Source: Alberta Sports Info / Photo credit Murray Hansen
2011 regular season record: 2-6
2011 regular season standings: 5th in Canada
West
2011 playoff record: N/A
2011 playoff finish: N/A
The 2012 CIS football season will be the proving ground for University of Alberta Golden Bears, and their talented, but young, roster. Coming off a season in which they started 12 true freshmen, including revamped offensive and defensive lines, the Golden Bears are seeking redemption, and to prove to Canada West and CIS that they are trending upwards.
Alberta’s line-backing core is easily one of the best in Canada West, featuring fifth-year veteran Duncan Morris, as well as third-year Tyler Greenslade and sophomore Connor Ralph. They are complimented by fifth-year defensive backs Randon Ralph and Brent Krawchuk, as well as sophomore defensive lineman Greg Severin and third-year DL Steven Giang.
The training camp battle to watch will be at the game’s most important position, quarterback. A pair of third-year athletes will attempt to earn the regular season starting position, as returnees Curtis Dell and Ryan Schwartz attempt to expand on the roles they had in 2011. The offensive line will once again be very young, as will the running game, whereas the Bears boast veterans in the receiving game in Jess Valleau (4th-year), Porter Brown (4th-year), and Ryley Richardson (3rd-year).
Quote from head coach:
“This is a season to find out what our young kids can do in this league. We had 12 starters last season that were true freshmen, which was tough, but they all learnt a lot and played well. They’ve had great off-seasons and spring camps, and when you couple that with a very strong 2012 recruiting class, we have set the foundation for years to come. Our goal is to make the playoffs and take that season on when it comes. We believe that in this conference it takes near flawless performances to win and we are going to prepare our athletes to play very consistent and efficiently all year.”
Head Coach:
- Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2012):
2nd
- Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2012): 2nd
- Career regular season record with team: 2-6
- Career regular season record in CIS: 2-6
- Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs
only): 2-6
- Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only):
2-6
OFFENCE
Number of returning starters: 9
Key returning players:
-Third-year quarterback Curtis Dell returns and looks to cement his
position as starter after appearing in seven contests, mostly as
relief, last season. In 2011 he completed 37 of 70 passes for 444
yards and two touchdowns.
-Also battling for the starting quarterback position is third-year Ryan Schwartz. He joined the Bears late in 2011 and appeared in three games, completing 10 of 23 passes for 122 yards, while also rushing 22 times for 179 yards and one touchdown.
-Wide receiver Porter Brown, now in his fourth-year, led the Golden Bears in 2011 by hauling in a team high 31 passes for 370 yards and a pair of majors.
-Speedy Ryley Richardson has the tools (6’4”, 195lbs) to be a dominant wide receiver, and now in his third-year Richardson will look to improve upon his 20 catches for 180 yards that he posted last season.
-Jess Valleau, who played in the 2012 CIS East-West Bowl, rounds out the experienced receiving pool, while also posing as a legitimate threat as a special teams returner as well. In 2011, Valleau caught 14 balls for 267 yards and one touchdown, while also leading the Bears in all-purpose yards with 828, an average of 103.5 per game.
Key recruits or transfers:
-Looking to take over the vacated starting running back position will be former Kamloops Broncos’ back Joel Mukendi.
Key losses:
-Former starting quarterback Julian Marchand
-Former starting runningback KK Sonuga
-Former starting receiver Laine Rogers
-Former starting offensive linemen Will Henry, Thomas Fry and Kyle Brow
DEFENCE
Number of returning starters: 11
Key returning players:
-Third-year line-backer Tyler Greenslade returns to the line-up following an injury-shortened sophomore campaign. In the four games he did play in 2011, he still recorded 25 solo tackles, one sack and one interception. In fact, he still recorded second highest tackles per game average (7.0 per game). He attended the CFL evaluation camp in December of 2011.
-Veteran line-backer Duncan Morris returns for his fifth and final season. In 2011 he racked up 40 solo tackles, 47.5 total tackles, including eight for a loss, and five sacks for 51 yards.
-Sophomore line-backer Connor Ralph, who played for Team World at the International Federation of American Football championship, had a stellar freshman campaign in 2011. The former Raymond Comet picked up 44 tackles, three sacks and an interception last season.
-Fifth-year defensive back Brent Krawchuk will lead Alberta’s secondary. The Edmonton native, was a 2011 Canada West All-Star, and attended the CFL evaluation camp that same year. He recorded 25 tackles, two interceptions and four pass knock-downs last season.
-Sophomore defensive lineman Greg Severin will be counted on to improve Alberta’s defensive line. In 2011, as a true freshman, he posted 14 solo tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks.
Key recruits or transfers:
-Ben Lysak joins the defensive line after playing for the Salisbury Sabres in Sherwood Park. He stands 6’1” and weighs 230 lbs.
-After playing for the Vancouver Island Raiders and the Edmonton Wildcats of the Canadian Junior Football League, 6’2” and 200lbs defensive back Cole Bishop will look to earn a starting job in Alberta’s deep secondary.
Key losses:
-Former starting safety and line-backer Jason Hetherington
-Former starting defensive lineman Larry Hillary
-Former defensive back Chad Kaminski
SPECIAL TEAMS
Key returning players:
-Sophomore Dillon Prince was spectacular in his debut season, finishing second on the team in all-purpose yards. The receiver from Raymond, Alberta picked up 72 receiving yards, as well as 134 punt-return yards and 462 kick-off return yards. In six games last season, he earned an impressive 111.3 yards per game average.
-Jess Valleau, who played in the 2012 CIS East-West Bowl, rounds out the experienced receiving pool, while also posing as a legitimate threat as a special teams returner as well. In 2011, Valleau caught 14 balls for 267 yards and one touchdown, while also leading the Bears in all-purpose yards with 828, an average of 103.5 per game.
Key recruits or transfers:
-Stephen Fabian, from Tilley, Alberta, will lead the charge to become Alberta’s new full-time place-kicker and punter.
Key losses: N/A