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Calgary, Laval ready for 46th Desjardins Vanier Cup
Photo credit Ben Matchett, Calgary Athletics
QUEBEC CITY (CIS) – The 46th Desjardins Vanier Cup
festivities officially kicked off on Wednesday morning with the
traditional Meet the Teams media conference at Loews Le Concorde
Hotel in downtown Quebec City.
The Canada West and Mitchell Bowl champion University of Calgary
Dinos (9-2) and the QUFL and Uteck Bowl champion Laval University
Rouge et Or (12-0) face off Saturday at 11:45 a.m. Eastern (9:45
a.m. MT) in the CIS football final, live on TSN and
Radio-Canada.
Calgary makes a late November visit to PEPS Stadium for the third
time in as many years. The Dinos fell 33-31 to Queen’s in
last year’s national title match and had lost 59-10 to the
Rouge et Or in the 2008 Uteck Bowl, which remains the only previous
meeting in history between the two powerhouses.
Both head coaches agreed Saturday’s duel should be a classic
matchup between the Dinos’ high-powered offence and the Rouge
et Or’s dominating defence.
“Our offence is a little young but our defence is very
mature,” said Laval’s Glen Constantin, whose team led
the nation for the third straight season and for the fifth time in
seven years in conference play, allowing a stingy 6.4 points per
game. “The Dinos have so many weapons, starting with Erik
(Glavic) at quarterback. They are not only stacked up at the skill
positions, they’re also very physical on the line. They are
going to be our biggest challenge of the season.”
“Their defence is very, very good. They are very
athletic,” said Calgary’s Blake Nill, whose troops have
scored 35 points or more in each of its last five games, including
40, 56 and 35-point outputs in the playoffs. “With them,
it’s not just one guy. You have to be aware of all of them at
all times.”
After an injury-plagued regular season, Calgary quarterback Erik
Glavic has been on fire of late with 11 touchdown passes and only
two interceptions in three playoff wins. The two-time Hec Crighton
trophy winner knows limiting turnovers will be one of the keys to
success on Saturday.
“I can’t throw interceptions against Laval. We have to
protect the football,” said Glavic, who threw for 354 yards
in the 2009 Vanier Cup against Queen’s but was picked off
twice. “They have 14 interceptions in three playoff games.
That’s what they do. They’re really aggressive and they
force turnovers.”
The Rouge et Or had four interceptions in their thrilling 13-11
Uteck Bowl win over Western last Saturday, including a pair by
all-star cornerback Olivier Turcotte-Létourneau.
Laval defensive lineman Marc-Antoine L. Fortin welcomes the
challenge of facing Glavic and the high-flying Dinos’
offence.
“They can hurt you in the air and on the ground,” said
the defensive MVP of the 2008 Vanier Cup. “But we’ll be
ready. Our coaches always prepare us very well.”
The Dinos tallied 263 yards passing and 181 rushing last Saturday
in their 35-8 domination of Saint Mary’s, including 127 yards
on only 14 carries by Mitchell Bowl MVP Steven Lumbala.
“It should be a great game. We’re excited to get
another shot at the title,” Lumbala said.
10 THINGS YOU
NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE 46th DESJARDINS VANIER
CUP:
1) A Laval win would give Glen
Constantin a fifth Vanier Cup title, the most by a head coach. He
is currently tied with former Calgary head coach Peter Connellan.
Now in his 10th season at the helm, Constantin led Laval to the
promised land in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2008.
2) The Rouge et Or can also tie
Western for most Vanier Cup wins by a team, with six. Calgary is
currently tied for third with four.
3) In his fifth season with the
Dinos, Blake Nill could become the first head coach to lead two
programs to the Vanier Cup title. Nill guided Saint Mary’s to
Vanier Cup wins in 2001 and 2002.
4) Only one team has won the Vanier
Cup in its home city. The Toronto Varsity Blues were crowned in
their own Varsity Stadium in 1965 and at Toronto’s SkyDome
(now Rogers Centre) in 1993.
5) Calgary is the last school to lose
a Vanier Cup final to a host team. The Dinos were defeated 37-34 by
Toronto at the SkyDome in 1993.
6) Already the only team to win the
Vanier Cup in three different cities (Toronto, Hamilton,
Saskatoon), Laval could add a fourth one to its list, and could
become the first team crowned in three provinces.
7) Taking a perfect 5-0 Vanier Cup
record into Saturday’s game, the Rouge et Or are one of only
two teams with an unblemished mark in the CIS football final. The
Guelph Gryphons beat Mount Allison 22-13 in their lone Vanier Cup
appearance in 1984.
8) Laval is riding a CIS-record
43-game overall winning streak at home. The Rouge et Or
haven’t lost at PEPS Stadium since a 14-13 regular-season
setback against Montreal on Sept. 19, 2004.
