Big Man on Campus

OUA PREVIEW - Bold Predictions Final Edition

Okay, because it's likely easier to read and sort this way, here are my predictions and projections from 1-10. Just click on the team name to read the preview I previously posted. And don't ask me to predict the playoffs.

2008 OUA Final Standings

1. Ottawa Gee-Gees (8-0)
2. Guelph Gryphons (8-0)
3. Queen's Gaels (6-2)
4. Laurier Golden Hawks (5-3)
5. Western Mustangs (4-4)
6. McMaster Marauders (4-4)
7. Windsor Lancers (2-6)
8. Waterloo Warriors (1-7)
9. York Lions (1-7)
10. Toronto Varsity Blues (1-7)

* NOTE: I've updated most pages with articles on each team.

** ALSO NOTE: There likely won't be another update to BMoC until either late Monday afternoon or late Monday night. I'll be covering the Guelph opener at Laurier at 1 p.m. and then trying to get to Western's home opener at 7 p.m. The plan is a story for the Mercury site and some blog notes, too, after Guelph's game. Then I'll take in Western's game and post some notes then, too.

While you're reading up on teams, the following are season previews, linked from the respective school's website or the OUA.

Ottawa
Guelph
Queen's
Laurier
Western
McMaster (Word document)
Windsor
Waterloo N/A
York
Toronto

And, finally, David Grossman (a good reporter who loves amateur sport and gives it some ink in the Country's biggest paper) has a season preview in the Toronto Star here.

Oh, and I see Christine Rivet of the Waterloo Record checked in with her predicitons here.

OUA Preview — Bold Predictions, Part X

OTTAWA GEE-GEES

2007 Record: 8-0

2007 Playoffs: 0-1; Upset by Western at home in semifinal.

2008 Predicted finish: 8-0, 1^st place

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS

Offence:
Josh Sacobie, QB, 5^th Year: Reigning OUA MVP had the second-best passing numbers in the CIS last season with 2,320 yards and 21 touchdowns; threw just four interceptions; enters his final season within striking distance of the all-time CIS record for career passing yards and touchdown passes; and is already the Gee-Gees all-time leader in both categories (career yards: 7,714 yards; touchdown passes: 63). 

Defence:
David Timmons, DB, 5^th Year: A first-team all-Canadian last season; led Gee-Gees with four interceptions and finished with 16 tackles in eight conference games. 

KEY ADDITION
Ivan Birungi, REC, 5^th Year: Two-time AUS player of the year and former Montreal Alouettes CFL draft pick holds the AUS and Axemen all-time touchdown receptions record (29). 

KEY LOSS
Ara Tchobanian, K, 5^th Year: Led the CIS in 2007 scoring (106 points) and was a first-team CIS all-Canadian after establishing the all-time Gee-Gees marks for career and single-season field goals, 54 and 21, respectively in his final university season. 

SCHEDULE
Although the Gee-Gees schedule isn’t a cake walk, it’s not exactly trying. They play the OUA’s Terrible Trio (Windsor, York and Toronto), luck out by getting Laurier in the Nation’s Capital and miss Guelph all together.

GENERAL COMMENTARY
Without question, a team that returns 10 starters on both sides of the ball, including the 2007 OUA MVP at quarterback, and inherits an all-star and MVP caliber receiver can only be considered the definitive choice to win not only the Yates Cup but possibly the Vanier Cup.
It may seem silly picking a kicker as any team’s key loss, but then again, this is the Canadian game. Us Canucks put the foot in football, what with that rouge and all. That said, it’s anyone’s position to have at Gee-Gees camp. Sure, the obvious choice for “Key Loss” would have been Sacobie’s favourite target, David Crane. After all, he led the Gee-Gees in 2007 with 41 receptions for 683 yards and five touchdowns and was one of seven team captains. But I think Birungi is a little more than an adequate replacement, wouldn’t you agree?

