BU - Gaiters

Gaiters Home Page
Athletic Department
Intramurals
About Bishop's
Gaiter Club
RBC Wall of Distinction

Varsity Teams
Football
M Basketball
W Basketball
W Soccer
M Rugby
W Rugby
Golf

HEADLINES

Gaiters leaner and meaner
Bishop’s faces shortage of running backs

By Mike Hickey, Special to the Record
Lennoxville, August 24, 2005 - The only thing that is noticeable as the Bishop’s Gaiters conduct their two-a-day workouts is the lack of numbers.

While other university camps have larger rosters the Gaiters’ numbers are down this year although the coaching staff is excited about the shape of those in attendance.

The Gaiters opened their 2005 training camp Saturday with a leaner roster that head coach Leroy Blugh had originally expected. Blugh’s welcomed 64 players to camp, less than the projected number of 80, but the head coach was pleased with what he saw.

“We had 14-15 players who decided not to come back for various reasons and that’s fine,’ Blugh said after a spirited practice Sunday afternoon. “But the players who are in camp want to be here and they came to camp in great physical shape. Everyone scored well in the testing and it is obvious that the players in camp are serious about football.”

The prospected players were tested Saturday and the results were significantly higher than the year before as veteran players spent the summer working on their strength and conditioning. Reading between the lines it is obvious that a majority of the players who chose not to return weren’t willing to pay the price that Blugh is not demanding from his players.

“Some players said that they wanted to concentrate on academics and I don’t have a problem with that,” Blugh said. “Playing university football is a big commitment and we fell we have players in camp that have the commitment needed to build a winning programme.”

That being said the Gaiters entered camp with a shortage at the running back position, a situation that was caused when three prospective backs decided to play at Bishop’s.

“We were counting on Jon Armstrong, Davie Mason and Anthony Morris and none of them are here,” Blugh said. “Armstrong decided not to play while Mason and Morris are at other schools.”

A fourth back, Stefan Szary broke a bone in his foot and will be out for at least six weeks.

That left the team with just three running backs in camp and Sunday morning Blugh approached veteran Pat Nadeau with an interesting proposition.

Would the quarterback turned defensive back like to give running back a try?

“They asked me this morning if I would like to try running back and I said sure,” Nadeau said Sunday. “I know the offense and it seemed like a good idea.”

It looked like a real good idea during the practice as Nadeau hit the line hard during running plays.

“We have a very good offensive line and what we need are running backs that can get to the hole quickly,” Blugh said. “Pat was moving to the safety position but now I think he can be more valuable to us in the backfield.”

With a mature offensive line, strong receiving corps and the country’s top freshman player from a year ago at quarterback, the Gaiters were looking to adopt a run and shoot offense even before the running back shortage developed. Now an up-tempo passing game is almost a necessity and that suits second-year quarterback Kyle Williams just fine.

“I like the ruin and shoot offense and am very comfortable with what we are doing,” said last year’s CIS Rookie-of-the-Year. The change in offense will means that Williams will be throwing a lot of shorter passes than last year.

“There are as lot more options in the run and shoot and I have to make good decisions,” Williams said as he walked off the practice field. “Last year we were behind a lot and there was a tendency to try and get it all back in one play by throwing long. We don’t have to do that this year.”

Blugh expressed satisfaction with his linebacking corps, a source of concern this past spring. However a strong talented rookie group will improve as the season progresses. The Gaiters may be short in numbers but they expect to be a much competitive team when they host the Sherbrooke Vert & Or on September 5th.