9) Thanks to the new QUFL nine-game
regular schedule implemented this fall, Laval could become the
first team in CIS history to end the season with 13 wins.
10) Last but not least: for the 46th consecutive year, the
Vanier Cup will feature at least one team named after an animal
(including the mythological gryphon).
46th DESJARDINS
VANIER CUP
When: Saturday, Nov. 27, 11:45 a.m. Eastern Time
Where: PEPS Stadium, Quebec City
Who: No. 5 Calgary Dinos (9-2) vs. No. 1 Laval Rouge et Or
(12-0)
TV: Live on TSN & Radio-Canada
UNIVERSITY OF
CALGARY DINOS
(Canada West champions – Mitchell Bowl winners - Visiting
team Vanier Cup)
2010 season summary
Overall record: 9-2
Regular season record: 6-2
Regular season standing: 2nd
Playoff record: 3-0
Final Top 10 ranking (Nov. 2): No. 5
Best Top 10 ranking (10 weeks): No. 1 (1 week: first poll)
Lowest Top 10 ranking (10 weeks): No. 7 (1 week: 8th poll)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (10 weeks): 10
Regular season offence points (26.0 ppg): 3rd CW / 11th CIS
Regular season offence total yards (447.9 ypg): 3rd CW / 8th
CIS
Regular season offence passing (199.6 ypg): 6th CW / 21st CIS
Regular season offence rushing (248.2 ypg): 1st CW / 2nd CIS
Regular season defence points (22.3 ppg): 2nd CW / 9th CIS
Regular season defence total yards (422.8 ypg): 3rd CW / 18th
CIS
Regular season defence passing (267.1): 6th CW / 21st CIS
Regular season defence rushing (155.6): 3rd CW / 14th CIS
2010 results
Sept. 4 (home): Saskatchewan 34, Calgary 13
Sept. 10 (home): Calgary 24, Regina 21
Sept. 18 (away): Calgary 23, Alberta 14
Sept. 25 (away): Calgary 26, Manitoba 25
Oct. 2 (home): Calgary 33, UBC 16
Oct. 15 (away): Saskatchewan 36, Calgary 17
Oct. 22 (away): Calgary 35, Regina 27
Oct. 30 (home): Calgary 37, Alberta 5
Nov. 6 (home): Calgary 40, Regina 33 (CW semifinal)
Nov. 13 (home): Calgary 56, Alberta 3 (CW final)
Nov. 20 (home): Calgary 35, Saint Mary’s 8 (Mitchell
Bowl)
2010 Canada West individual honours
Major awards: Sam Hurl (defensive MVP), Paul Swiston (outstanding
down lineman), Eric Dzwilewski (rookie of the year)
All-stars offence: Matt Walter (RB), Anthony Parker (IR), Nathan
Coehoorn (WR), Paul Swiston (T), Reed Alexander (G), Alex
Krausnick-Groh (C)
All-stars defence: Sam Hurl (LB), Tye Noble (HB)
All-stars special teams: Aaron Ifield (PK)
Head coach: Blake Nill
Year: 13th (5th at Calgary / 8 at Saint Mary’s 1998-2005)
Career regular season record: 73-31 (.702) / 24-16 with Calgary
(.600)
Career playoff record: 20-8 (.714) / 8-3 with Calgary (.727)
Career overall record (season and playoffs): 93-39 (.705) / 32-19
with Calgary (.627)
Career overall record vs. Laval: 2-6 / 0-1 with Calgary
Career overall record vs. Glen Constantin: 2-5 / 0-1 with
Calgary
Vanier Cup record: 2-3 (0-1 with Calgary)
Vanier Cup wins: 2002, 2001
Vanier Cup losses: 2009 (with Calgary), 2003, 1999
Calgary vs. Laval history
Overall record: 0-1
2008 Uteck Bowl, Nov. 16, PEPS Stadium, Quebec City: 59-10 loss
Calgary Vanier Cup history
All-time record: 4-3
Nov. 28, 2009, PEPS Stadium, Quebec City (18,628): 33-31 loss
vs. Queen’s
Nov. 25, 1995, SkyDome, Toronto (29,178): 54-24 win vs. Western
Nov. 20, 1993, SkyDome, Toronto (20,211): 37-34 loss vs.
Toronto
Nov. 19, 1988, Varsity Stadium, Toronto (13,127): 52-23 win vs.
Saint Mary's
Nov. 30, 1985, Varsity Stadium, Toronto (16,321): 25-6 win vs.
Western
Nov. 19, 1983, Varsity Stadium, Toronto (18,324): 31-21 win vs.
Queen's
Nov. 21, 1975, CNE Stadium, Toronto (17,800): 14-9 loss vs.
