Wilfrid Laurier University 5th Quarter Club From the Home of Golden Hawk Football
Volume 8, Issue 1 News and Notes Regular Season Record: 6-2 Playoffs Record: 2-1 CIS Coach of the Year Gary Jeffries Gino Fracas Volunteer Coach of the Year Rob Dalley John Alexander Award Roly Webster Kevin Webster OUA All-Stars First Team Jeff Melis - C Ryan Jeffrey - OT Justin Shakell - DE Kevin MacNeill - LB Ian Logan - DB Second Team Mitch Zappitelli - OG Josh Alexander - DT Tony Bretney - DE David Agro - FS CIS All-Canadians First Team Justin Shakell - DE Second Team Jeff Melis - C Ryan Jeffrey - OT Kevin MacNeill - LB Dates to Remember Friends of Golden Hawk Football Dinner and Reception Tuesday, April 27 All-Canadian Camp June 24 - June 27 Spring Training Camp March 31 - April 4 Home Opener Monday, September 6
Offseason 2004
Hawks Return To Yates Cup By Ari Grossman Sports Information Director It seems so long ago, and yet the memories of the Laurier Golden Hawks 2003 football season are numbingly fresh. The Hawks awesome efforts on the gridiron, made it one of the most successful football seasons in Golden Hawk history. The excitement of a 62-point scoring barrage in a victory and the recognition of nine players as all-stars (four all-Canadians) were among the numerous bright spots that took the sting out of two season losses - each by a field goal in the closing seconds. Increased fan support raised enthusiasm and Golden Hawk supporters, if they couldn’t attend a game, still heard seven radio broadcasts on 570 News. Even more glitter with regular interviews on ‘Laurier Hawk Talk’ - the only onehour university sports show in Canada. All-Canadian linebacker Kevin MacNeill created a stir signing a pro contract with the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes after the season ended. There was nothing better than watching the Golden Hawks - in a game that will be talked about for years - win a thrilling double overtime semifinal over Queen’s. In front of a stunned Queen’s crowd, the Hawks saw the heavilyfavoured team, and two-time
Receiver Andrew Agro makes an amazing twenty-five yard catch in front of a homecoming crowd of 5,324 at University Stadium.
Hec Crighton award winning quarterback, pack up their equipment prematurely. While Laurier’s football players were in the spotlight all season, the mentor responsible for turning a 1-7 season around to finish with a success story was an individual who received post-season accolades even though he repeatedly deflected personal glory to his “football family”. Gary Jeffries was first singled out by his players, then the league and later the country as Canada’s top university football coach. Jeffries, praised his coaching staff and the efforts of players on repeated occasions. Then, in a gala banquet salute to the accomplishments of 2003 - an event he helped organize - Jeffries paid tribute to dedication and hard work of Laurier student athletes.
Rob Dalley also reached the podium for awards as volunteer coach of the year. It was a year of outstanding memories and challenges for the future. There were many individual accomplishments, personal best games and achievements, resulting from countless hours of commitment by 85 athletes, which started almost a year ago at Spring Training Camp and concluded in the Yates Cup championship game. Many of those, unfortunately, tend to go unnoticed in a sport that thrives on the big play and the big game. The Laurier Golden Hawks football team, with an 8-3 overall record, did themselves proud and a large contingent of alumni, students, administration, corporate sponsors and friends, know it.
