5th Quarter Club Newsletter - Vol 11, Iss 1

4
The accomplishments of this past Laurier Football season go far beyond producing a 7-1 record and their fifth straight playoff appear- ance. Featuring players with league leading statistics and delivering performances reflective of a never say die attitude, the 2007 Golden Hawks football team solidified their reputation as one of the pre- mier programs in the country. Playing with a missed Yates Cup opportunity on their minds from last season, the Laurier squad shouldered the pressure to per- form. With the deep-seated team concept guided by Coach Jeffries acting as their touchstone, the pur- ple and gold racked up six straight wins to start the season. In a campaign that bore witness to a more evenly matched high level of competition within the OUA than in recent memory, the Hawks emerged from the regular season in sole posession of second place. From the season’s outset the Golden Hawks fielded a stellar defensive unit. Allowing the third fewest yards in the league, holding an up and coming Queen’s team to four points and cross town ricals Waterloo to three points. Anthony Maggiacomo (Cambridge, ON) was an imposing figure in the backfield as he led the OUA in tackles and set a team record. Working with a group of electrifying receivers and a backfield boasting multiple weapons, quarterback Ian Noble (West Vancouver, BC) settled into the task of leading the Golden Hawk offensive attack. A varied spread saw the Hawks gain yards in leaps and bounds on the ground and through the air. Running back Ryan Lynch (Waterloo, ON) rushed for over 1,000 yards during the season, making him the fourth Golden Hawk in history to do so. Towards the end of the season this Golden Hawk team suffered a character building loss to the defending Yates Cup champion Ottawa Gee Gees which stopped Laurier’s chance for a perfect sea- son. Finishing second in the OUA allowed the team to have a first round playoff bye enabling them to continue the tradition of the scout bowl on their off week. When the playoff road ended for the Hawks on Knight-Newbrough field at University Stadium, it brought back the mantra of unfinished busi- ness, however the season remained an outstanding campaign for the close-knit Laurier football family to be proud of. Seven players were recognized as OUA All-Stars with three also recog- nized at the national level. Scott Evans (Cambridge, ON), graduating this year after four seasons as an offensive lineman for the Hawks, became the second player in Laurier history to receive the J.P. Metra’s Trophy as the CIS Lineman of the Year. These individual honours reflect the solidarity of the football program which allows such standout performances to be realized. Team is the mantra at the core of the Laurier locker room and this is a team with the strength of many dedicated sup- porters behind them who look forward to the next chapter of Golden Hawk football history. Wilfrid Laurier University 5TH QUARTER CLUB NEWSLETTER From the home of Golden Hawk Football News and Notes Regular Season Record: 7-1 Playoff Record: 0-1 OUA All-Stars & Awards First Team Anthony Maggiacomo Scott Evans Tyler Felber Steve Turner Ryan Lynch Taurean Allen Second Team Jahmeeks Beckford Dante Luciani Defensive MVP Anthony Maggiacomo Lineman of the Year Scott Evans CIS All-Canadians & Awards First Team Scott Evans Second Team Anthony Maggiacomo Taurean Allen J.P. Metras Award Scott Evans Dates to Remember Friends of Golden Hawk Football Dinner and Reception Wednesday, April 23 Spring Training Camp March 26 - 30 Fall Training Camp August 18 - September 1 Home Opener Monday, September 1 vs University of Guelph Hawks to Build on Successes of 2007 Football Season VOLUME 11, ISSUE 1 OFF-SEASON EDITION www.laurierathletics.com #35 OUA All-Star Running back Ryan Lynch of Waterloo, Ontario. will be returning for his 5th year. Jack Lengyel to Speak at Football Reception & Dinner The former coach of Marshall University’s Thunder- ing Heard football team from 1971 to 1972 is speaking at Laurier’s Friends of Golden Hawk Football Recep- tion and Dinner on April 23rd at the Waterloo Inn and Convention Centre. Jack Lengyel took over the football program at Mar- shall University following a plane crash that killed nearly the entire team in 1970. A graduate of the Uni- versity of Akron, Lengyel has since worked for many athletic departments in the U.S. including Louisville (1980), Missouri (1981-84, 1987-88), Fresno State (1985- 86) and most recently the United States Naval Acad- emy (1988-2001). The event, a major fundraiser for the Golden Hawk football program, has raised over $431,000 in the nine years of the event, with last year’s event total just over $100,000. The movie We Are Marshall, re- leased in 2006, is based upon the story at Marshall University and Jack Lengyel. More information about aending and/or sponsoring the event is on the back page of this newsleer. Jack Lengyel

