Weekly ‘DID YOU KNOW’ (8): Nill disciplined, CFC 100 CIS impact & Foucault’s big break

CFC INSIDER

Each week, CanadaFootballChat.com will bring you some of the fascinating stories from Canadian amateur football

We introduce to you the next weekly installment of CFC’s “Did you know”:

DID YOU KNOW (7): OCTOBER 24th

DID YOU KNOW (6): OCTOBER 17TH

DID YOU KNOW (5): OCTOBER 10TH

DID YOU KNOW (4) – OCTOBER 3RD

DID YOU KNOW (3) – SEPTEMBER 26th

DID YOU KNOW (2) – SEPTEMBER 19th

DID YOU KNOW (1) – SEPTEMBER 12th

• NILL DISCIPLINED AGAIN:

During last weekend’s game UBC Thunderbirds, Calgary Dinos Head Coach Blake Nill was MIA.  That was because he was serving a one game suspension given by the University of Calgary for making inappropriate comments after he saw an “injury situation” during a previous game.  Assistant coach Steve Burrato filled in for Nill and the Dinos won the game against the Thunderbirds 67-6.

• MCGILL COACHING RUMBLINGS:

In an interview with Journal de Quebec’s Richard Boutin this past Monday, McGill Redmen Executive Director of Athletics and Recreation Drew Love said the search for a Head Coach will begin within the next 10 days. The Redmen will encourage coaches within the program to apply as well as external national candidates.  Love said the Redmen hope to have the position filled by January.

• CFC 100 CLASS 2014 PLAYERS MAKING AN IMPACT WITH RAMS:

This past week, two CFC 100 CLASS 2014 players are making an impact in the CIS.  Atlee Simon was named CIS Player of the Week.  In last week’s game against the Manitoba Bisons, the Regina Rams tallied four majors and amassed 154 rushing yards on 24 carries as well as 89 yards on four receptions for a total of 243 all-purpose yards (most by a Rams player in four seasons). Simon’s four total touchdowns and three rushing majors both equal single-game Rams records.

Moreover, defensive end Eric Wicijowski has not looked out of sorts as a starter. Since training camp, the 6’2, 255 pound Ram has made the adjustment to CIS football with ease.

• FOCAULT GETS HIS OPPORTUNITY:

On Thursday night, Canadian David Foucault got his first NFL start with the Carolina Panthers.  The 6’8, 305 pound offensive tackle from Quebec played in the Panthers NFL South battle versus the New Orleans Saints. As for the game itself, the Panthers lost 28-10 to the Saints and are 3-5-1 on the season.

• LAVAL GETS ATTENTION SOUTH OF THE BORDER:

Newsweek Magazine has recognized the success of the Laval Rouge et Or. In their recent issue, the publication cites the Rouge et Or as the “most dominant team in college football in North America.” There is a whole feature on the keys of success for the Rouge et Or as well as an interview with Head Coach Glen Constantin and countless others.

• CARABINS BIG DONATOR:

This past week saw a former Montreal Carabins player make a sizable contribution to his alma mater. Robert Planet Raymon became the largest donor in the history of French-language university sports in North America.

After giving the Carabins organization $275,000 in 2011, Panet-Raymond has made a second personal donation of $475,000, bringing his total contribution to a record $750,000.

The $475,000 will go towards improvements to the Carabins locker room.

• WAIVING PRIVACY:

In a report by TSN’s Rick Westhead, it was discovered that CIS athletes, including football players waive their right to privacy in circumstances where law enforcement officials discover their names as individuals involved with banned drugs. This is a move that is aimed to do better diliigence when it comes to curbing this issue. An 11 member CIS board approved this motion by the CCES.

• FORMER CIS/CJFL PLAYER GETS JAIL TIME:

Adrian Charles will be seeing the big house in his future.  The former Saskatoon Hilltops and Regina Rams player was sentenced to three years for possession of drugs and weapons. He was also guilty of being in a car where there was a weapon present. These charges were laid in 2008, when the former player had previous attempted murder charges in Ontario.