; solid D with some good offence by both teams at times.

[gilthethrill]

I thought CBC did a great job televising the game. I could certainly notice the difference between them and TSN football telecasts.

[OV Argo]

I thought CBC did a great job televising the game. I could certainly notice the difference between them and TSN football telecasts.


Yeah - but too bad nobody steps-up to televise U Sports football all-season long; pathetic, IMO

[jerrym]

Laval U OL Ketel Asse has been invited to attend the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on January 18th.

[jerrym]

Laurier RB Levondre Gordon, who ran for 1,016 yards in 2019 to finish second in Canada and was a First Team All Canadian, has been invited to the all-star Division 1 Football Championship Subdivision Bowl (FCS Bowl) on December 8th.

[jerrym]

Nelson Lokombo of the Saskatchewan Huskies has won the President's Trophy as Canada West's Outstanding Defensive Player.



The product of Abbotsford recorded four interceptions, running two back for touchdowns, setting a new program record for interception return yards with 197. Despite opposing offences steering clear of his side of the field for much of the year, the kinesiology student finished with 4.5 tackles-for-loss and 23.5 total tackles.

“He was my first recruit after I got the job because I knew how good he was and how good he could be,” said Huskies head coach Scott Flory. “He's a special young man and a special talent for sure.”
https://usports.ca/en/sports/football/m/news/2019/11/2602352540/western-qb-merchant-highlights-2019-award-winners-and-all-canadians

[jerrym]

Canadian WR Cory Watson, who gained 4,138 yards as a CFL receiver between 2010 and 2019, has been hired as offensive assistant and receivers coach for McGill.

[jerrym]

Two USports Canadians have been selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game: University of Montreal DB Marc-Antoine Dequoy and University of Alberta OL Carter O'Donnell



The East-West Shrine Game is the oldest United States college football all-star showcase. It has served as an NFL launching point for Canadian players such as tight end Antony Auclair (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), defensive lineman David Onyemata (New Orleans Saints) and offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (Kansas City Chiefs) in recent years. ...

For more than three decades, at least two Canadian university players have been invited to the annual event in Florida. It features a week of practices in front of NFL and CFL coaches and scouts followed by a game broadcast on the NFL Network. This year’s contest takes place on Jan. 18, 2020.

Dequoy led the Carabins with 37.5 tackles in 2019 and registered one tackle for loss, one pass breakup and three interceptions during eight regular season games. The six-foot-three, 195-pounder had a game-sealing 85-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Dunsmore Cup upset at Laval. He earned USports first-team All-Canadian status.

O’Donnell, the Red Deer native, started seven of his eight regular season games at right tackle — he was moved to right guard for match-up purposes during Alberta’s final two contests. Head coach Chris Morris wanted O’Donnell inside to neutralize University of Saskatchewan defensive lineman Evan Machibroda
https://3downnation.com/2019/12/18/two-usports-athletes-selected-to-prestigious-east-west-shrine-game/

[jerrym]

UBC DB/punter Stavros Katsantonis is an unusual choice as the Canadian for the American College Gridiron Classic on January 3-5. He was suspended for four years in May after testing positive for the performance enhancing drug SARM LDG-4033. As a result of this, he was made ineligible to play USports football until 2023, although his CFL draft year was only moved back one year until 2020, because the CFL penalty for a positive drug test is one year. As a result of his drug suspension, Katsantonis did not play Usports football in 2019. While he was a 2018 Canadian All-Star for the third straight year, one wonders why any American All-Star event pick him as the Canadian representative when he did not play in 2019 and has had a positive drug test, even if all CFL teams and 31 of 32 NFL teams are going to attend the Classic.

[OV Argo]

UBC DB/punter Stavros Katsantonis is an unusual choice as the Canadian for the American College Gridiron Classic on January 3-5. He was suspended for four years in May after testing positive for the performance enhancing drug SARM LDG-4033. As a result of this, he was made ineligible to play USports football until 2023, although his CFL draft year was only moved back one year until 2020, because the CFL penalty for a positive drug test is one year. As a result of his drug suspension, Katsantonis did not play Usports football in 2019. While he was a 2018 Canadian All-Star for the third straight year, one wonders why any American All-Star event pick him as the Canadian representative when he did not play in 2019 and has had a positive drug test, even if all CFL teams and 31 of 32 NFL teams are going to attend the Classic.