description

5th Quarter Newsletter - Vol 11, Iss 1

Transcript of 5th Quarter Club Newsletter - Vol 11, Iss 1

Page 1: 5th Quarter Club Newsletter - Vol 11, Iss 1

The accomplishments of this past Laurier Football season go far beyond producing a 7-1 record and their fifth straight playoff appear-ance. Featuring players with league leading statistics and delivering performances reflective of a never say die attitude, the 2007 Golden Hawks football team solidified their reputation as one of the pre-mier programs in the country.

Playing with a missed Yates Cup opportunity on their minds from last season, the Laurier squad shouldered the pressure to per-form. With the deep-seated team concept guided by Coach Jeffries acting as their touchstone, the pur-ple and gold racked up six straight wins to start the season.

In a campaign that bore witness to a more evenly matched high level of competition within the OUA than in recent memory, the Hawks emerged from the regular season in sole posession of second place.

From the season’s outset the Golden Hawks fielded a stellar defensive unit. Allowing the third fewest yards in the league, holding an up and coming Queen’s team to four points and cross town ricals Waterloo to three points. Anthony Maggiacomo (Cambridge, ON) was an imposing figure in the backfield as he led the OUA in tackles and set a team record.

Working with a group of electrifying receivers and a backfield boasting multiple weapons, quarterback Ian Noble (West Vancouver, BC) settled into the task of leading the Golden Hawk offensive attack.

A varied spread saw the Hawks gain yards in leaps and bounds on the ground and through the air. Running back Ryan Lynch (Waterloo, ON) rushed for over 1,000 yards during the season, making him the fourth Golden Hawk in history to do so.

Towards the end of the season this Golden Hawk team suffered a character building loss to the defending Yates Cup champion Ottawa Gee Gees which stopped Laurier’s chance for a perfect sea-son. Finishing second in the OUA allowed the team to have a first round playoff bye enabling them to continue the tradition of the scout bowl on their off week.

When the playoff road ended for the Hawks on Knight-Newbrough field at University Stadium, it brought back the mantra of unfinished busi-ness, however the season remained

an outstanding campaign for the close-knit Laurier football family to be proud of. Seven players were recognized as OUA All-Stars with three also recog-nized at the national level. Scott Evans (Cambridge, ON), graduating this year after four seasons as an offensive lineman for the Hawks, became the second player in Laurier history to receive the J.P. Metra’s Trophy as the CIS Lineman of the Year.

These individual honours reflect the solidarity of the football program which allows such standout performances to be realized. Team is the mantra at the core of the Laurier locker room and this is a team with the strength of many dedicated sup-porters behind them who look forward to the next chapter of Golden Hawk football history.

Wilfrid Laurier University

5TH QUARTER CLUB NEWSLETTERFrom the home of Golden Hawk Football

News and NotesRegular Season Record: 7-1

Playoff Record: 0-1

OUA All-Stars & AwardsFirst Team

Anthony MaggiacomoScott Evans Tyler Felber Steve Turner Ryan Lynch

Taurean Allen

Second TeamJahmeeks Beckford

Dante Luciani

Defensive MVP Anthony Maggiacomo

Lineman of the Year

Scott Evans

CIS All-Canadians & AwardsFirst Team

Scott Evans

Second TeamAnthony Maggiacomo

Taurean Allen

J.P. Metras Award Scott Evans

Dates to RememberFriends of Golden Hawk

Football Dinner and ReceptionWednesday, April 23

Spring Training CampMarch 26 - 30

Fall Training CampAugust 18 - September 1

Home OpenerMonday, September 1

vs University of Guelph

Hawks to Build on Successes of 2007 Football Season

VOlUme 11, ISSUe 1 OFF-SeASON eDITION

www.laurierathletics.com

#35 OUA All-Star Running back Ryan Lynch of Waterloo, Ontario. will

be returning for his 5th year.

