Acadia Axemen: Will the offensive line gel in time?

The 2009 regular season started off strong with a dominating performance over Mt Allison 58 –
15 and ended with a win vs Mt Allison 28 – 11. Defensively there were some high points turning
our opponents over forcing 15 fumbles on the season and 7 Interceptions.

As the season progressed stopping the run was our mantra and with the exception of a few QB scrambles the defense did that very well. Offensively we were sporadic after the incredible start vs Mt A where our QB was the CIS offensive player of the week. There were some great individual games throughout the season but in the end we did not protect the ball consistently enough to advance past the AUS semi final game, which we allowed St FX to comeback and beat us in the 4th qtr 33 – 30.

2010 will represent a year for Acadia to grow up a bit as many of our starters are now moving
into their 4th and 5th years. Offensively a new QB will be behind center and there will be a
number of new faces on the O line. The veteran leadership will come from the receivers and
RB’s, as all but one are returning, and the skill positions should put Acadia back in the scoring
column. On the defensive side there are only 4 starters gone from a unit that was the obvious
strength of the team last year and will be expected to stop opponent offenses regularly. The
strength of the defense will be the defensive backs and the D line where 3 out of 4 starters
return to handle the trenches.

This football team, more than any other Acadia team in the last 3 years, is a tight group that will not accept losing and expects to play for a championship in 2010 and many years to come.
Quote from head coach:
“My belief is that we are going to strong on both sides of the ball with a lot of returning players at key positions. If our offensive line can gel and come together under veteran Coach Dan McNally we will put ourselves in a position to battle anybody in the country” – Head Coach Jeff Cummins

Head Coach:
– Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2010):8
– Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2010):8
– Career regular season record with team: 25 – 31
– Career regular season record in CIS: 25 – 31
– Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs only): 29 – 37
– Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only):29 – 37

2009 regular season record: 2 – 6
2009 regular season standings: 3RD place
2009 playoff record: 0-1
2009 playoff finish: Lost 33 – 30 to ST FX in AUS conference semi-final

Offence
Key returning players:
RB Brett Haenni returns for his 3rd season. Led team in rushing avg 5.5 yds per rush was 6th in
conference and has gotten bigger and stronger this offseason.
Rec Taylor Renaud and Josh Pearsall both return for their 3rd seasons respectively. Combined
they had 37 catches and 5 TD’s but neither player was able to finish a full season because of
injuries however expectations are high after great off seasons.
Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):
OL – Travis Miller from the Okanagan Sun Jr football program. Travis was the linemen of the
year for his team and has been a team captain for 3 out of the 5 years he started at Center for
the Sun. Originally from Grand Prairie, AB Travis will be expected to come in and provide a
veteran perspective to the line.
OL – Shaun Feasby transfer from U of Toronto. Shaun sat out 2009 and will be eligible to play
right away for Acadia and at 6’5 310lbs he will be a guy that will be expected to come in and
compete right away.
Rec – Mike Squires transfer from U of Waterloo. 6’4 205 slot back starter for Waterloo last
season has transferred out to be closer to home (Halifax, NS). Mike has the ability and talent to
come in right away and be a player for Acadia. As an invitee to the National invitational combine
for the CFL Mike has high expectations for himself and those people who know about the next
level.
Key losses:
QB – Keith Lockwood, Rec Devon Jones, OL Greg Kinsman, OL Greg Knight, OL Chris
Cartwright and OL Erik Watson

Defence
Key returning players:
4th Yr DB Mike Miller, All conference and all Canadian 2009. Mike was an East/West game
representative for Acadia and has the possibility to be a repeat all Canadian if he can stay
healthy. Mike is a ferocious defender and enjoys the contact of the game all the while growing
as a cover from his HB position.
4th Yr LB Tom Labenski, All conference 2008. Tom was an East/West game representative for
Acadia last year and will be the starter at MLB again. Tom was not surprising anybody last year
with his play as the league knew where and when he was in the game. He usually saw a couple
of O linemen coming his direction but sacrificed his stats for the team. Tom’s off season growth
will help him to become one of, if not the best, Linebackers in our conference. He is relentless.
5th Yr DE Adrian Saturley, All conference DE 2009 and was tied for the league and team sack
title with 4. Adrian graduated with his BBA last spring but will comeback to upgrade and work
towards a championship and grad school. Expectations are high for both Adrian and the rest of
his line mates.
4th Yr DB Mike Rostance, All conference Free Safety 2009. Mike was an East/West game
representative for Acadia and is expected to run the defense from his Safety position. Shorty is
trying to emulate the last all Canadian free safety here Elliott Richardson who is now playing
with the Edmonton Eskimos.