For more information please visit our website at
www.laurierathletics.com
2004 All-Canadian Football Camp Laurier Football is once again proud to present the 7th Annual All-Canadian Football Camp. The camp will run Thursday June 24 - Sunday June 27 at University Stadium, Wilfrid Laurier University. The camp is a great opportunity for High School players (13-18 yrs) to learn and develop under the watchful eyes of Laurier's coaching staff. The camp will also provide each player a chance to be identified as a university prospect and will give them access to the top recruiters in the province. In addition, each camper will have access to film as a teaching tool and will receive a Progress Report at the end of camp. The cost is $210.00 for commuter campers and $250.00 for overnight campers. For more information or to register, please contact Wally Gabler at 519-884-0710 ext. 3428
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2003 Fundraising Successes The 2003 season proved successful not only on the field, but off the field as well for the Football Golden Hawks. More money was raised through programs such as the “Friends of Golden Hawk Football Reception and Dinner” and “Adopt a Golden Hawk” than ever before. In May, the “Friends of Golden Hawk Football Reception and Dinner” welcomed CFL Comissioner Tom Wright as the keynote speaker for the main fundraising event for Golden Hawk football. With his help, over $40,000 dol-
lars was raised through ticket sales, corporate table sales and a very successful silent auction. The Adopt A Hawk program got rolling by engaging the players in the process and after all was said and done, over $24,000 was raised as nearly 80 players were adopted. A special reception was held to thank the donors and gave the players a chance to meet their sponsors. In addition, during the season many of the players participated in a phone blitz aimed at connecting with
friends and alumni. Over the course of two evenings, Hawk seniors raised another $6000 for the program. Monies raised in 2003 went to improve support for the coaching staff, recruiting, video equipment upgrades and field equipment purchases. Thanks to all who helped provide our student athletes with the best in terms of coaching, facilities and equipment. We look forward to your continued involvement in 2004.
Coach’s Corner Dear Friends of Golden Hawk Football, Well, its been quite a year in football at WLU! We came off a 1-7 season in 2002…we had to deal with a strike, many key injuries and the loss of 5 football games by a total of eleven points. Our Head Coach, Rick Zmich, retired in January of 2003 and we were faced with putting the pieces back together. Our player’s gathered at RIM Park Field House in Waterloo in February and vowed to turn things around. In May, I was then given the opportunity of a lifetime, the Head Coaching position of the Golden Hawks. We assembled a great coaching team, had a very successful recruiting year and returned 70 very determined and very talented football players to begin the `03 campaign. Although we didn’t win the Championship, this season was probably the greatest thrill of my 31 year
coaching life here at WLU. To watch those young men come together in training camp and experience the strength along with the resolve they showed in turning themselves into a very good football team, was something I will never forget. From the first win at the University of Ottawa, to the dramatic double overtime semi-final victory at Queen’s, to the Yates Cup final at McMaster, the Golden Hawks showed everyone what they were made of. We were once again playing Golden Hawk football, we were competing with every fiber of our being. These young men did themselves proud! The Hawks did what they set out to do, they ‘got back up’ and they turned it around. We presently have 67 players working out in our program and we are actively recruiting 25 of the top prospects in the province. We workout as a team twice per
week with one full practice at our local Field House. The kids are involved in a very good weight training program being administered by Coach Gabler and Jamie Carlson our Athletic Therapist. They are also involved in our Study Hall program, a minimum of once per week. 2004 is well under way and I am confident we will make you proud once again this season! Thank you for your unyielding support. Golden Hawks forever,
Hawks Staff Recognized Nationally
Rob Dalley Recipient of 2003 Gino Fracas Award
By Ari Grossman Sports Information Director
At the TSN/CFL Vanier Cup Awards Luncheon, three Golden Hawks were recognized for their contributions to Canadian University Football. Coach Rob Dalley was the 2003 recipient of the Gino Fracas Award and brothers Roly and Kevin Webster were awarded the John Alexander Award. The Gino Fracas Award is presented to the Most Outstanding Volunteer Coach in Canadian University Football. Rob has served as an assistant coach with the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks for the past 13 seasons. He has coached receivers, running backs, quarterbacks and acted as special teams
coordinator. During Rob’s tenure the Golden Hawks have appeared in four Yates Cups, winning a Yates Cup in 1991, the same year they went on to win the Churchill Bowl and the Vanier Cup. He has also coached at the junior level with the Windsor AKO Fratmen Football Team for 2 years, with team Ontario’s Provincial Team for one year and he won a High School National Championship in 1996. What sets Coach Dalley apart from his peers is his ability to deliver his message to his players. Rob is an outstanding teacher and he is very highly respected by coaches and players alike. Rob also has his Level 1 & 2 Technical in football from the National Coaching Certification Program. The John Alexander Award is awarded for exemplary volunteer service in University Sport and who better to receive it then the Webster brothers. Roly has worked in multiple roles for Wilfrid Laurier Athletics since 1995 including the Stadium Manager, Coordinator of Marketing and Promotions and now as the Athletic Development Officer. During his time in university sport, he has also had the opportunity to help out with many event committees including the Vanier Cup 2000 - 2003, University Cup 2000 & 2001, Four Nations Cup 2002
and the Inaugural East-West Bowl in 2003. Before joining Wilfrid Laurier as the Stadium and Event Coordinator in 2000, Kevin had jumped around the continent working for DC United in Virginia as a member of the Operations team and in New Jersey with Synergy Sports as an Event Manager. Fitting around his Laurier Athletics schedule, Kevin has been able to get involved with several events in the K-W region including; the 2000 & 2001 University Cup Championships, the 2002 Four Nations Cup and the Inaugural East-West Bowl in 2003. Kevin has also been able to balance his fall schedule with the annual Vanier Cup Football championship where he has worked as the Game Operations Manager for the past four years.
