50TH VANIER CUP INTERVIEW SERIES: Mathieu Bertrand, Laval University (2003)

50^TH VANIER CUP INTERVIEW SERIES: 2003

A conversation with...

Mathieu Bertrand, quarterback, Laval University Rouge et Or

In Vanier Cup XXXIX, the Laval Rouge et Or captured the second national title in school history thanks to a 14-7 win over the Saint Mary’s Huskies, the same team they had defeated 14-10 four years earlier to claim their first banner. The game marked the end of a 39-year run in Toronto and a 15-year run at SkyDome for the Vanier Cup, as the event would move to Hamilton the next fall. Wearing the Rouge et Or uniform for the final time, standout quarterback Mathieu Bertrand guided Laval to a hard-fought victory in 2003, just like he had done in 1999.   

What is your major memory of the entire Vanier Cup week and the overall experience in 2003?

I truly enjoyed and cherished the experience, particularly because I knew this was going to be my last university game. From the preparation to practices, and of course the game itself, I took the time to appreciate every minute.

You had an explosive offence in 2003, the most productive in Canadian university football history. What made it so effective?

We had a lot of veteran players who knew what to do with the football. We were confident because we had good athletes. Our execution was quick and sharp.

(Note: Laval scored a whopping 481 points in eight games during the 2003 regular season for a mind-boggling average of 60.1 points per contest, breaking by a single point the previous national record set two years earlier by Saint Mary’s. Bertrand was named player of the year in the Quebec conference for the second straight season)

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

One memory that sticks out is a short pass to Jean-Frédéric Tremblay, who then took it the rest of the way for a touchdown. Jean-Frédéric was hit and almost stepped on the sideline but managed to stay in bounds and reach the end zone. That touchdown gave us a 12-2 lead late in the third quarter and put us one step closer to our ultimate goal.

I also remember a play by Francis Boivin, one of our linebackers, who forced a fumble just after we had turned the ball over to Saint Mary’s. That was a key moment in the game. 

(Note: Bertrand and Tremblay, a wide receiver who would be selected in the first round by the Toronto Argonauts in the 2004 CFL draft, connected for the lone touchdown of the game, a 25-yard play, with 2:17 remaining in the third quarter. Laval added two points on a safety moments later to go into the fourth frame up 14-2. Boivin’s forced fumble came minutes before Tremblay’s major as Laval was holding on to a slim 5-2 lead)   

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

Definitely Jean-Frédéric’s touchdown. It re-energized us!

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

We wanted to avenge a 48-8 loss to Saint Mary’s in the 2001 Atlantic Bowl in Halifax. There was a good rivalry between the two teams. There was tremendous respect, but we had played at Saint Mary’s during the 2003 regular season and you could feel the tension between the teams because that time we beat them quite convincingly, 49-8.

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

The only thing, really, was the travel and being on the road. It changed our routine when it came to meetings and practices, but it wasn’t our first time so we knew how to deal with all that. There can be a lot of distractions during Vanier week but our past experience proved beneficial.

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

It was unreal. Just like in 1999, our fans from Quebec City followed us to Toronto, they really believed in us. They had made the long trip overnight and it was amazing to see that kind of support. Saint Mary’s also had a lot of fans at SkyDome, so it was loud for both sides, but Laval fans are always louder!

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

It was a big difference from 1999. That first year, I had been literally flooded with media requests and I didn’t really get to celebrate. I clearly remember that, in 2003, I had told media I wanted to take some time to celebrate with my teammates and my family, and then I’d do interviews. I handled it better the second time around because I wanted to fully appreciate the last moments of my university career. Members of the media were really understanding and respectful of that.

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

To end my university career with a Vanier Cup win ensured I had no regrets. I had played out my five years and finished on a high note. I think it left a positive memory of my university career in people’s minds.

How often to you reminisce about your Vanier Cup wins?

Whenever we have dinners with Rouge et Or alumni, we always talk about the good times. But honestly, I’ve moved on. Now that I’m a coach, our goal is to win the next one. We’re never satisfied.

You won the first two Vanier Cups in the program’s history. How was the second win different from the first?

It was a different group. In 1999, it was the first generation of Rouge et Or veterans, and I was one of the young guys. In 2003, I was the veteran playing with the second wave of young Laval players. We planted a seed before we left so the youngsters could carry the tradition. They learned well, because they won again in 2004!

What did you study at Laval and what career paths did you follow after graduation?

I studied in sports studies and went on to play for nine seasons in the CFL with the Edmonton Eskimos, from 2004 to 2012. I have now returned to the Rouge et Or as assistant special teams and running backs coach.