QUEBEC CITY (CIS) – The 46th Desjardins Vanier Cup festivities officially kicked off on Wednesday morning with the traditional Meet the Teams media conference at Loews Le Concorde Hotel in downtown Quebec City.
The Canada West and Mitchell Bowl champion University of Calgary Dinos (9-2) and the QUFL and Uteck Bowl champion Laval University Rouge et Or (12-0) face off Saturday at 11:45 a.m. Eastern (9:45 a.m. MT) in the CIS football final, live on TSN and Radio-Canada.
Calgary makes a late November visit to PEPS Stadium for the third time in as many years. The Dinos fell 33-31 to Queen’s in last year’s national title match and had lost 59-10 to the Rouge et Or in the 2008 Uteck Bowl, which remains the only previous meeting in history between the two powerhouses.
Both head coaches agreed Saturday’s duel should be a classic matchup between the Dinos’ high-powered offence and the Rouge et Or’s dominating defence.
“Our offence is a little young but our defence is very mature,” said Laval’s Glen Constantin, whose team led the nation for the third straight season and for the fifth time in seven years in conference play, allowing a stingy 6.4 points per game. “The Dinos have so many weapons, starting with Erik (Glavic) at quarterback. They are not only stacked up at the skill positions, they’re also very physical on the line. They are going to be our biggest challenge of the season.”
“Their defence is very, very good. They are very athletic,” said Calgary’s Blake Nill, whose troops have scored 35 points or more in each of its last five games, including 40, 56 and 35-point outputs in the playoffs. “With them, it’s not just one guy. You have to be aware of all of them at all times.”
After an injury-plagued regular season, Calgary quarterback Erik Glavic has been on fire of late with 11 touchdown passes and only two interceptions in three playoff wins. The two-time Hec Crighton trophy winner knows limiting turnovers will be one of the keys to success on Saturday.
“I can’t throw interceptions against Laval. We have to protect the football,” said Glavic, who threw for 354 yards in the 2009 Vanier Cup against Queen’s but was picked off twice. “They have 14 interceptions in three playoff games. That’s what they do. They’re really aggressive and they force turnovers.”
The Rouge et Or had four interceptions in their thrilling 13-11 Uteck Bowl win over Western last Saturday, including a pair by all-star cornerback Olivier Turcotte-Létourneau.
Laval defensive lineman Marc-Antoine L. Fortin welcomes the challenge of facing Glavic and the high-flying Dinos’ offence.
“They can hurt you in the air and on the ground,” said the defensive MVP of the 2008 Vanier Cup. “But we’ll be ready. Our coaches always prepare us very well.”
The Dinos tallied 263 yards passing and 181 rushing last Saturday in their 35-8 domination of Saint Mary’s, including 127 yards on only 14 carries by Mitchell Bowl MVP Steven Lumbala.
“It should be a great game. We’re excited to get another shot at the title,” Lumbala said.
10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE 46th DESJARDINS VANIER CUP:
1) A Laval win would give Glen Constantin a fifth Vanier Cup title, the most by a head coach. He is currently tied with former Calgary head coach Peter Connellan. Now in his 10th season at the helm, Constantin led Laval to the promised land in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2008.
2) The Rouge et Or can also tie Western for most Vanier Cup wins by a team, with six. Calgary is currently tied for third with four.
3) In his fifth season with the Dinos, Blake Nill could become the first head coach to lead two programs to the Vanier Cup title. Nill guided Saint Mary’s to Vanier Cup wins in 2001 and 2002.
4) Only one team has won the Vanier Cup in its home city. The Toronto Varsity Blues were crowned in their own Varsity Stadium in 1965 and at Toronto’s SkyDome (now Rogers Centre) in 1993.
5) Calgary is the last school to lose a Vanier Cup final to a host team. The Dinos were defeated 37-34 by Toronto at the SkyDome in 1993.
6) Already the only team to win the Vanier Cup in three different cities (Toronto, Hamilton, Saskatoon), Laval could add a fourth one to its list, and could become the first team crowned in three provinces.
7) Taking a perfect 5-0 Vanier Cup record into Saturday’s game, the Rouge et Or are one of only two teams with an unblemished mark in the CIS football final. The Guelph Gryphons beat Mount Allison 22-13 in their lone Vanier Cup appearance in 1984.
8) Laval is riding a CIS-record 43-game overall winning streak at home. The Rouge et Or haven’t lost at PEPS Stadium since a 14-13 regular-season setback against Montreal on Sept. 19, 2004.