OUA Preview — Bold Predictions, Part IX

GUELPH

GRYPHONS
2007 Record: 4-4
2007 Playoffs: 2-1, lost to Western in Yates Cup
2008 Prediction: 8-0, 2^nd place 

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS

Offence:
Justin Dunk, QB, 4^th Year: Dunk threw for 1,784 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. He ran for another 450 yards and two scores. And with the threat of Nick Fitzgibbon, who easily could have been the key returning play on offence, Dunk is nearly impossible to stop. Enter cheesy sports cliché here: You can’t stop him, you can only hope to contain him. With a rewritten playbook, thanks to head coach Kyle Walters, and another year of experience as a starter, Dunk is the key that starts the Guelph offence.

Defence:
Adam Dunk, LB, 3^rd Year: It’s not every day you see two brothers listed this prolifically in a preview is it? But I took Dunk here because he’s going to carry a bigger workload this season with the graduation of fellow linebacker Chris Decker (see below).  Only one player had more than 25 solo tackles and more than 15 assists and still managed to record both a sack (four, second on the team) and an interception. As complete a player as the Gryphons might have. 

KEY ADDITION
Mike Millar, LB: With the loss of Decker (see above and below) someone has to fill that void. Obviously the workload and key assignments will be filled by a vet, but someone has to replace Decker on the field. You have to dress 12 players after all. Millar has been one of the best of linebacking bunch at camp. Will he start? Maybe. Will he contribute? Probably. 

KEY LOSS
Chris Decker, LB: A football guy plain and simple. He’s now coaching with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. But he was talented, too. Decker led the Gryphons with 37 tackles last season and is their reigning two-time defensive player of the year. He was also a mature, vocal leader. Not easy to replace. 

SCHEDULE
If Guelph can win its first two games of the season, it rolls. The Gryphons start on the road at Laurier then host Queen’s, which beat Guelph last season in Kingston. After that it’s Windsor, Mac (at home), Toronto, Waterloo and York. They end with Western in a rematch of the Yates Cup. And that game may mean a lot to both teams.

GENERAL COMMENTARY
Go ahead. Call me a homer. I’ll wait . . . Done yet? Good. Because I’m not. I really couldn’t care less if Guelph goes 8-0 or 0-8. I’m not here to cheerlead, I’m here to report. Although, winning teams are a lot easier to deal with. That said, I’ve looked at this schedule over and over. If Guelph can beat Laurier to open the season, I think they beat Queen’s at home. Then it gets easier. I don’t see a mid-schedule game Guelph loses, partially because Mac and Windsor both have linebacking problems – so who stops Dunk and Fitzgibbon? York and Toronto are wins and then it’s Western. That might come down to playoff positioning for Western and a perfect record for Guelph. Plus it’s a rematch of the Yates Cup. However,
Guelph fans should still worry about the loss of Decker, Chris Hladich  (six sacks) and rising star Ricky Gorton (three sacks and two interceptions). As easily as I see this team going 8-0, a 5-3 record isn’t out of the realm of possibility either.

OUA Preview — Bold Predictions, Part VIII

QUEEN'S GAELS
2007 Record: 6-2
2007 Playoffs: 0-1, lost to Western in quarter-final
2008 Prediction: 6-2, 3rd place

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS

Offence:
MIke Giffin, RB, 5th Year: He's got it all when it comes to 'key' credentials. He's a leader. He's a workhorse. He's tough. He's in his fifth and final season. He's a CFL property. And, he's a running back who can get things done even when his line isn't playing well. Giffin led OUA with 1,157 yards last season and has rushed for 1,000-plus yards in 10 consecutive regular season games. According to the boys over at Out of Left Field, who have a connection to Kingston, Giffin "had 205 touches (rushing attempts and receptions) last season, more than five times as much as any other Queen's player." You don't still think returning starting quarterback Danny Brannagan is key do you?