Ottawa
Calgary Vanier Cup head coaches
Blake Nill: 2010, 2009
Peter Connellan: 1995, 1993, 1988, 1985, 1983
Mike Lashuk: 1975
UNIVERSITÉ LAVAL ROUGE ET
OR
(QUFL champions – Uteck Bowl winners - Home
team Vanier Cup)
2010 season summary
Overall record: 12-0
Regular season record: 9-0
Regular season standing: 1st
Playoff record: 3-0
Final Top 10 ranking (Nov. 2): No. 1
Best Top 10 ranking (10 weeks): No. 1 (9 weeks: last 9 polls)
Lowest Top 10 ranking (10 weeks): No. 2 (1 week: first poll)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (10 weeks): 10
Regular season offence points (45.7 ppg): 1st QUFL / 1st CIS
Regular season offence total yards (460.8 ypg): 1st QUFL / 6th
CIS
Regular season offence passing (253.8 ypg): 2nd QUFL / 8th CIS
Regular season offence rushing (207.0 ypg): 1st QUFL / 3rd CIS
Regular season defence points (6.4 ppg): 1st QUFL / 1st CIS
Regular season defence total yards (221.3 ypg): 1st QUFL / 1st
CIS
Regular season defence passing (175.7 ypg): 1st QUFL / 3rd CIS
Regular season defence rushing (45.7 ypg): 1st QUFL / 1st CIS
2010 results
Sept. 5 (home): Laval 50, McGill 9
Sept. 11 (away): Laval 36, Sherbrooke 6
Sept. 18 (away): Laval 45, Saint Mary’s 7
Sept. 26 (home): Laval 23, Sherbrooke 7
Oct. 3 (home): Laval 46, Concordia 10
Oct. 9 (away): Laval 19, Montreal 12
Oct. 17 (home): Laval 62, Bishop’s 0
Oct. 23 (away): Laval 68, McGill 0
Oct. 30 (away): Laval 62, Concordia 7
Nov. 6 (home): Laval 56, Bishop’s 1 (QUFL semifinal)
Nov. 13 (home): Laval 22, Sherbrooke 17 (QUFL final)
Nov. 20 (home): Laval 13, Western 11 (Uteck Bowl)
2010 QUFL individual honours
Major awards: Frédérick Plesius (defensive MVP),
Arnaud Gascon-Nadon (outstanding down lineman), Glen Constantin
(coach of the year)
All-stars offence: Bruno Prud’homme (QB), Sébastien
Lévesque (RB), Julian Feoli Gudino (WR), Pierre Lavertu (C),
Pascal Baillargeon (G)
All-stars defence: Arnaud Gascon-Nadon (DE),
Frédérick Plesius (LB), Maxime Bérubé
(DB), Olivier Turcotte-Létourneau (CB)
All-stars special team: Christopher Milo (P & PK)
Head coach: Glen Constantin
Year: 10th
Career regular season record: 67-14 (.827) *
Career playoff record: 25-7 (.781) *
Career overall record (season and playoffs): 92-21 (.814) *
Career overall record vs. Calgary: 1-0
Career overall record vs. Blake Nill: 5-2
Vanier Cup record: 4-0
Vanier Cup wins: 2008, 2006, 2004, 2003
Vanier Cup losses: None
* 2001 has been recorded at 0-8 in the regular season and 0-3 in the playoffs for Laval. The Rouge et Or had finished with a 5-3 regular season record and a 2-1 playoff record but later forfeited all 7 wins due to the use of an ineligible player.
Laval vs. Calgary history
Overall record: 1-0
2008 Uteck Bowl, Nov. 16, PEPS Stadium, Quebec City: 59-10 win
Laval Vanier Cup history
All-time record: 5-0
Nov. 22, 2008, Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton (13,873): 44-21 win
vs. Western
Nov. 25, 2006, Griffiths Stadium, Saskatoon (12,567): 13-8 win vs.
Saskatchewan
Nov. 27, 2004, Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton (14,227): 7-1 win vs.
Saskatchewan
Nov. 22, 2003, SkyDome, Toronto (17,828): 14-7 win vs. Saint
Mary's
Nov. 27, 1999, SkyDome, Toronto (12,595): 14-10 win vs. Saint
Mary's
Laval Vanier Cup head coaches
Glen Constantin: 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2003
Jacques Chapdelaine: 1999
PAST VANIER
CUPS
Year
Winners
Losers
Winning Coach
Losing
Coach
Attendance
2009 Queen’s
33 Calgary
31 Pat
Sheahan
Blake
Nill
18,628
2008 Laval
44 Western
21 Glen
Constantin
Greg
Marshall
13,873
2007 Manitoba 28 St.
Mary’s 14 Brian
Dobie
Steve
Sumarah
26,787
2006 Laval
13 Sask.
8
Glen
Constantin
Brian
Towriss
12,567
2005 Laurier
24 Sask.
23 Gary
Jeffries
Brian
Towriss
16,827
2004 Laval
7
Sask.
