Campus Corner: Catching up on CIS News

Following the holiday season, there have been a few pretty cool things happening in the CIS early in 2014. Here's five things you may not have seen in the CIS:

1. Amazing half-court shot at StFX basketball game

Last week, StFX student-athlete Pieter Heerschop, a second-year Human Kinetics student from Halifax, N.S., sunk a shot from mid-court at half-time of the StFX X-Men – Cape Breton Capers AUS men’s basketball game on Jan. 14 to win himself $1000!

Pieter’s name was pulled from a random draw of StFX students and the contest was sponsored by StFX Athletics. The game was hosted by StFX University at the Oland Centre in Antigonish, N.S. As a member of the StFX X-Men soccer team, Pieter has already displayed his athletic talents on the soccer field but may now be considering a future in basketball…

2. Top 15 CFL draft prospects announced

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, an offensive tackle from McGill University, remains as the No. 1 prospect for the 2014 CFL Canadian Draft.

The CFL’s Scouting Bureau released its second Top 15 list of the season on Jan. 14. Duvernay-Tardif, who was also voted No. 1 back on Sept. 11, remains atop the ranking which includes – like last fall – no less than 13 CIS players along with two members of the NCAA’s Simon Fraser University Clan.

Duvernay-Tardif added a number of honours to his impressive resume at the end of the 2013 CIS campaign, his fourth with the Redmen. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound medical student was named a first-team all-Canadian for the second straight year, received the J.P. Metras Trophy as the country’s top down lineman, was the RSEQ conference nominee for the Russ Jackson Award (football, academics & citizenship) and, last but not least, was selected as a Top Eight Academic All-Canadian out of over 11,000 CIS student athletes.

Last month, Duvernay-Tardif was one of two CIS standouts invited to the 89th edition of the prestigious East-West Shrine Game, the longest running university all-star game in the United States, which is set for this Saturday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. He will be accompanied by University of Manitoba defensive tackle Evan Gill, who is now considered the sixth best prospect for this spring’s draft after being left off the CFL Scouting Bureau list in September.

Last May, University of Calgary defensive tackle Linden Gaydosh became the seventh CIS player in as many years – and the 11th in the past 14 years - to be selected first overall in the CFL Draft when the Hamilton Tiger-Cats called his name at No. 1. He had been ranked second, third and third on the three Scouting Bureau lists of 2012-13.

The 15 players who were on the winter list a year ago ended up being selected in the draft, including seven in the first round.

The CFL’s Scouting Bureau is comprised of CFL scouts, player personnel directors and general managers from the league’s eight teams.

CFL SCOUTING BUREAU JANUARY 14, 2014 LIST:
1. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, McGill, OL (6-5, 315 lbs)
2. Pierre Lavertu, Laval, OL (6-3, 300 lbs)
3. David Foucault, Montreal, OL (6-8, 320 lbs)
4. Devon Bailey, StFX, WR (6-5, 202 lbs)
5. Matthias Goossen, SFU, OL (6-4, 294 lbs)
6. Evan Gill, Manitoba, DL (6-3, 280 lbs)
7. Beau Landry, Western, LB (5-11, 201 lbs)
8. Andrew Lue, Queen’s, DB (6-2, 210 lbs)
9. Anthony Coombs, Manitoba, RB (5-9, 190 lbs)
10. Max Caron, Concordia, LB (6-2, 213 lbs)
11. Casey Chin, SFU, LB (5-10, 214 lbs)
12. Sam Sabourin, Queen’s, LB (6-2, 225 lbs)
13. Adam Thibault, Laval, DB (6-0, 195 lbs)
14. Derek Wiggan, Queen’s, DL (6-1, 254 lbs)
15. Dylan Ainsworth, Western, DL (6-3, 225 lbs)

3. Top defensive coordinator graduates to pros as Tracey joins CFL's Blue Bombers as special teams coordinator

Long-time Queen's Gaels assistant football coach and defensive coordinator Pat Tracey has signed a contract with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as their new Special Teams Coordinator, joining another former CIS successful OUA coach in Marcel Bellefeuille who is Winnipeg's offensive coordinator.

Tracey will also join former Guelph Gryphons head coach Kyle Walters who is a former special teams coordinator with the Bombers himself and is now their General Manager. Also notable is that recently named Bombers' head coach Mike O'Shea is a CIS alumnus playing his university ball with Guelph.

"The departure of Pat Tracey for Winnipeg is a bittersweet moment for all associated with Queen's Football," says Pat Sheahan, Gaels head coach. "Pat has been a dedicated member of the Queen's football program ever since he arrived here in the summer of 2000. His ability to prepare the defensive players each and every week was second to none. He is a competitive person who demands much of himself and those around him. He has made a significant contribution to all aspects of the program and will leave big shoes to fill as the leader of the Queen's defense."

Tracey joined Queen's in 2000 as Special Teams Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, and moved to his current post in 2001, becoming a full-time assistant to Coach Sheahan in 2008. Tracey is recognized nationally and internationally as a defensive specialist. As a result of his defensive expertise the Gaels are perennially recognized as having one of the top defenses in the CIS He ends his time with 113 career wins as a CIS defensive coordinator.

"I believe the Gaels program is one of the elite in the CIS, and I am proud and thankful of the players for that. I am leaving a program that has earned the respect of other CIS programs, coaches and fans, a team that will continue to challenge for the Yates Cup," Tracey said. "The last decade produced the most wins in school history and has seen many talented players set new school and conference records as well as go on to CFL careers."

"I am extremely excited to be coaching in the CFL and for the opportunity to work with two of my former players, Head Coach Michael O'Shea and GM Kyle Walters. I can't wait to get started with the Bombers organization."

"Pat has a wealth of experience in Canadian football, is a great teacher and has had tremendous success at Queens. His knowledge of CIS athletes will be an asset. We are very excited to add him to our coaching staff," said Blue Bombers Head Coach Mike O'Shea.

Tracey has previously worked in the CFL with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as Special Teams Coach in 1998, on a staff led by CFL legend Ron Lancaster. Hamilton advanced to the Grey Cup with his assistance, losing the championship on a heart-breaking, last-second field goal by the Calgary Stampeders.

Another recent success story to go from the CIS to CFL ranks is Noel Thorpe who is coming off his first season as the Montreal Alouettes' defensive coordinator after spending the last two seasons with the Montréal Carabins in the CIS. In 2012, with Thorpe as the team's first-year defensive coordinator, the Carabins finished the season with an impressive 8-1 record while boasting the top defence in the country, allowing only 102 points in nine games. He was also the head coach of the gold-medal-winning Team Canada squad IFAF U19 World Championship that same year in Austin, Texas.

4. Lions Tulloch with monster slam against Varsity Blues in Battle of GTA

Check out Daniel Tulloch's first monster slam during the Lions win over Toronto on Jan. 10.

5. Championship season around the corner

The CIS is working on its winter championship TV schedule with Sportsnet with details expected to be announced in the near future.

It is expected to include men's and women's basketball, men's and women's hockey and possibly other sports in March.