Defence:
Thaine Carter, LB, 4th Year: Carter was a second-team all-star in 2007. He led the Gaels with 41 solo tackles, but only had one sack. Heck, the entire team combined for just 12 sacks — and just 22 sacks and interceptions combined. If they want to win the Yates Cup and not just be considered contenders for it, they need to improve. And Carter can help in both categories. He's in his fourth season, so expect him to.

KEY ADDITION
Mike Farine, SB, 1st Year: Queen's had a lot of rookies in camp and some thought the Gaels had the best recruiting class in the OUA. Fairne is a 6-foot-2 receiver from Toronto's Northern Secondary. He's an all-around athlete, playing point guard in high school. "Mike is an outstanding player, a very highly touted player at a very good football school and we think he could be pretty special," Gaels coach Pat Sheahan told the Kingston Whig-Standard. "He's a very good offensive player and a big-play guy."

KEY LOSS
Rob Bagg, WR: Bagg led the Gaels in receiving last season with 36 catches for 804 yards and six touchdowns. He's now with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, as the team's kicker.

SCHEDULE
Queen's schedule isn't exactly easy, but the Gaels do get to at least host some of the toughest teams in the league. They host McMaster, Laurier, Western and Ottawa. If you have to play them all, at least play them at home. One of the two losses will be on the road; at Guelph (the Gryphons should want revenge for a sloppy game they let get away last season in Kingston). The other will be at the hands of the Ottawa Gee-Gees, favourites to win the OUA.

GENERAL COMMENTARY
For a while, I thought Queen's could win the OUA. After re-examining who the Gaels lost, I'm only convinced they're a final four team, which isn't anything to be ashamed about. I think they were a better 6-2 team last season than they are this season. They just ran into a peaking, confident Mustangs team in the playoffs. Let's face it, this team lost big-time players on both sides of the ball; WR Rob Bagg and DB Matt Vickers. Still, this isn't a team anyone should want to play in the post-season, which is where it will end up.

IN THE NEWS

Articles run during camp

QB's pivotal season - The Whig

Gaels hope to be golden - The Whig

Gael prefers running back - The Whig

Verbatim — Michael Faulds Edition

I received this correspondence from Western starting quarterback Michael Faulds on Saturday night at 9:25 p.m. As usual, questions are in bold.

1) You’re in your fifth and final year. What’s the feeling like? Do you feel differently than seasons before? How so?

Actually this is my 4^th year. But, yes I do feel different going into this year than I have in the past. I definitely have more confidence and overall knowledge of the game going into this season. Also, after a season like last year there seems like nothing that we can’t overcome as a team.

Blogger's Note: Yup. I made a mistake. It happens. I can admit them.

2) It’s no secret Western is maybe, well, ‘hated’ by most other teams in the OUA, how does that make you and your team feel? Do you enjoy being that target?

We don’t even think about it or mention it to each other. Every team should expect that the other teams in the league don’t like them. When you play a physical sport like football it is a must that you dislike your opponent for at least 3 hrs a week. We play for Western and if that makes other teams not like us, well than we are fine with that.

3) It’s game day, what are you doing to prepare outside the realm of football? By that I mean, are you listening to music, eating certain foods, sticking to a ritual?

I am usually pretty nervous game day. So I spend most of my time trying to relax. From when I wake up to kickoff seems like an eternity. I usually am unable to eat too much on game day so I try to get lots of food the day before. I like to then arrive at the stadium early and take my time getting ready. Listening to whatever is being played in the locker room as I start to get dressed in the same order every game. I’m not a very superstitious person, but I tend to get dressed the same way for every game.

4) Be honest, what was the feeling like around the city of London and among your roughly 9,000 fans after you guys starter 0-4 last year?