Jack lengyel to Speak at Football Reception & DinnerThe former coach of Marshall University’s Thunder-ing Heard football team from 1971 to 1972 is speaking at Laurier’s Friends of Golden Hawk Football Recep-tion and Dinner on April 23rd at the Waterloo Inn and Convention Centre.

Jack Lengyel took over the football program at Mar-shall University following a plane crash that killed nearly the entire team in 1970. A graduate of the Uni-versity of Akron, Lengyel has since worked for many athletic departments in the U.S. including Louisville (1980), Missouri (1981-84, 1987-88), Fresno State (1985-86) and most recently the United States Naval Acad-

emy (1988-2001). The event, a major fundraiser for the Golden Hawk football program, has raised over $431,000 in the nine years of the event, with last year’s event total just over $100,000. The movie We Are Marshall, re-leased in 2006, is based upon the story at Marshall University and Jack Lengyel. More information about attending and/or sponsoring the event is on the back page of this newsletter.

Jack Lengyel

Page 2: 5th Quarter Club Newsletter - Vol 11, Iss 1

2

laurier Football in the Game for Athletic ScholarshipsFall 2007 marked the beginning of a new era in university athletics in Ontario. For the first time, first-year student-athletes who carried an 80% average used for admission to Wilfrid Laurier had the opportunity to receive scholarships of up to $3,500 each. This OUA rule change now enables student-athletes in all years of eligibil-ity to compete for financial awards throughout the province, provided they meet the academic requirements (returning student-athletes must maintain a 70% in the previous year).

The University has made a commitment to compete with its Ontario rivals to ensure that the Golden Hawks continue to recruit the best and brightest student-athletes. The organiz-ing committee for the Laurier Golf Classic—the university’s premier golf tournament—agreed to earmark all 2007 proceeds to support the newly-created Golden Hawk Scholarship Fund. The tournament took place in May and raised more than $70,000 in net proceeds to support all 22 varsity teams.

In addition, Laurier’s former President, Dr. Bob Rosehart, put forward a challenge to alumni and community supporters to raise additional funds

directed to specific teams. In 2007, the university will match dollar for dollar the first $100,000 of individual donor contributions toward the Golden Hawk Scholarship Fund directed to specific teams. As has happened many times in the history of Golden Hawk Football, our football family has stepped forward to help keep this program among the elite in Canada. Taking the lead in this initiative is football-alumnus Tom Al-len ’67. Not only has Tom created his own scholar-ship to support Golden Hawk football, but he has pledged his volunteer time to approach other Laurier alumni to support this cause.

Tom’s efforts have paid off. This year, 19 football players (10 first years, 9 veterans) achieved the necessary academic

mark and were selected to receive awards. In all, more than $37,000 was awarded, including 11 named awards given by alumni and friends of the program. In addition, an effort by the 1987

Yates Cup Champion team to create a scholarship endow-ment in the team’s name was well underway.

While the program achieved its goals in the first year, these efforts must continue in order to secure the necessary sup-port to recruit the best players in the country. Golden Hawk Football is working towards a goal of raising $120,000 per year by 2010 to support student-athlete scholarships.

For more information or to contribute to the Golden Hawk Scholarship Fund for football, please contact Kent MacLennan, Associate Direc-

tor of Development, at 519-884-0710 ext. 3177 or [email protected].

1972 Golden Hawk Football Team1978 Golden Hawk Football Team1987 Golden Hawk Football TeamAlex PooleAlex TroopAlfred MamoAll Treat Farms LimitedAlliance HomesAlphabeta Student Housing Inc.Amsterdam Brewing Co.Ancaster Paving Ltd.Art LestinsAyrton KippBarbara HumphreyBill and Denise BurkeBob CooperBradley McMillanBrian Breckles and Leanne BrecklesBruce and Jodi MartinBryan MonteithBryan ReinerCatherine PayneCharlie OlverCraig NickelDan ChaputDave YurincichDavid CorkDavid LeemingDavid RobertsonDavid TartagliaDonna ThompsonEd and Paula LynchErnst & YoungFred and Marlene NicholsFred Grossman

