50TH VANIER CUP INTERVIEW SERIES: Francesco Pepe Esposito, Laval (1999)

50^TH VANIER CUP INTERVIEW SERIES: 1999

A conversation with...

Francesco Pepe Esposito, defensive end, Laval University

In Vanier Cup XXXV, the Laval Rouge et Or captured the first national title in program history thanks to a 14-10 win over the Saint Mary’s Huskies at SkyDome in Toronto. In only its fourth CIS season, the powerhouse from Quebec City was starting an impressive streak of eight Vanier Cup victories in 15 years. Francesco Pepe Esposito, a defensive end from France, played a key role in the Rouge et Or’s first Vanier Cup triumph and merited the Bruce Coulter Award as the game’s defensive MVP.      

What is your major memory of the entire Vanier Cup week and the overall experience?

The thing I remember the most is all the preparation that went into the game plan, all the hours spent watching film. The coaches had done an amazing job preparing us for the game.

You were the underdogs throughout the playoffs in 1999, first against Ottawa, then Saskatchewan, and finally Saint Mary’s. What was the team mentality going up against those opponents?

Again, the game plan and preparation were unbelievable. Against Ottawa, we had watched so much film that we knew exactly the signals their quarterback was using to communicate with his receivers.

Against Saskatchewan, we knew exactly what they were doing in every single formation. Their strategies weren’t overly complicated, but they were still very hard to stop. Glen Constantin, who was defensive coordinator at the time, had found a weakness in their pass protection and he decided to blitz Benoît Meloche numerous times during the game. Benoît had what was probably the best game of his career that day with a couple of sacks and tackles for a loss.      

Against Saint Mary’s, you could feel the stress within the coaching staff, but not among the players. I think it was simply because we didn’t realize what was at stake, and that was probably a good thing!

(Note: After opening the playoffs with a convincing 42-16 win over Concordia, Laval beat the Ottawa Gee-Gees 38-6 in the OQIFC final and the Saskatchewan Huskies 27-21 in the Churchill Bowl. The Gee-Gees were undefeated going into the conference final and were led by quarterback Phil Cote, the 1999 Hec Crighton Trophy winner, and the Huskies were defending Vanier Cup champions)

What is your one major lasting memory of the actual Vanier Cup game?

I have many, but one that sticks out is the determination of my teammates. The Huskies had a reputation for being very physical, but despite the injuries and hard hits, we never backed down. I think that determination really started to show following our second loss of the season, against Concordia. From that moment on, it was like we were all playing for one another.

(Note: Laval opened league play with three wins in 1999 before suffering back-to-back losses against Ottawa, 34-27, and Concordia, 25-20. The Rouge et Or would run the table from there, finishing the season with seven straight victories) 

What do you remember as the key play of the game?

It had to be the long completion from Mathieu Bertrand to Pascal Robitaille from deep in our end zone. Mathieu rolled to his left, threw the ball, and it seemed to stay in the air forever before it finally dropped in Pascal’s hands at midfield. That play allowed us to obtain good field position.

(Note: Midway through the second quarter, with the game tied 7-7, quarterback Mathieu Bertrand was sacked four a loss of four yards, setting up a second-and-19 from the Laval 1. Bertrand, a sophomore pivot who went on to enjoy a long CFL career as a fullback with the Edmonton Eskimos, saved the day for the Rouge et Or with a 50-yard completion to Pascal Robitaille, a senior receiver. The duo connected again on the next play, this time for an 18-yard gain to the Saint Mary’s 41. Running back Stéphane Lefebvre, who would be named game MVP, took it to the house from there for his second touchdown of the contest, which would prove to be the game-winner)

What was your personal greatest play or moment?

It’s probably when Hughes Beauchamps went down with a knee injury. Glen decided to move me to Hughes’ position and to insert Sébastien Dupuis in my spot. I think my biggest play was the forced fumble late in the game.

Anyone who was at the game remembers that forced fumble late in the contest that sealed the win for the Rouge et Or. Tell us about that play.

First off, there are a couple of points I need to make to set it up properly. The entire week, Glen had pointed out that their left tackle had a tendency to jump in order not to get beat to the outside and, in doing so, became vulnerable on the inside. For a defensive end, that’s the straightest way to the quarterback but also the most risky, because then the QB can escape from his pocket and run. It’s a double-edged sword: either the defensive end gets a sack, or the QB gains significant yardage.

Another thing Glen had pointed out while we were watching film was that their quarterback wasn’t holding the ball close to his body when he was running and that we had to take advantage of that when tackling him.