We were all pretty depressed and eager for our first win. We tried to keep everything within the locker room and not get bothered by what others were saying about us. We had two choices; either give up and start thinking about the next season, or suck it up and play our hearts out. We still felt like we had a lot of talent within. At 0-4 we knew we needed to win all 4 of our remaining games to make the playoffs. This made every game a playoff game and momentum was gained week by week.

OUA Preview — Bold Predictions, Part VII

LAURIER GOLDEN HAWKS
2007 Record: 7-1
2007 Playoffs: 0-1, lost to Guelph in semifinal
2008 Prediction: 5-3, 4th place

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS

Offence:
Ryan Lynch, RB, 5th Year: Lynch is in a similar situation to Ryan Nemet of McMaster in that there isn't as much of a passing threat on the team this season. Laurier lost three starting receivers, although quarterback Ian Noble is back. But he may not have a bona fide No. 1 receiver when the season starts Monday. So, perhaps we'll see Laurier run the ball a little more. Lynch rushed for 1,019 yards and nine touchdowns on 180 carries.

Defence:
Luke Pinder, LB, 5th Year: Pinder had 30 solo tackles last season, good enough for second on the team. However, he never had a sack nor an interception. He's going to have quite the workload this season in trying to help fill the void left by Andrew Maggiacomo, who graduated. Pinder's going to be tested in Week 1 when he's taxed with trying to stop Guelph's tailback Nick Fitzgibbon and scrambling quarterback Justin Dunk.

KEY ADDITION
Mitchel Bosch, LB: This kid has to be good. Bosch was supposedly recruited by the Oklahoma Sooners. And, Canadian scouting legend Ron Dias labeled the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Langley, BC, native the best high school linebacker in Canada. If he's as good as it sounds like he is, it shouldn't take long for him to also be filling in for Maggiacomo.

KEY LOSS
Dante Luciani, WR: The guy had seven touchdown catches. Only Lynch had more with nine. Luciani finished with 259 yards on 25 catches. He ended up being a second-team OUA all-star. Thing is, he's just one of three receivers to have graduated.

SCHEDULE
Laurier has one of the league's toughest schedules, in my opinion. The Hawks don't face Toronto and have to go to Queen's and to Ottawa and to Waterloo's new stadium and to York, although they should win that game. They have a chance to start 2-0 by hosting Guelph and Western, but my guess is they split — losing to Guelph and beating Western.

GENERAL COMMENTARY
I probably should have flip flopped Western and Laurier in the standings, but it all comes down to their meeting in Week 2. I figure Laurier wins only because they host.  I think Lynch will be someone to watch this season. He impressed me last season and he should get even more carries this season. I already feel bad for quarterback Ian Noble. He lost three receivers to graduation. I'm not sure why, but I feel like I've always known very little about the Laurier Golden Hawks even though they they went to four consecutive Yates Cup finals (2003-2006). It's kind of like watching Guelph's Adam Dunk play linebacker. He never makes a mistake and always makes a tackle. You just take him for granted and then exclaim 'holy sh*t' when you see his stats and he's racked up six tackles and two sacks.

IN THE NEWS

Articles printed during training camp

Rich got richer - Waterloo Record

Hawks honour Worden - Waterloo Record

OUA Preview - Bold Predictions, Part VI

WESTERN MUSTANGS
2007 Record: 4-4
2007 Playoffs: 3-1, beat Guelph in Yates Cup, lost to Manitoba in Mitchell Bowl
2008 Prediction: 4-4, 5^th place

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS 

Offence:
Michael Faulds, QB, 4^th Year: He was the Yates Cup MVP, going 23-for-41 for 390 yards. He is coming off his best season after being hampered by injuries in 2005 and 2006. Faulds finished the regular season with a career-high 3,250 passing yards and 10 touchdowns. He also ran for 233 yards (2nd on team) and three touchdowns. He may lose a big piece of the offence with the departure of Randy McAuley, but he still has favourite target Jesse Bellamy at receiver.

