An Insider Look at Training Camp
Football freshmen to shine this season
96 eager Laurier football players have taken over the field at University Stadium for their two week Golden Hawk training camp that kicked off last Sunday.
With 36 superb freshmen on this year’s roster, and certainly more than a handful of top-notch veterans, head coach and manager of football operations Gary Jeffries is looking forward to a promising season.
“I think we have great potential” Jeffries commented, “It’s an outstanding group with a lot of talent, and we’re very excited.”
The Golden Hawks begin their season ranked 7th in the nation by Canadian Interuniversity Sports reporters, and many predict the group will be a very strong competitor for the Vanier Cup.
“We have one of the top classes this year coming in,” said rookie sensation Alex Anthony, “Every practice is super competitive; we have first year guys competing for starting spots.”
Anthony is one of the team’s most anticipated players this year.
The 18 year old hails from Mount Douglas Secondary School in Victoria, B.C., and has been sought after by schools all over Canada, as well as the U.S. The Golden Hawks managed to swoop up the high school superstar- and arguably one of the best wide receivers in all of Canada, for the start of 2009 season.
“Scouting is a very important aspect,” commented coach Jeffries “We already have about 75 kids on our list for next year. Scouting at least a year in advance is critical for success.”
Another of Laurier’s recruits is Nick Sapone. Sapone comes from Vanier College in Montreal, and seems to be fitting in just fine with the rest of the team.
“Everyone’s making me feel very welcome,” he said.
Anthony would agree the integration of the freshmen has been a success.
“Everyone seems to be coming together well,” he said “We’re really building team chemistry.”
“Everyone knows their role, we are much more cohesive than last year, and everyone has respect for one another,” explained seasoned veteran Taurean Allen.
“We all know what our potential is this year,” he further went on “And everyone is a lot more upbeat than in years past.”
The Hawks camp schedule has been slightly altered from last year.
“We have adopted a new game plan in regards to practices,” explained cornerback Allen “We practice in the mornings, and have the afternoons off to recover.”
The result has been a much healthier and athletic team than in previous years.
The team has two practices daily consisting of conditioning, scrimmages, and specials. On top of that there are team luncheons, dinners, and meetings, as well as the newly tailored play book to be memorized by all team members.
“It’s a family atmosphere,” said Allen.
But the rigorous two week schedule is not the only work these boys will do to prepare for the season – much of the work takes place in the offseason.
“I was running throughout the summer and lifting weights with a trainer to get ready,” commented freshman Sapone.
At the end of the day, coach Jeffries remains focused amidst all of the team’s hype– “We don’t talk in terms of winning, we only talk about competing,” he says.
“Right now we’re focusing on our game against the University of Toronto, and that’s as far ahead as we’re looking,” Jeffries added.
The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks travel to Toronto Monday September 7th for their first game of the season against the Toronto Varsity Blues. The Hawks home opener is scheduled for Saturday September 19th at University Stadium versus the Waterloo Warriors; game time is 1:00 pm.