Fred McLeanGarry Beach 011345Gary JeffriesGerald SchausGerry RuthGlassford MotorsGloria Jean WilliamsGreg NewbroughGrenville PrintingHarold BallardHenderson Rankin AssociatesIan TroopJack VaughanJames KarnJames PinderJames SlaterJason BurkeJay and Nancy WilgarJefferson CarefooteJeffrey AllinJoey O’BornJohn and Joanne GlassfordJohn and Jodi ArnoldiJohn WeberJohn WebsterJohn WhitneyJon GraffiJoseph and Carole LucianiJulie and Bob HamiltonKuntz ElectroplatingKyra Kristensen-Irvine Laird HickawayLarry and Frances HaleLarry ScottLaurier Annual Giving Donors

Laurier BookstoreLes ProtopapasLinda EmberleyLuke FuscoMae CartwrightMarcia Powers-DunlopMaria ZivoinMark CampbellMarty Jane WamsleyMass Insurance BrokersMelloul BlameyMichael FotiMichael SweeneyMike McMahon and FamilyMike MilovickMillard, Rouse & Rosebrugh LLPMorty’s PubNancy LeachPatrick O’LearyPaul AgroPaul GianneliaPaul HustonPaul MarklePeter Baxter & Wendy Zufelt-BaxterPeter BillingsleyPeter IzzioPeter TashosPhilip Noble and Laura DonaldsonPioneer Family PoolsRandy McGlynnReinhardt KellerRichard C. Agro/David R. Agro/Andrew R. AgroRick KalvaitisRick Pajor

Rob and Kellie WatsonRob and Lynne EtheringtonRod and Lisa PhilpRoly WebsterRon Van MoerkerkeRonald RamsayRussell Investments CanadaRussell MuncasterRuth BrockSCI GroupShawn Tilson FootballStefan PtaszekStewart FrakeTerry & Ronda ReidelThomas A. CasterThomas BrockTom AllenUnderwood and IonWally ParkerWayne & Tammy KemickWayne HeslopWilfrid Laurier University Graduate Students’ AssociationWilfrid Laurier University Students’ UnionWilliam BallardWilliam J. HoganWilliam MartinWilliam TurnbullWLU Alumni AssociationWLU Dean of Students OfficeWLU Development OfficeWLU Office of the President

2007 Football Donor Report - A Record Breaking Year!The 2007 year shattered all fundraising records for Laurier Football. During the calendar year, a total of $3,268,526 in new gifts and pledges was contributed to the Golden Hawk Football or projects directly impacting the team’s success. Subtotals are broken down as follows:

• $3,061,742- University Stadium Renewal Project (gifts and pledges, including $1.5 million committed by Laurier students)• $100,000- 2007 Friends of Golden Hawk Football Dinner & Reception

• $60,000- Gifts to Football Scholarships• $46,784- Unrestricted gifts to the football program and Adopt-a-Hawk

To all our donors listed below, thank you for helping transform the Laurier Football experience and we are truly grateful for your support!

Named Awards

The Aramark Athletic Scholarship

Country Roads Football Award

Paul Huston Football Scholarship

Shawn Tilson Football Scholarship

Jean Slater’s Boys Football Scholarship

The O’born Family Award

Randy Mcglynn Football Scholarship

Tom Allen/Newcourt Credit Group Scholarship

Thomas Allen & Associates Football Scholarship

Wayne Heslop Football Scholarship

Weber Whitley Scholarship For Football

In addition to the group above, the following companies are corporate partners that assist through sponsorship of the Golden Hawk football pro-gram and we thank them for their support!Access Self StorageBall Construction Inc.BLM Transportation GroupClearsight Wealth Management

LabattMaple TrustMorty’s PubBMO Mosaic Mastercard

Orion Capital Inc.Peter Izzio Investment & InsurancePioneer Family PoolsReig Estate Winery

Rogers T. Litzen Sports Ltd.TD Meloche MonnexWaterloo Inn & Conference Centre

Page 3: 5th Quarter Club Newsletter - Vol 11, Iss 1

The annual Football banquet was held again this year in the Turret on Saturday February 2nd. Over 300 people attended including many parents and friends of the football program. The evening was a great success as the player’s celebrated the careers of 17 hawks.