Defence:
Matt Carapella, DB, 5^th Year: How key was Carapella? Well, he was injured in the 2007 home opener against Queen’s and Western lost four straight with him out of the lineup. Upon his return at Homecoming, Western won seven straight games. In five games, Carapella had 11.5 tackles, four interceptions and one fumble recovery. Carapella is also a slotback and he already has a touchdown this year. He caught a major in exhibition play at Laval. With a season to go, you can bet Carapella will want to go out a winner. 

KEY ADDITION
Jon Hood, S: Hood had a tryout with the CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos this season. He is a former member of the St. Francis Xavier X-Men. Think Hood might know a thing or two about covering Ivan Birungi, who transferred from the Acadia Axemen to the Ottawa Gee-Gees this season? Oh, Hood also returns kicks. He is the AUS record-holder for returns. 

KEY LOSS
Randy McAuley, RB: Another obvious choice. McAuley leaves Western as the school’s all-time leading rusher. Last year, he finished with 1,017 yards and 13 touchdowns on 178 carries. And, he did that with a bad back down the stretch. McAuley’s graduation overshadows the loss of kicker Derek Schiavone, who averaged 42 yards per punt last season and was a first-team all-star.

SCHEDULE
There wasn’t a tougher team to predict than the Western Mustangs. I firmly believe this team could go 8-0. Hey, it’s Western and Greg Marshal after all. And, truth be told, they could have been 8-0 last season. However, I think they lose their opener to Ottawa, which will go 8-0 this season by the way. And, I don’t think Western can win at Laurier and at Queen’s this season. And because I think Guelph will need to win the final game of the season and it won’t make a difference for Western, the Mustangs will lose that one, too. Hey, I’m not the only one who thinks this may not be a successful title defence.

GENERAL COMMENTARY
I touched on it in the schedule portion. I really believe this team has the potential to upset some teams. Maybe not Ottawa (now watch them go out and prove me wrong) but maybe Laurier and Queen’s. That said, someone has to lose and I think if it comes right down to it, the other teams might be a hair better than the Mustangs. The one thing this school always has going for it is confidence (read: arrogance). Western starts every season thinking it can go 8-0. And there is nothing wrong with that. Still, one has to wonder, who replaces McAuley? Who replaces Schiavone? And, if they only replace them in the physical sense (i.e. just an average warm body) then yes, Western will be 4-4.

IN THE NEWS

Articles printed during camp

Flexible lineman big addition - London Free Press

Mustangs look to avoid bad start - London Free Press

Laval pounds Western - London Free Press

Don't annoint Mustangs yet - London Free Press

Mustangs face challenges on offence - London Free Press

Mustangs punted from Score - London Free Press

Mustangs face early tests - London Free Press

Early Christmas present - London Free Press

New 'Stang not short on speed, effort - London Free Press

OUA Preview - Bold Predictions, Part V

MCMASTER MARAUDERS
2007 Record: 5-3
2007 Playoffs: 0-1, Lost to Guelph in quarter-final
2008 Prediction: 4-4, 6^th place 

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS 

Offence:
Joey Nemet, RB, 2^nd Year: I know what you’re thinking. Strange pick consider all-Canadian receiver Mike Bradwell is back right? Fair enough, but who is going to get Bradwell the ball the way graduated gun-slinger Adam Archibald did (see below)? So, the key word in all this is, well, ‘key.’ If they can’t quite pass as well as last season, the Marauders will have to run a bit better. Enter Nemet, who had 382 yards and two touchdowns on 92 carries last season. Did I mention he was a freshman last year? Not bad. 

Defence:
Ryan Chmielewski, LB, 2^nd Year: Is Chmielewski the heir apparent to Jason Arakgi? Probably. Especially if you consider his stats – as a rookie. Chmielewski had a team-high 35 solo tackles last season. He also had 10 assists and three sacks in his freshman season. Arakgi is now in the CFL with the B.C. Lions, so the Marauders will turn to Chmielewski for the next few seasons. 

