By Dashawn Stephens
It’s no surprise that a year away from the gridiron left fans of U SPORTS football with more questions than answers, and rightfully so. In one way or another, every team had something to prove heading into this season. Let’s reset the scene, turn back on the spotlights, and revisit the answers to the burning questions that all 27 teams faced heading into the 2021 U SPORTS football campaign.
OUA
1. Carleton Ravens
Question: Is Tanner Dejong ready to step into the elite tier of U SPORTS quarterbacks?
Answer: Unfortunately, Dejong suffered a severe leg injury early in the season, ending his 2021 campaign.
2. Guelph Gryphons
Question: With starters at every position having departed (graduations, transfers, CFL), how exactly will the Guelph Gryphons look in 2021?
Answer: Guelph remained an extremely talented team in 2021. Always loaded with extraordinary athletes on both sides of the ball, the Gryphons had nine OUA All-Stars.
3. Laurier Golden Hawks
Question: Will the Golden Hawks tap back into their tradition of excellence and rekindle their winning ways? Or will they miss the playoffs for a third straight season?
Answer: In a tough OUA West, the Golden Hawks weren’t necessarily able to rekindle their winning ways, going 3-3. But, they were able to end their short playoff drought, finishing second in the division and returning to the postseason for the first time since 2017.
4. McMaster Marauders
Question: How strong is McMaster’s hold over the OUA?
Answer: Apparently not that strong. The Marauders finished with a 3-3 record, placing them fifth in the OUA West. McMaster first reigning Yates Cup champions of the modern era to miss the playoffs in the following season.
5. Ottawa Gee-Gees
Question: Can the Gee-Gees finally engineer significant playoff success?
Answer: The Gee-Gees were able to pick up their first playoff victory since 2014 in a 27-22 win over U of T in the first round of the OUA playoffs, before being bounced by the Queen’s Gaels in the following week.
6. Queen’s Gaels
Question: Do the Gaels rise to the top? Fall to the bottom? Or stay in the middle?
Answer: The Gaels rose to the top, going undefeated for the first time since 2008 before falling to the Western Mustangs in the 113th Yates Cup.
7. U of T Varsity Blues
Question: Can the Varsity Blues recreate their top-ranked passing attack from 2019?
Answer: In a surprise turn of events, the Varsity Blues struggled offensively in 2021, throwing for only 1,092 yards (19th in U SPORTS) and five touchdowns (T-19th in U SPORTS).
Bonus Question: Is this the year U of T steps into the playoff picture?
Answer: Yes, the U of T Varsity Blues made the playoffs for the first time since 1995, ending their 26-year playoff drought.
8. Waterloo Warriors
Question: Before we begin any Yates Cup conversations, can the overly-talented Warriors finally go over .500?
Answer: No, the overly-talented Warriors were not able to go over. 500, finishing with a 3-3 record before losing to the Western Mustangs in the OUA playoffs. The Warriors have not have not had a winning record since 2001. It will forever be a subject of discussion - and debate - as to how this era of the Waterloo Warriors were never able to achieve significant success.
Bonus Question: Will Tre Ford win the Hec Crighton?
Answer: Yes, of the 33 quarterbacks who have won the Hec Crighton in the award’s 54-year existence, Ford became the first Black quarterback to ever win the award, and the first player in Warrior history.
9. Western Mustangs
Question: What can we expect from the new era of Mustang football?
Answer: The top rushing attack in the nation. Yates Cup champions. Vanier Cup champions. Same old Mustang football.
Bonus Question: Is Jackson White the next great Western quarterback?
Answer: Rookie quarterback Evan Hillock eventually took over starting signal-caller duties. Having won OUA Rookie of the Year, while being the quarterback to lead the Mustangs to a win in the Yates Cup, Mitchell Bowl, and Vanier Cup, it appears as though he is in position to be the next great Western quarterback.
10. Windsor Lancers
Question: Hardest schedule in the conference. In what ways will the Lancers shine?
Answer: In a season where many thought they would go 0-6, Windsor picked up two huge victories over the then-No. 5 Guelph Gryphons and the then-No. 5 McMaster Marauders. The Lancers ultimately finished 2-4, but remained in playoff contention up until the final week of regular season play, and had the final say on ending the playoff hopes of the defending Yates Cup champions. Sounds like a successful season to me.
11. York Lions
Question: Who sits at the center of York’s rebuild?
Answer: Unfortunately, the York Lions went 0-6 in 2021, missing the playoffs for the 16th consecutive season. It’s still hard to tell who sits at the center of their rebuild.
Bonus Question: After six long years, will the Lions finally play home games at the Pan Am Stadium?
Answer: Yes, the York Lions finally made the move to the Pan Am Stadium.
Canada West
12. Alberta Golden Bears
Question: With the return of Jayden Dalke (DB) and Josiah Schakel (LB), how dominant will Alberta’s defence be?
Answer: Alberta’s defence had its struggles in 2021, but Dalke and Schakel didn't disappoint. Dalke recorded an impressive 24.5 tackles. Schakel recorded 51.5 tackles along with four sacks and three forced fumbles. The performance was enough to earn him Canada West Defensive Player of the Year honours. Both also received All-Canadian nods.
13. Calgary Dinos
Question: Can Calgary go undefeated?
Answer: No, the Calgary Dinos did not go undefeated. In fact, the Dinos went 2-4, posting a losing record for the first time since 2006. It was also their first time missing the playoffs since 2006, and only their second time failing to appear in the Hardy Cup since 2009.