Graduates this year include Aaron Ama-dio (LB), Shawn Ashe (DB), Gary Cressy (OL), George Dimacakos (DB), Josh Duru (REC), Josh Golding (OL), Andrew Flatt (DL), Jahmeeks Beckford (DB), Scott Evans (OL), Joe Labenski (DL) and Steve Turner (RB). 5th year grads were Andrew Baechler (REC), Andrew Dietrich (OL), Tyler Felber (OL), Brent Hickey (DB), Anthony Maggiacomo (LB) and Kyle Sanderson(OL). These young men have done

themselves proud. They have competed hard and they are advancing to the next stage in their lives ready to tackle any and all challenges that will come their way. Thanks to these gentlemen, you

are Golden Hawks forever!!

Some of team’s awards were also handed out while the remainder will be presented at the annual Athletic Depart-ment Banquet in April. Steve Cormack (DL) was the defensive scout player of the year, Scott Allin (REC) was the offensive scout player of the year, Peter Quinney (RB) was the offensive impact player, Giancarlo Rapanaro (LB) was the defensive impact player,

Scott Evans (OL) the lineman of the year and Steve Turner (RB) was the special teams player of the year.

2007 OUA All-stars were honored at the baquet and included on the 2nd team; Andy Baechler (REC), Jahmeeks Beckford (DB), Dante Luciani (REC). The 1st team included; Taurean Allen (DB), Scott Evans(OL), Tyler Felber (OL), Ryan Lynch (RB), Anthony Maggiacomo (LB) and Steve Turner (RB).

The 2007 OUA Metras Trophy nominee as the league’s most outstanding linemen was Scott Evans and the OUA President’s Trophy nominee as the league’s most outstanding stand-up defensive player was Anthony Maggiacomo.

Also recognized at the banquet as CIS 2nd team all-canadians were Taurean Allen (DB) and Anthony Maggiacomo (LB) and 1st team all-canadian Scott Evans who also captured the J.P. Metras Trophy as the most outstanding lineman in the country.

Congratulation to these young men, they are all very special talents!

3

labour Day Home OpenerSeptember 1st

vs Guelph

September 6thvs Western

September 13th@ Queen’s

Homecoming WeekendSeptember 20th

vs Windsor

September 27th @ Waterloo

October 4th@ Ottawa

October 11thvs McMaster

October 18th@ York

Golden Hawk 2008 Football

Schedule

message from the Head CoachDear Friends of Golden Hawk Football:

Well Hawks this newsletter is long overdue so in case you haven’t been keeping track here is what has been going on at Laurier. Five seasons and counting, that is how long I have been in my present role. It seems like only yesterday that I started this wonderful journey. Four Yates Cup appearances, two Yates Cup victories, one Uteck Bowl cham-pionship and a Vanier cup in our tro-

phy case. 44 victories and eight defeats….but what have we done lately?

In 2007 we were 7-1 and lost to the Guelph Gryphons in the OUA semi-final. We are not satisfied with this result and our focus right now is getting better in the off season, recruiting the best class in our history and pointing at the Sept 1st, Labor Day, rematch with those same Gryphons. We have graduated 17 players from this year’s roster and it is imperative we bring in an excellent recruiting class.

We have a nucleus of 79 presently in our winter pro-gram who are returning for next season. We began the winter program on January 8th. We will continue through the term with weight training sessions twice per week under the guidance of Coach Cameron, a running program led by Coach McFarlane and Coach Thompson and a full practice every Friday at R.I.M. Park. On top of this Coach Frake is respon-sible for twice per week study hall sessions. We will finish off the term with spring practice here at the

stadium March 26th – 30th.

The 2008 season has begun and the development of our present players and the recruiting of new pros-pects will dictate the success of this year’s addition of the Hawks. Recruiting has been going extremely well. As of today we have 23 fledgling Hawks in the nest. Most noteworthy are a Free Safety from Turner Fenton in Brampton and a Toronto Star all-star, Courtney Stephen and Shamawd Chambers, a receiver and Toronto Star all-star from Markham district and Chris Rossetti, the Toronto Star all-star quarterback from St. Michaels College. Expect many more outstanding signings in the near future.