KEY ADDITION
Tanvir Bhangoo, DL, 1^st Year: One of the top interior high school linemen in the country. The kid is a beast at 6-foot-3 and weighs 280 pounds. And, apparently, the Harold Braithwaite product has been impressive in camp. 

KEY LOSS
Adam Archibald, QB: The obvious choice. He graduated as the second-leading passer in Mac history (6,313 career yards). Thing is, there may not be another team in the OUA that lost so many key players at once. Mac also lost receiver Rob Serviss, a second team All-Canadian in 2007 with 34 catches for 562 yards and four touchdowns. And Arakgi and defensive lineman Chris Van Zeyl are both CFLers. 

SCHEDULE
If you’re a Mac fan, I hope you like vanilla because that’s the type of season it’s going to be. Don’t expect any upsets or any real excitement. Mac gets all the bottom feeders this season (Windsor, Waterloo, York and Toronto) and they’ll beat them all. But this team is too young to beat anyone else. They do miss Western this season but have to go to  Laurier and Queen’s. 

GENERAL COMMENTARY
I look at this team and think ‘man, the future is bright down in Hamilton.' Chmielewski and Nemet are in just their second years with the Marauders. And Kyle Quinlan is a rookie quarterback who can maybe challenge for playing time. Plus, there is the new $23 million Ron Joyce Stadium, which has to be a huge bonus when recruiting players. I know TD Waterhouse was a bonus for Western back in the day. Mac’s good this season. And just good. But they will be great in about two years.

IN THE NEWS

Articles written during training camp:

Marauders, Lancers shake and bake - Hamilton Spectator

Like father like son, not! - Hamilton Spectator

Team happy to be home - Hamilton Spectator

Rookie tackle impressive - Hamilton Spectator

Hoy's return lifts Marauders - Hamilton Spectator

From Warriors to Marauders - Hamilton Spectator

Bradwell's back - Hamilton Spectator

OUA Preview - Bold Predictions, Part IV

WINDSOR LANCERS
2007 Record: 2-6
2007 Playoffs: Did not make playoffs
2008 Predicted finish: 2-6, 7^th

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS

Offence:

Daryl Stephenson, RB, 5^th Year: I don’t think there is a more obvious choice on any team in the OUA. The choice is made easier knowing that Windsor doesn't have a single quarterback with OUA experience. And the Lancers had seven in camp.  Stephenson needs 337 yards to become the CIS all-time rushing leader. He may get that Monday against York. Seriously. Stephenson had a nagging leg injury last season, but he’s over that. Sit back and watch history be made sometime in the 10 days or so.

Defence:

Matt Bucknor, DB, 4^th Year: This pick would have been 2007 Lancers MVP Kyle Bouttette, the rumour is he’s ineligible. So, I go with Matt Bucknor, also a defensive back. Windsor has to be better at defending the pass. It was their downfall on defence last season. Bucknor had a team high three interceptions. Now, with Bouttette possibly gone, he’ll have to do that and more this year.

KEY ADDITION:

Brandon Yohnicki, OL: Time to give some love to the linemen. Yohnicki is a transfer from Wayne State. I’m still trying to see if he’s eligible (anyone who knows can use the comment board below to let me know). If he does play, this big 315-pound addition should help Stephenson break the record a little more quickly and should protect the rookie quarterback  Windsor plans to start.

KEY LOSS:

Kyle Bouttette, DB, 3^rd Year: He was the team MVP and led Windsor with 47 solo tackles. He also had 11 assists and two sacks. A team this bad simply can’t lose a player this good.

SCHEDULE:

Well, I’ve already picked Toronto to beat Windsor in an epic upset. So the Lancers are behind my eight ball already. That said, I look at the schedule over and over again and don’t see any more than two winnable games for a team that lost its MVP and has no experience at quarterback and a perennially losing program. They beat York, but have to come from behind to do it, and beat Waterloo in a vengeance-fueled rematch of a game the Lancers blew last year.