1
Glen
Constantin
Brian
Towriss
14,227
2003 Laval
14 St.
Mary’s 7 Glen
Constantin
Blake
Nill
17,828
2002 St. Mary’s 33 Sask.
21
Blake
Nill
Brian
Towriss
17,179
2001 St. Mary’s 42 Manitoba
16 Blake
Nill
Brian
Dobie
19,138
2000 Ottawa
42 Regina
39 Marcel
Bellefeuille Frank
McCrystal
18,209
1999 Laval
14 St.
Mary’s 10 Jacques Chapdelaine Blake
Nill
12,595
1998 Sask.
24
Concordia 17 Brian
Towriss
Pat
Sheahan
15,157
1997 UBC
39
Ottawa 23 Casey
Smith
Larry
Ring
8,184
1996 Sask.
31 StFX
12
Brian
Towriss
John
Stevens
14,577
1995 Calgary
54 Western
24 Peter
Connellan
Larry
Haylor
29,178
1994 Western 50
Sask. 40 (OT) Larry
Haylor
Brian
Towriss
28,652
1993
Toronto
37 Calgary
34 Bob
Laycoe
Peter
Connellan
20,211
1992 Queen’s
31 St. Mary’s
0 Doug
Hargreaves Larry
Uteck
28,645
1991 Laurier
25 Mt. Allison 18
Rich
Newbrough
Marc
Loranger
30,191
1990 Sask.
24 St.
Mary’s 21 Brian
Towriss
Larry
Uteck
26,846
1989 Western 35
Sask.
10
Larry
Haylor
Brian
Towriss
32,847
1988
Calgary
52 St. Mary’s
23 Peter
Connellan
Larry
Uteck
13,127
1987 McGill
47 UBC
11
Charlie
Baillie
Frank
Smith
14,326
1986 UBC
25
Western 23 Frank
Smith
Larry
Haylor
17,847
1985 Calgary
25 Western
6 Peter
Connellan
Larry
Haylor
16,321
1984 Guelph
22 Mt. Allison 13
John
Musselman
Steve
Bruno
19,842
1983
Calgary
31 Queen’s
21 Peter
Connellan
Doug Hargreaves
18,324
1982 UBC
39
Western 14 Frank
Smith
Darwin Semotiuk
14,759
1981 Acadia
18 Alberta
12 John
Huard
Jim
Donlevy
11,875
1980 Alberta
40 Ottawa
21 Jim
Donlevy
Cam
Innes
11,000
1979 Acadia
34 Western
12 John
Huard
Darwin Semotiuk
19,397
1978 Queen’s
16 UBC
3
Doug Hargreaves
Frank
Smith
19,124
1977 Western 48
Acadia 15 Darwin
Semotiuk Bob
Vespaziani
19,514
1976 Western 29
Acadia 13 Darwin
Semotiuk Bob
Vespaziani
20,300
1975 Ottawa
14
Calgary
9 Don
Gilbert
Mike
Lashuk
17,800
1974 Western 19
Toronto
15 Frank
Cosentino Ron
Murphy
24,777
1973 St. Mary’s 14 McGill
6 Al
Keith
Charlie
Baillie
17,000
1972 Alberta
20 Lutheran
7 Jim
Donlevy
David
Knight
10,192
1971 Western 15
Alberta 14 Frank
Cosentino Jim
Donlevy
13,041
1970 Manitoba 38 Ottawa
11 Henry
Janzen
Bob
O'Billovich
10,550
1969 Manitoba 24 McGill
15 Henry
Janzen
Tom
Mooney
9,347
1968 Queen’s
42 Waterloo
14 Frank
Tindall
David
Knight
16,051
1967 Alberta
10 McMaster
9 Clare
Drake
Jack
Kennedy
16,167
1966 StFX
40
Lutheran 14 Don
Loney
David
Knight
13,678
1965 Toronto
14 Alberta
7 Dalt
White
Gino
Fracas
3,488
VENUES
Varsity Stadium, Toronto (seating capacity 21,739): 1965-1972,
1976-1988
CNE Stadium, Toronto (seating capacity 33,135): 1973-1975
Rogers Centre, Toronto * (seating capacity 32,000 for Vanier Cup):
1989-2003, 2007
Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton (seating capacity 28,743): 2004-2005,
2008
Griffiths Stadium, Saskatoon (seating capacity: 12,567): 2006
PEPS Stadium, Quebec City (seating capacity 12,300): 2009
* Formerly SkyDome
-CIS-