So here we go: we’re up 14-10 with about 1:50 left in the game, but the Huskies have the momentum. A number of times during the game, I had beaten my guy with a quick move to the outside. The table was set this time for an inside move. I used a technique that consisted in faking to attack outside and then taking advantage of your opponent’s reaction to go inside.

The play is a wreck from the start! I beat my tackle to the inside, and now nothing separates me from the quarterback. I shift in second gear to tackle him, but at the last second he spots me, and the worst thing that could have happened, happened. The QB avoids me and takes off. At that moment, I knew our defence was in trouble because of me!

I change my angle of pursuit and start chasing him to try and make up for my mistake. One of our linebackers reacted perfectly and positioned himself so that the quarterback had no choice but to cut back towards the middle of the field. That’s when I was able to catch him. As I was closing in, I clearly saw he wasn’t holding the ball tight against his body. So as I was tackling him, I went for it. It worked, the ball popped out and Yves Thériault jumped on it.

To sum it up, that play was a disaster from the get-go, and if our defensive captain Martin Bédard had not been there to push him back towards me, their quarterback would have gained first down and the result of the game could have been quite different. The hero on that play, it was Martin!

(Note: After he picked up the ball, Thériault return it on 28 yards to the Saint Mary’s 25. Laval then rushed three times to gain a first down, before taking a knee to end the contest. In addition to his late forced fumble, Esposito had four solo tackles in the game, including a sack, while also jumping on a loose ball in the first quarter)     

Did anything unusual or out of the ordinary happen during the game or during Vanier week?

A francophone team beating three storied programs that had been established for decades... I think at the time, it was pretty out of the ordinary! I also have to point out that we were as big and athletic as our opponents. On paper, we had no chance. I’d love to know what the over-under was at the time on us winning that game.

Did the coaches do anything different from normal routine in the preparation for the game?

No, the coaches worked the exact same way for every game. The process was always the same. Every little detail was analyzed and explained to the players. Glen often says, “It’s not what the coaches know that’s important, it’s what the players understand.”

The reason the Rouge et Or football program has been so dominant for so long is the hours the coaching staff spends on preparation.

How did you or the team react to the stadium and the crowd?

As soon as we arrived in Toronto, the coaches decided to take us to SkyDome as soon as possible so we could get used to the size of the stadium, the Jumbotron, the locker rooms. They didn’t want it to be a distraction.

On game day, we had no idea that dozens of fan buses had made the trip from Quebec City to support us. When we came out of the locker room for the warm-up, there was barely anyone in the stands. After we got back to the locker room, we started hearing more and more noise, but we didn’t know it was our fans. When we came out for the game, a red sea had taken over the stands. They were making so much noise you would have thought SkyDome was packed! The 13^th man had followed his team!

What are your memories of the post-game celebrations on the field and/or in the dressing room?

A lot of emotions. In 1999, my wife, Patricia, and my son, Melvin, had had problems with immigration and were refused entry into Canada. I hadn’t seen them in 11 months. Shortly before the season, I was about to go back. It was Glen who convinced me to stay so I could build a better future for my family. So at the end of the game, it all came out...

When we got back to the locker room, there was champagne in every locker. That’s a great memory!

What was the reaction on campus when the team returned?

A parade was organized on campus and we got to ride on the floats that are used for the Quebec City Winter Carnival. We had a lot of fun, it was a fun day with our teammates! We were also honoured at the Quebec Coliseum at a Remparts game and also at a Montreal Canadiens game. Finally, we were honoured at the National Assembly in Quebec City.

At the time, how did winning the Vanier Cup change your everyday life?

I wouldn’t say it changed my everyday life. We had to hit the books pretty quickly after we got back.

How often to you reminisce about your Vanier Cup wins?

Every time we get together with former teammates, there are always plenty of anecdotes that resurface, it’s always good times. But we also talk about the current team. And we’re all experts, of course!

Sometimes, we compare the 1999 team with recent Rouge et Or teams and we’re forced to admit they are miles ahead of where we were! Young players today are much better trained, and they start sooner. The guys are bigger, stronger, faster than we were. Football is very healthy in Quebec and I like to think that it’s in part because of our win in 1999.

What do you think that win meant for the young Laval football program?

It was the start of a dynasty. It might sound presumptuous, but the numbers speak for themselves. Young players from Quebec don’t have to go away anymore to play good football. The growth of football in the school system in Quebec has been amazing.     

It changed my life and that of my family, and I will be eternally grateful to the Rouge et Or football program.

What is your university degree and what is your current job?

I have a degree in leisure studies. I graduated in 2001 and I was hired by Glen to work with the Rouge et Or. For the past four years, I have overseen the studies-sports program in football at a school called Académie St-Louis in Quebec City.