General Commentary:

Where to begin? How about at quarterback where head coach Mike Morencie is starting a freshman quarterback out of high school rather than a pseudo-experienced pivot from the Canadian Junior Football League. Surely he’s kidding right? Wrong. And how is Bouttett ineligible? Windsor has the lowest admissions standards in the OUA if I’m not mistaken. Heck, this year they launched a “Gateway Program” where graduating high school athletes with a 60 average – yes, 60. That’s 10 per cent above 50 – can get into school if neither of their parents went to university (whatever that has to do with anything). But, on a positive note, Daryl Townsend has joined the team. He is an electric running back with a nice resume. He’ll be a great complement to Stephenson. All that said, another thorny season for the team from the City of Roses

IN THE NEWS

Articles that appeared during training camp:

QB Prospects battle for position - Windsor Star

Marauders/Lancers shake and bake - Hamilton Spectator

Stephenson looks to make history - CIS

Lancers put stock in rookies - Windsor Star

*UPDATE: I have it on good enough authority to say without hesitation that Hec Crighton winner and likely CIS career rushing record holder Daryl Stephenson will start the season with a hamstring injury. He will dress for and start the York game Monday in Toronto but will likely not play the entire contest, depending on the score, of course.

Also, Windsor has moved Daryl Townsend from running back to safety in order to better use him. Word is, Townsend wants to start and he wouldn't do that at running back. He and head coach Mike Morencie feel this is best for both the team and Townsend.

Verbatim - Tyler Dawe Edition

Today I launch a new ‘feature’ on the Big Man on Campus Blog. I’m calling it ‘Verbatim.’

Brass at Ottawa and Western has allowed me and a couple star players to exchange emails throughout the season.

During the OUA season I’ll be in contact with Tyler Dawe of the Ottawa Gee-Gees and Michael Faulds of the Western Mustangs.

I’ll ask them three or four questions a week and then cut and paste their answers – verbatim (get it?) – on the blog. So, check in often because you never know when I’ll be asking the guys questions. And you never know when they’ll respond.

I’ll start with Dawe, who got back to me Friday, August 29 at  7:17 p.m. Questions are in bold.

1) There is no question the Ottawa Gee-Gees are considered heavy favourites to win not only the Yates Cup, but maybe the Vanier Cup, too. What do you and your teammates think of that? How do you handle those early expectations?

Well there's no question that expectations are high for Ottawa this year, I feel pretty confident in the team this year despite losing some valuable veterans. With that being said our confidence comes from our 8-0 season last year, we have many key vets and transfers that can catapult us to have a very successful season, we feel that we beat ourselves the last two season and this year we aim to make sure it doesn't happen again!!

2) Playing for Ottawa means lengthy road trips, to say the least — Ottawa to London clocks in at 6 hours, 54 minutes, according to Mapquest.com. What are bus trips like? What goes on to pass the time?

It's true the bus trips are long but they pass by pretty quick just joking around with the boys, we play cards, watch movies, go through game situations and plays. When your having a good time the 6 hours to western goes by pretty quick. this year we play in Windsor which is quite a hike but this year there's talk of two buses instead of one like previous years so that could make a significant improvement for the boys.

3) Frank Spera, who weighs 340 pounds, scored his first career touchdown last season. Be honest, how much does he – or did he – talk about that.

Oh man I don't think I'll ever forget that touchdown, It's not very often an O-linemen scores a TD, Franks a pretty modest guy but he was still pumped for a few weeks, we all were, just take a look at the score footage lol.

4) A federal election is looming. Do you care? Why or why not? 

I definitely care about  elections and voting for that matter, as a Major in Political Science I think its beneficial to have a voice in politics and whats happening around us. I`m not getting any younger and will be in the 'real world' very soon so I think I should have a say in what goes on in that world.