9) Thanks to the new QUFL nine-game regular schedule implemented this fall, Laval could become the first team in CIS history to end the season with 13 wins.
10) Last but not least: for the 46th consecutive year, the Vanier Cup will feature at least one team named after an animal (including the mythological gryphon).
46th DESJARDINS VANIER CUP
When: Saturday, Nov. 27, 11:45 a.m. Eastern Time
Where: PEPS Stadium, Quebec City
Who: No. 5 Calgary Dinos (9-2) vs. No. 1 Laval Rouge et Or (12-0)
TV: Live on TSN & Radio-Canada
UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY DINOS
(Canada West champions – Mitchell Bowl winners – Visiting team Vanier Cup)
2010 season summary
Overall record: 9-2
Regular season record: 6-2
Regular season standing: 2nd
Playoff record: 3-0
Final Top 10 ranking (Nov. 2): No. 5
Best Top 10 ranking (10 weeks): No. 1 (1 week: first poll)
Lowest Top 10 ranking (10 weeks): No. 7 (1 week: 8th poll)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (10 weeks): 10
Regular season offence points (26.0 ppg): 3rd CW / 11th CIS
Regular season offence total yards (447.9 ypg): 3rd CW / 8th CIS
Regular season offence passing (199.6 ypg): 6th CW / 21st CIS
Regular season offence rushing (248.2 ypg): 1st CW / 2nd CIS
Regular season defence points (22.3 ppg): 2nd CW / 9th CIS
Regular season defence total yards (422.8 ypg): 3rd CW / 18th CIS
Regular season defence passing (267.1): 6th CW / 21st CIS
Regular season defence rushing (155.6): 3rd CW / 14th CIS
2010 results
Sept. 4 (home): Saskatchewan 34, Calgary 13
Sept. 10 (home): Calgary 24, Regina 21
Sept. 18 (away): Calgary 23, Alberta 14
Sept. 25 (away): Calgary 26, Manitoba 25
Oct. 2 (home): Calgary 33, UBC 16
Oct. 15 (away): Saskatchewan 36, Calgary 17
Oct. 22 (away): Calgary 35, Regina 27
Oct. 30 (home): Calgary 37, Alberta 5
Nov. 6 (home): Calgary 40, Regina 33 (CW semifinal)
Nov. 13 (home): Calgary 56, Alberta 3 (CW final)
Nov. 20 (home): Calgary 35, Saint Mary’s 8 (Mitchell Bowl)
2010 Canada West individual honours
Major awards: Sam Hurl (defensive MVP), Paul Swiston (outstanding down lineman), Eric Dzwilewski (rookie of the year)
All-stars offence: Matt Walter (RB), Anthony Parker (IR), Nathan Coehoorn (WR), Paul Swiston (T), Reed Alexander (G), Alex Krausnick-Groh (C)
All-stars defence: Sam Hurl (LB), Tye Noble (HB)
All-stars special teams: Aaron Ifield (PK)
Head coach: Blake Nill
Year: 13th (5th at Calgary / 8 at Saint Mary’s 1998-2005)
Career regular season record: 73-31 (.702) / 24-16 with Calgary (.600)
Career playoff record: 20-8 (.714) / 8-3 with Calgary (.727)
Career overall record (season and playoffs): 93-39 (.705) / 32-19 with Calgary (.627)
Career overall record vs. Laval: 2-6 / 0-1 with Calgary
Career overall record vs. Glen Constantin: 2-5 / 0-1 with Calgary
Vanier Cup record: 2-3 (0-1 with Calgary)
Vanier Cup wins: 2002, 2001
Vanier Cup losses: 2009 (with Calgary), 2003, 1999
Calgary vs. Laval history
Overall record: 0-1
2008 Uteck Bowl, Nov. 16, PEPS Stadium, Quebec City: 59-10 loss
Calgary Vanier Cup history
All-time record: 4-3