Katsantonis was born in California I believe - not sure how he even qualifies as National for the CFL? - even if he played at UBC ?

Maybe he has Canadian citizenship somehow, or else grew up a number of years in Canada ( does that rule still apply?).

Might be considered a pretty good safety prospect for this draft, but testing #s might be key ?

[jerrym]

On Saturday January 18th, 6'7" 300lb OL Ketel Aase who has been an All-Star for the last two years with the Rouge et Or will join two other Canadians, QB Nathan Rourke and kicker J.J. Molson who played in the NCAA, to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. Aase helped the Rouge et Or average 215 rushing yards per game and allow only six sacks all season. The game will be on the NFL Network at 7:00 PM ET.

University of Montreal DB Marc-Antoine Dequoy and University of Alberta OL Carter O'Donnell will be playing in the East West Shrine game which will also be on the NFL Network on January 18th at 3:00 PM ET.

[jerrym]

RB Logan Fisher of the Manitoba Bisons has been suspended for four years for an anti-doping violation involving drostanolone, a prohibited anabolic agent, in his urine test.

[jerrym]

2019 Argo OL coach Dan Dorazio has signed to coach UBC's OL.

[jerrym]

Jamie Barresi has stepped down as HC of the University of Ottawa Gee Gees after seven years and 36-27 record with the team.

[jerrym]

Former Ticat HC and current Als' OL coach Marcel Bellefeuille has been hired as the HC of the University of Ottawa Gee Gees.

[jerrym]

Although other Canadian university conferences, including the OUA, AUS and Canada West and USports itself, have already cancelled their fall sports programs, Quebec's RSEQ conference is still trying to run sports programs for the fall by following Quebec public health directives.

[jerrym]

USports has decided to not extend the eligibility of 24 year old football players for a year, despite their missing the 2020 season due to the Covid-19 cancellation of the 2020 season. Twenty-five year olds have not been allowed to play for at least the last two years. An estimated 300 players will be affected by this ruling.



U Sports has unilaterally decided to take away the final year of eligibility for football players who are currently 24-years-old.

TSN’s Farhan Lalji reports (https://twitter.com/FarhanLaljiTSN/status/1281269661741379585?s=20): 24-year-old U Sports players missing this year will not get an opportunity to play as a 25-year-old next year. Sportsnet’s Arash Madani reports (https://twitter.com/ArashMadani/status/1281302183963656192?s=20) up to 300 student-athletes can be affected by the decision.
https://3downnation.com/2020/07/09/24-year-old-canadian-university-football-players-have-final-year-of-eligibility-taken-away-by-u-spors/

[jerrym]

The 27 HC of the Canadian University Coaches Association want U Sports to reexamine its decision to refuse to allow 24 year olds to play next year when they will be 25 and overage because Covid-19 is preventing them from playing this year. Below is part of the open letter they sent to U Sports.



U Sports’ rationale or their ruling is centred around player safety and liability. Through adopting this rationale, the U Sports Board of directors has abandoned yet another of their guiding principles: ‘evidence based decision making’. U Sports has no empirical evidence to substantiate their player safety concerns. Rugby, Hockey and Wrestling, all combative or contact based sports, operate without an age rule in place. The Board has apparently based their decision on a bullet that was included in the original age rule which referenced player safety. ...

If the board would have, through a detailed evaluation of this issue, contacted some of the coaches or administrators that were involved in the adoption of the age rule and its subsequent amendment they would have learned that competitive imbalance and not safety was the main impetus for the age rule.

Several coaches and administrators across the country that were active participants in the implementation of the original age rule could have been consulted and collaborated with around any questions the board may have had around this issue. Due process however was not followed, not a single coach was contacted and it does not appear as if any of the administrators involved in the original age rule were consulted either. This ruling is quite simply not an evidence based decision.