On December 12, 2003, the Montreal Alouettes proudly announded that All-Canadian Golden Hawk linebacker Kevin MacNeill signed a contract with the club. Kevin MacNeill was named to the 2003 CIS second team All-Canadian and the OUA first team All-Star in 2001 and 2003. In four seasons at Wilfrid Laurier he played 37 games, including 29 starts. He recorded 175 defensive tackles,
September 6 Toronto at Laurier - 7 pm September 11 Windsor at Laurier - 2 pm September 18 Laurier at Western - 2 pm September 25 McMaster at Laurier - 2 pm October 2 Laurier at Waterloo - 2 pm October 9 Laurier at Guelph - 2 pm October 16 Ottawa at Laurier - 2 pm October 23 Laurier at York - 2 pm October 30 Quarter-Finals - 1 pm November 6 Semi-Finals - 1 pm
Co-Receipient Roly Webster accepts the John Alexander Award on behalf of himself and Kevin Webster
MacNeill Signs with Alouettes By Kenneth Tam Sports Information Assistant
Tentative 2004 Golden Hawk Schedule
74 assisted tackles, 9 sacks, 4 interceptions; he also forced 2 fumbles, and recovered 5. In 2001 he was named Wilfrid Laurier’s Football Player of the Year. The Canadian Football League operates in nine leading Canadian cities. Its teams compete annually for the Grey Cup, Canada’s oldest professional League Championship trophy. The 92nd Grey Cup will be played in Ottawa on November 21st, 2004.
November 13 Yates Cup - 1 pm November 20 CIS Semi-Finals - TBA November 27 Vanier Cup - TBA
Why Not Hire A Golden Hawk? Anyone who has opportunity for long term or summer employment and would be interested in hiring a current member of the Hawks is asked to contact Gary Jeffries at (519) 884-0710 ext. 2180
Annual Football Banquet and Team Award Winners By Wally Gabler Assistant Coach
The evening of February 7th provided the 2003 version of the Golden Hawks a chance to celebrate both the individual and team success of the past season. Over 220 people gathered at the “Turret� in the Fred Nichols Campus Centre where players, parents, coaches, support staff and university administration shared in an evening which honored graduating players, recognized the 2003 OUA All-Stars and CIS All-Canadians and presented the awards for Impact Players of the Year, Scout Team Players of the Year and Special Teams Player of the Year. Other awards, including the Most Valuable Player, Lineman and Rookie of the Year awards will be presented at the Athletic Banquet in early April. The evening concluded with a highlight film that brought back the many memorable moments from the 2003 campaign and recognized our graduating players. Thanks to the organizing committee for their tremendous efforts. 2003 Football Banquet Award Winners Offensive Impact Player - RB Nick Cameron Defensive Impact Player - LB Brian Sloot Offensive Scout Team - OL Andrew Dietrick Defensive Scout Team - DB Don Gooding Special Teams Player - LB Jesse Alexander
2003 Yates Cup Finalists
Football Alumni Golf Tournament August 2004 MORE INFORMATION TO COME Visit
www.laurierathletics. com