Nov. 28, 2009, PEPS Stadium, Quebec City (18,628): 33-31 loss vs. Queen’s
Nov. 25, 1995, SkyDome, Toronto (29,178): 54-24 win vs. Western
Nov. 20, 1993, SkyDome, Toronto (20,211): 37-34 loss vs. Toronto
Nov. 19, 1988, Varsity Stadium, Toronto (13,127): 52-23 win vs. Saint Mary’s
Nov. 30, 1985, Varsity Stadium, Toronto (16,321): 25-6 win vs. Western
Nov. 19, 1983, Varsity Stadium, Toronto (18,324): 31-21 win vs. Queen’s
Nov. 21, 1975, CNE Stadium, Toronto (17,800): 14-9 loss vs. Ottawa
Calgary Vanier Cup head coaches
Blake Nill: 2010, 2009
Peter Connellan: 1995, 1993, 1988, 1985, 1983
Mike Lashuk: 1975
UNIVERSITÉ LAVAL ROUGE ET OR
(QUFL champions – Uteck Bowl winners – Home team Vanier Cup)
2010 season summary
Overall record: 12-0
Regular season record: 9-0
Regular season standing: 1st
Playoff record: 3-0
Final Top 10 ranking (Nov. 2): No. 1
Best Top 10 ranking (10 weeks): No. 1 (9 weeks: last 9 polls)
Lowest Top 10 ranking (10 weeks): No. 2 (1 week: first poll)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (10 weeks): 10
Regular season offence points (45.7 ppg): 1st QUFL / 1st CIS
Regular season offence total yards (460.8 ypg): 1st QUFL / 6th CIS
Regular season offence passing (253.8 ypg): 2nd QUFL / 8th CIS
Regular season offence rushing (207.0 ypg): 1st QUFL / 3rd CIS
Regular season defence points (6.4 ppg): 1st QUFL / 1st CIS
Regular season defence total yards (221.3 ypg): 1st QUFL / 1st CIS
Regular season defence passing (175.7 ypg): 1st QUFL / 3rd CIS
Regular season defence rushing (45.7 ypg): 1st QUFL / 1st CIS
2010 results
Sept. 5 (home): Laval 50, McGill 9
Sept. 11 (away): Laval 36, Sherbrooke 6
Sept. 18 (away): Laval 45, Saint Mary’s 7
Sept. 26 (home): Laval 23, Sherbrooke 7
Oct. 3 (home): Laval 46, Concordia 10
Oct. 9 (away): Laval 19, Montreal 12
Oct. 17 (home): Laval 62, Bishop’s 0
Oct. 23 (away): Laval 68, McGill 0
Oct. 30 (away): Laval 62, Concordia 7
Nov. 6 (home): Laval 56, Bishop’s 1 (QUFL semifinal)
Nov. 13 (home): Laval 22, Sherbrooke 17 (QUFL final)
Nov. 20 (home): Laval 13, Western 11 (Uteck Bowl)
2010 QUFL individual honours
Major awards: Frédérick Plesius (defensive MVP), Arnaud Gascon-Nadon (outstanding down lineman), Glen Constantin (coach of the year)
All-stars offence: Bruno Prud’homme (QB), Sébastien Lévesque (RB), Julian Feoli Gudino (WR), Pierre Lavertu (C), Pascal Baillargeon (G)
All-stars defence: Arnaud Gascon-Nadon (DE), Frédérick Plesius (LB), Maxime Bérubé (DB), Olivier Turcotte-Létourneau (CB)
All-stars special team: Christopher Milo (P & PK)
Head coach: Glen Constantin
Year: 10th
Career regular season record: 67-14 (.827) *
Career playoff record: 25-7 (.781) *
Career overall record (season and playoffs): 92-21 (.814) *
Career overall record vs. Calgary: 1-0
Career overall record vs. Blake Nill: 5-2
Vanier Cup record: 4-0
Vanier Cup wins: 2008, 2006, 2004, 2003
Vanier Cup losses: None
* 2001 has been recorded at 0-8 in the regular season and 0-3 in the playoffs for Laval. The Rouge et Or had finished with a 5-3 regular season record and a 2-1 playoff record but later forfeited all 7 wins due to the use of an ineligible player.