The Hawks scouting team of Peter Billingsley, Roger Macleod, Don Wilson, Brian Canton and Dave Rob-ertson have done an outstanding job identifying blue chip prospects. Here in the office under the leader-ship of Recruiting Coordinator, Kevin Macneill, we have been able to have over 60 recruits visit our cam-pus thus far. Coaches Cameron, Crabbe and Pyear have been putting in countless hours in the office phoning and text messaging with all of our top kids. Coach VanMoerkerke and Coach Josh Alexander have been working the phones as well. Like every-thing else we do here, recruiting is a team effort.We will be young and less experienced in 2008. We aren’t rebuilding, we are reloading, and we will be competitive, you can count on it!

Gary JeffriesHead Coach & Manager of Football Operations

Gary Jeffries

Newsletter Produced By: golden hawk

sport information office75 University Avenue West

Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3C5 phone: (519) 884-0710, ext. 3888

www.laurierathletics.com

2007 Annual Football Team Banquet

Page 4: 5th Quarter Club Newsletter - Vol 11, Iss 1

4

On October 13, 2007 at the Golden Hawks’ home game versus the University of Ottawa, Laurier officially celebrated the campaign for the renovation to University Stadium. The highlight of the occasion was the dedication of Knight-Newbrough Field, in honour of the two legendary former football coaches and athletic directors David “Tuffy” Knight and Rich Newbrough. Both Knight and Newbrough were on hand for the festivities, along with members of their families and a strong turnout of donors to the project.

The renovations came in the 50th year of University Stadium’s existence. Originally built in 1957, the facility had become tired and in need of a ma-jor overhaul for both the football program and the university’s recreational needs as a whole. Former President Dr. Bob Rosehart leadership was critical to ensuring that the project be addressed immediately.

Because the facility’s structural core was sound, the $5 million project en-abled WLU to completely reconfigure the interior of the building, creating improved locker rooms and public washrooms while also creating space for an athletic therapy clinic and multi-purpose rooms that could morph from visitor dressing rooms to recreation classrooms for programs in yoga, pilates, martial arts and dance. Perhaps the most visible change to the project was the new state-of-the-art artificial turf field, which took the name of Knight-Newbrough Field thanks to more than $1 million raised from 85 donors representing alumni, parents and friends of the football program.

The fundraising campaign to make the project a reality was truly a col-laborative effort. While the University committed more than $2.3 million toward the renovation, the Laurier student body also contributed $1.5 million; a demonstration of the important role athletics and recreation play in the student experience at WLU. That left a broad-based alumni effort to raise the remaining $1.2 million.

A few of the initial lead donors to the project felt strongly about recogni-tion not for themselves, but to pay tribute to the two gentlemen (Knight and Newbrough) who impacted so many Golden Hawk student-athletes since the mid-60s. The campaign for Knight-Newbrough Field also mobilized several championship football teams to make collective gifts to the project:• The 1972 Yates Cup Champions, led by Wayne Kemick, Fred McLean and John Whitney, set a goal of raising $250,000 to name the Golden Hawk locker room as the Wayne Allison Locker Room, in honour of their fallen leader.• Through the efforts of Terry Martyniuk, Jim Reid, Gerry Ruth, Ian Troop and Dave Yurincich, the 1978 Yates Cup Champion team, pledged to match the 1972 team with a $250,000 goal, a gift that was recognized in the facility’s main lobby.• As part of its 2007 induction in the Golden Hawk Hall of Fame, the

1987 Yates Cup Championship team—led by captains Brian Breckles, Dave Kohler, Bruce Martin and Rod Philp—set a goal of $100,000 to support both the renovation and an endowed team scholarship.

Although each team is still at work secur-ing pledges to complete its goals, the renovation could not have gone forward without the tremendous Golden Hawk spirit and passion of these volunteer leaders and the many donors from their teams. Moreover, the project would not have been possible without the many donors who gave generously in support of the project and the recognition for Coach Knight and Coach Newbrough.

All that remains for completion to this project is to raise the final $110,000 to reach the overall $5 million goal. These funds will allow the University to com-plete a final improvement to the field by replacing the light standards at the facility. To participate and have your name added to the list of donors recognized in the new facility, please contact Kent MacLennan, Associate Director of Development at 519-884-0710 ext. 3177 or [email protected].

University Stadium Renewal Major work completed as $5 million campaign nears goal and Knight-Newbrough Field Dedicated

Laurier President Max Blouw and Athletic Director Peter Baxter assist Dave “Tuffy” Knight and Rich Newbrough at the ribbon cutting ceremony.