Vert et Or learning playbooks, fighting for positions in spring camp

NOTE: Translation is using a software therefore not done to perfection

For the third time this week, players of the football team Vert & Or de Sherbrooke University showed up at dawn. The goal: learn the playbook for some, to earn a spot for the fall for others. This is the traditional spring camp!

Monday, Tuesday and this morning, more than 80 athletes were present at the stage inside the UdeS at 6 am for a strenuous two hours. Sessions that highlighted the enormous depth of the team.

If the defensive side of the 12 starters from last season are back at their posts, many great battles take shape on the side of the offensive, including sensitive position while quarterback Jeremy Roch a battleground in Fourth-year veteran and the young James Goulet Nicolas Lafond.

“With Jeremy is in great shape and fully recovered from the injury he suffered during the playoffs college AAA, a veteran like James who has been with us four years and a young player with good potential as Nicolas Lafond, we right to have a good battle, “says coach Andre Bolduc.

The side of the offensive line, not less than 14 behemoths are trying to get a starting job. The duel which attracts most attention is that between Bruno-Pierre Doyon and Jean-Sebastien Laberge for the job vacated custody since leaving Kristof Giorfy. For its part, the giant Christopher Belley Rosa, rookie at the University of Sherbrooke in 2009, was transferred to the center to cover the loss of Louis-Charles Gagné.

“A successful football team relies heavily on the shoulders of his offensive line. The quality and number of players we have in this unit is really impressive! “Said Bolduc, who is also happy with his defensive holding so far.

“We feel the progression of this unit, says he. We had a relatively inexperienced service last year, but now we see all the progress made by our players. ”

From on special teams, veteran kicker William Dion was also in competition with the debut of Olivier Emond (Champlain College Cougars AAA) and Sébastien Blanchard (AA Giants Cégep de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu ).

“Even on this side, we’ll have some answers as the two young people very well. It’s a healthy competition that will force William to excel, “said Bolduc, who is in fifth spring camp at the helm of the Vert & Or

Newcomers

In addition, five new student-athletes have recently selected the University of Sherbrooke as a destination. The defensive back Felix Bouthiller-Won (AA Giants Cégep de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu), linebackers Gabriel Couët (Champlain College Cougars AAA) and Nicolas Roy (AA Volunteers Cégep de Sherbrooke) and players offensive lineman John Sebastian Lorrain (AA Giants Cégep de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu) and Jocelyn Lamer (Lynx AAA Collège Édouard-Montpetit) complete an excellent recruiting for the 2011 season.

In this group also added defensive lineman Jean-Christophe Gagnon, a former Gaiters Bishop’s University, who decided to transfer to the UdeS. The athlete 6’3”and 270 pounds was coveted by the coaching staff at its output Sherbrooke Champlain College last year, but had instead opted for the bad.

Under a settlement of Canadian Interuniversity Sport, it will however not be in uniform before the start of the playoffs, exactly 365 days after his last game with the Gaiters.

“We believe Jean-Christophe able to replace Steve Paquette next year when it has passed its five years of eligibility. It really is a big catch for us! “Said André Bolduc.

The camp will run this Saturday between 11 am and 14 pm at the artificial turf of Chemin Sainte-Catherine with a workout open to the public. Should a significant fall of snow or temperatures below freezing, the meeting will be moved to 21h at Roland Dussault Sports Centre.