Laval vs. Calgary history
Overall record: 1-0
2008 Uteck Bowl, Nov. 16, PEPS Stadium, Quebec City: 59-10 win
Laval Vanier Cup history
All-time record: 5-0
Nov. 22, 2008, Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton (13,873): 44-21 win vs. Western
Nov. 25, 2006, Griffiths Stadium, Saskatoon (12,567): 13-8 win vs. Saskatchewan
Nov. 27, 2004, Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton (14,227): 7-1 win vs. Saskatchewan
Nov. 22, 2003, SkyDome, Toronto (17,828): 14-7 win vs. Saint Mary’s
Nov. 27, 1999, SkyDome, Toronto (12,595): 14-10 win vs. Saint Mary’s
Laval Vanier Cup head coaches
Glen Constantin: 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2003
Jacques Chapdelaine: 1999
PAST VANIER CUPS
Year Winners Losers Winning Coach Losing Coach Attendance
2009 Queen’s 33 Calgary 31 Pat Sheahan Blake Nill 18,628
2008 Laval 44 Western 21 Glen Constantin Greg Marshall 13,873
2007 Manitoba 28 St. Mary’s 14 Brian Dobie Steve Sumarah 26,787
2006 Laval 13 Sask. 8 Glen Constantin Brian Towriss 12,567
2005 Laurier 24 Sask. 23 Gary Jeffries Brian Towriss 16,827
2004 Laval 7 Sask. 1 Glen Constantin Brian Towriss 14,227
2003 Laval 14 St. Mary’s 7 Glen Constantin Blake Nill 17,828
2002 St. Mary’s 33 Sask. 21 Blake Nill Brian Towriss 17,179
2001 St. Mary’s 42 Manitoba 16 Blake Nill Brian Dobie 19,138
2000 Ottawa 42 Regina 39 Marcel Bellefeuille Frank McCrystal 18,209
1999 Laval 14 St. Mary’s 10 Jacques Chapdelaine Blake Nill 12,595
1998 Sask. 24 Concordia 17 Brian Towriss Pat Sheahan 15,157
1997 UBC 39 Ottawa 23 Casey Smith Larry Ring 8,184
1996 Sask. 31 StFX 12 Brian Towriss John Stevens 14,577
1995 Calgary 54 Western 24 Peter Connellan Larry Haylor 29,178
1994 Western 50 Sask. 40 (OT) Larry Haylor Brian Towriss 28,652
1993 Toronto 37 Calgary 34 Bob Laycoe Peter Connellan 20,211
1992 Queen’s 31 St. Mary’s 0 Doug Hargreaves Larry Uteck 28,645
1991 Laurier 25 Mt. Allison 18 Rich Newbrough Marc Loranger 30,191
1990 Sask. 24 St. Mary’s 21 Brian Towriss Larry Uteck 26,846
1989 Western 35 Sask. 10 Larry Haylor Brian Towriss 32,847
1988 Calgary 52 St. Mary’s 23 Peter Connellan Larry Uteck 13,127
1987 McGill 47 UBC 11 Charlie Baillie Frank Smith 14,326
1986 UBC 25 Western 23 Frank Smith Larry Haylor 17,847
1985 Calgary 25 Western 6 Peter Connellan Larry Haylor 16,321
1984 Guelph 22 Mt. Allison 13 John Musselman Steve Bruno 19,842
1983 Calgary 31 Queen’s 21 Peter Connellan Doug Hargreaves 18,324
1982 UBC 39 Western 14 Frank Smith Darwin Semotiuk 14,759
1981 Acadia 18 Alberta 12 John Huard Jim Donlevy 11,875
1980 Alberta 40 Ottawa 21 Jim Donlevy Cam Innes 11,000
1979 Acadia 34 Western 12 John Huard Darwin Semotiuk 19,397
1978 Queen’s 16 UBC 3 Doug Hargreaves Frank Smith 19,124
1977 Western 48 Acadia 15 Darwin Semotiuk Bob Vespaziani 19,514
1976 Western 29 Acadia 13 Darwin Semotiuk Bob Vespaziani 20,300
1975 Ottawa 14 Calgary 9 Don Gilbert Mike Lashuk 17,800
1974 Western 19 Toronto 15 Frank Cosentino Ron Murphy 24,777
1973 St. Mary’s 14 McGill 6 Al Keith Charlie Baillie 17,000
1972 Alberta 20 Lutheran 7 Jim Donlevy David Knight 10,192
1971 Western 15 Alberta 14 Frank Cosentino Jim Donlevy 13,041
1970 Manitoba 38 Ottawa 11 Henry Janzen Bob O’Billovich 10,550
1969 Manitoba 24 McGill 15 Henry Janzen Tom Mooney 9,347
1968 Queen’s 42 Waterloo 14 Frank Tindall David Knight 16,051
1967 Alberta 10 McMaster 9 Clare Drake Jack Kennedy 16,167
1966 StFX 40 Lutheran 14 Don Loney David Knight 13,678
1965 Toronto 14 Alberta 7 Dalt White Gino Fracas 3,488
VENUES
Varsity Stadium, Toronto (seating capacity 21,739): 1965-1972, 1976-1988
CNE Stadium, Toronto (seating capacity 33,135): 1973-1975
Rogers Centre, Toronto * (seating capacity 32,000 for Vanier Cup): 1989-2003, 2007
Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton (seating capacity 28,743): 2004-2005, 2008
Griffiths Stadium, Saskatoon (seating capacity: 12,567): 2006
PEPS Stadium, Quebec City (seating capacity 12,300): 2009
* Formerly SkyDome
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