Bonus Question: Does Calgary finish the season with the top-ranked passing offence in the country?
Answer: No, but, the DInos did finish with the second-ranked passing offence in the country, throwing for a total of 2,155 yards and 14 touchdowns in just six games. This was largely in part due to the on-field dominance of the Philpot brothers. Jalen Philpot hauled in 799 yards (1st in U SPORTS) and three touchdowns (T-6th in U SPORTS) on 43 receptions (3rd in U SPORTS). Tyson Philpot hauled in 746 yards (3rd in U SPORTS) and nine touchdowns (1st in U SPORTS) on 41 receptions (4th in U SPORTS). Tyson would go on to be named Canada West Player of the Year.
14. Manitoba Bisons
Question: Entering his final year as the lead signal-caller, can Des Catellier finally lead Manitoba to Hardy Cup prosperity?
Answer: Unfortunately, Catellier went down with a season-ending injury and was replaced by first-year signal-caller Jackson Tachinski. Tachinski was able to lead the Bisons to four wins and their first Hardy Cup appearance since 2014.
Bonus Question: Will the Bisons finally retire those Reebok uniforms?
Answer: Yes! The Bisons retired their last remaining Reebok uniform. There are no longer any U SPORTS football teams donning Reebok as their official outfitter.
15. Regina Rams
Question: How far can Josh Donnelly take Regina’s offence?
Answer: The Rams offensive struggles were highly documented this season. Donnelly threw for 738 yards and eight touchdowns.
16. Saskatchewan Huskies
Question: How many yards will Adam Machart rush for?
Answer: Machart rushed for 415 yards in 2021. It may not have been the statistical production that we expected from the 2019 Canada West Player of the Year, but, in all fairness, Machart took a backseat to one of the most exciting passing attacks in the conference led by Huskies quarterback Mason Nyhus. Machart would eventually remind us all he is still one of the best feature backs in the nation, rushing for 258 yards and three touchdowns in the Hardy Cup. The following week, he would engineer an all-time great performance in the Uteck Bowl, finishing with 182 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns, leading the Huskies to their first Vanier Cup appearance in 15 years.
Bonus Question: Will Adam Machart win the Hec?
Answer: No, Machart did not win the Hec Crighton award in 2021. But, I think he’d choose a trip to the Vanier Cup over winning the Hec any day.
17. UBC Thunderbirds
Question: Do the Thunderbirds finally debut the chrome gold helmets?
Answer: No, they did not.
RSEQ
18. Concordia Stingers
Question: Now without 2019 RSEQ MVP and former starting quarterback Adam Vance, who emerges as the new leader on Concordia’s offence?
Answer: Quarterback Olivier Roy took over right where Vance left off. Roy threw for 2,470 yard (1st in U SPORTS) and 18 touchdowns (1st in U SPORTS) en route to being named RSEQ MVP.
19. Laval Rouge et Or
Question: It’s simple. Can Laval beat Montréal?
Answer: No, the Rouge et Or lost all of their matchups against Montréal this season.
20. McGill Redbirds
Question: After an impressive start to the season, which included a close contest with Laval, how high is McGill’s ceiling?
Answer: Not as high as we initially thought. The Redbird finished 1-7 in the RSEQ.
21. Montréal Carabins
QuestIon: It’s simple. Can Montréal beat Laval?
Answer: Yes. In fact, the Carabins swept their season series with the Rouge et Or before exercising their dominance on their conference rivals in the Dunsmore Cup.
Bonus Question: As seen, Jonathan Sénécal is good, but how good?
Answer: Sénécal is very good. When watching him play, you can see that his passing game is inspired by the play of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, making him one of the most exciting pocket passers in the nation. It’s great to see that creative style of quarterback-play has made its way north of the border.
22. Sherbrooke Vert et Or
Question: Can Sherbrooke find a way to shake off their tough 0-2 start to the season?
Answer: The Vert et Or did manage to find three wins, but finished fourth in the RSEQ.
AUS
23. Acadia Axemen
Question: New faces, same intentions: Can the Axemen continue their reign over the AUS?
Answer: No, the Axemen could not continue their reign over the AUS. Acadia went 1-5, finishing with a losing record for the first time since 2015.
24. Bishop’s Gaiters
Question: Can Louis-Philippe Gregoire finish the season as a top 5 ball-carrier in the country?
Answer: Louis-Philippe Gregoire finished the 2021 season with 591 rushing yards (7th in U SPORTS), and three touchdowns (T-3rd in U SPORTS)
25. Mount Allison Mounties
Question: Are Lucas Cormier and Daniel Bell the best DB duo in the country?
Answer: Yes, they are. Cormier and Bell went on to be named AUS All-Stars, while Bell earned a First Team All-Canadian nod.
Bonus Question: Will Mount Allison ever get new uniforms?
Answer: Miracles do happen. The Mount Allison Mounties got new garnet jerseys for the first time nine years. Up next: new white jerseys, new white pants (time to retire the gold pants)
26. SMU Huskies
Question: It’s hard to gauge. Are the Saint Mary’s Huskies contenders or pretenders?
Answer: We’ll let you (the reader) say it.
27. StFX X-Men
QuestIon: How does StFX find a way to become a contender in the AUS once again?
Answer: Find a young quarterback with a pedigree, and bring in a young ball-carrier who can wear down front sevens, while average 111.0 yards per game. The X-Men did that with the additions of young stars Silas Fagnan (QB) and Malcolm Bussey (RB). The end result was a 6-0 record and StFX’s 14th Jewett Trophy in program history. The future is bright in Antigonish.
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