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Locals off to Vanier Cup |
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Written by Dylan Purcell
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Friday, November 27 2009, 11:49 PM |
Sean Gott and Matt Grohn are doing their alma mater proud as members of the University of Calgary Dinos — participants in the Vanier Cup today in Quebec City, Que.
The LCI grads are both in their first Canadian university football championship game, and both are happy to be leading the way for a contingent of eight Southern Alberta High School Football League players suiting up for the Dinos against the Queen’s University Gaels.
Grohn’s day will be special win or lose, as it is his last game at this level. The fifth-year Dino has seen a lot since he graduated LCI and he knows the significance of going out on top.
“Absolutely, this is every kid’s dream, right?” said Grohn, who graduates in December. “I mean, to get an opportunity to go out as a champion, even just the chance to make a play and win it. That’s why we play, right?”
Grohn said after a run to the national semifinal last season, this year’s Dinos are ready to take of business. The team added former Hec Crighton-winning quarterback Erik Glavic this season, and the pivot won another CIS MVP award Thursday night. He also won the MVP and a Vanier Cup berth with St. Mary’s in 2007.
“We came so close last year,” said Grohn, who was key in the 2008 playoff run from his defensive halfback position. “Nobody who was here is happy with the way that played out. This year, it’s all business. “I mean, I’m enjoying the experience but I’m here to win a football game, not just play in one.”
The 2004 LCI grad said while he’s not the same 165-pound kid who arrived in Calgary fresh-faced, he still remembers his high school lessons vividly.
With coaches like Glen Bowie and Andy Charlebois at the Rams’ helm, Grohn and Gott both played in the province’s — and possibly the country’s — best football league.
“You look at this we’ve got a lot of kids not just from LCI but from Raymond and we’ve had (guys from) Winston Churchill and it shows how tough the football is down there and the kind of coaching you get.”
Of course, Grohn has added 40 pounds since his days in the green and gold, which helps.
“I was pretty tiny when I got here,” he laughed. “That was a wake-up call.”
While Grohn makes Glavic work hard in practice, offensive lineman Gott and his fellow hogs received a shout-out when the QB accepted the Hec Crighton.
“When Erik got up there, he made sure to thanks his linemen for helping him get there,” laughed Gott. “Of course, he’s got one more game so maybe he was just looking out for himself.”
Gott said the QB fit in seamlessly to a Dinos team which was pretty tight to begin with.
“This has been a great year,” said gott, who played a season with the B.C. junior football league’s Victoria Rebels before joining the Dinos. After a rookie redshirt season, he’s played the last two seasons along the offensive line.
“This team is a great group of guys, we’re all pulling for each other and everybody’s bought into the team concept the coaches have laid out.”
Since becoming the Dinos coach in 2006, Nill has recruited a lot in southern Alberta.
“I think the coaching is better, for sure,” said Gott of the SAHSFL. “We’ve got guys like Matt (Little) and his little brother here from LCI, it’s good but once you’re here, you’re a Dino.”
“The guys like Matt (Grohn) are looking at their last, and I guess it’s their only, chance at winning a championship. I know it might be my only chance, too so I’m going to do my part.”
Grohn said with family in the crowd for his final game, he doesn’t plan to let the opportunity to slip away.
“I’m probably not going to play again so there’s really no tomorrow for me. I better make it count.”
NOTES — The Dinos southern Alberta contingent includes wide receivers Austin and K.C. Prince (Raymond), Matt Little (LCI), running back Storm Bartsoff (Raymond), quarterback Connor Little (LCI) and linebacker Travis Payne (LCI) . . . The roster could have included Winston Churchill grad Dylan Steenbergen, who signed with and played for the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes. That puts the former Bulldog in a championship game regardless, as the Als are in Sunday’s Grey Cup.
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