The decision is based on conjecture by a small group of people that have very limited knowledge of the age rule or its historical evolution. It is almost incomprehensible that the Board did not consult those who were active participants in the development of the age rule and the subsequent amendment to that rule; many of who are still active members of U Sports.
https://3downnation.com/2020/07/13/canadian-university-football-coaches-strongly-denounce-u-sports-age-cap-ruling/

[ArgoGabe22]

Here's a conspiracy, not so serious, but still could happen - These over age USport players who don't get a CFL look may be pushed to play in the leagues apart of CFL 2.0

[jerrym]

U Sports board of directors has reversed its decision to not allow 25 year olds to play in 2021 because of pressure from fans, football head coaches and athletic directors, as well as possible lawsuits.



According to sources, U Sports will overturn decision to have 24 years old student-athletes loose eligibility because of cancelled season (COVID). Pressure from coaches, fans and 2 potential lawsuits from players accelerated the decision being overturned.

U Sports cancelled its football season and 2020 Vanier Cup in June due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision came as a result of the on-going uncertainties with student-athlete health and safety, travel and public health restrictions that affect parts of the country and different curriculum delivery models being proposed on the campus of its 56 member universities.
https://3downnation.com/2020/07/18/u-sports-overturns-age-cap-decision-due-to-pressure-from-coaches-potential-lawsuits-report/

[jerrym]

Five Ottawa U Gee Gees have tested positive for Covid-19 leading to the team's training program suspension.



The University of Ottawa has suspended the Gee-Gees football team training program after five players tested positive for COVID-19.

In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, uOttawa said the training program has been suspended until further notice after the university received reports that some players were not following self-isolation rules.

"Therefore put the health and safety of their teammates, the university community and the public at risk," said uOttawa in a statement Thursday evening. As the university's top priority is to align with public health guidelines to ensure the health and safety of its campus community, including the Gee-Gees football players themselves, the university has, therefore, suspended the Gee-Gees varsity football training program until further notice."
https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/five-uottawa-gee-gees-football-players-test-positive-for-covid-19-1.5147093

[jerrym]

McMaster has hired two female coaches.



The McMaster Marauder football program has solidified its coaching staff for the 2021 season with the addition of female assistant coaches Taylor MacIntyre and Amanda Ruller.

Head coach Stefan Ptaszek is confident that he has added two highly skilled coaches that will help the Marauders in their pursuit of an OUA title defence.

“What stood out about Taylor and Amanda was their passion for football, for coaching and for teaching” Ptaszek, who is now entering his 13th season at McMaster, said.

MacIntyre and Ruller will join the 2019 Yates Cup champion Marauders with a pair of extensive football resumes, and will be looking to make an immediate impact on day-to-day operations of the team while getting involved in offensive game planning and skill development.

MacIntyre has already broken down barriers in the game. As a receiver and back-up quarterback in high school, she helped pave the way for several other young women at Parkside Collegiate Institute to compete at a high level in what she describes as a ‘male-prominent’ sport. Since becoming the first female to play on the school’s men’s football team, at least five additional female student-athletes have followed in her footsteps. ...

Following her playing career, MacIntyre made the transition to coaching when she became Parkside’s receivers coach. Since bursting onto the scene in high school, MacIntyre has held positions with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, and the Special Olympics. ...

Ruller comes to McMaster by way of Regina, SK. with a background in strength and conditioning. She has built a career as a sports performance coach training CFL and U Sports players, having worked with the University of Regina football program, and also has held several positions in sports media including stops with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Saskatchewan Rush, and 3DownNation. A competitive Olympic weightlifter, Ruller holds provincial snatch along with clean and jerk records.

“My focus on power and speed in the weight room will make sure these athletes find success within their playing season and help keep them healthy,” Ruller said. “My background in competing in Olympic Lifting is a great bonus for teaching those skills in the weight room as well. I hope to pass on my knowledge and have our athletes work hard towards a winning season.”
https://3downnation.com/2021/07/09/mcmaster-hires-two-female-football-assistant-coaches-taylor-macintyre-and-amanda-ruller/