By Tim Switzer,
Regina Leader-Post
Teale Orban has been responsible for several University of Regina Rams firsts this season. Why not one more?
No Ram in the team’s U of R history has ever won a major CIS award, but Orban could well be the first if he wins the Canada West nomination for the Hec Crighton Trophy as the top university player in the country.
Three weeks from now, the CIS will hand out its annual football awards during the Vanier Cup celebrations in Saskatoon and don’t be surprised to see Orban and a few other Rams recognized.
Consider Orban’s numbers: 2,619 yards passing (the most in the CIS this season, second most in Canada West history and sixth most in CIS history), 26 touchdown passes (a Canada West record and the third-best total in CIS history) and only six interceptions in 285 attempts. In an eight-game schedule, Orban threw for more touchdowns than any CFL quarterback did in an 18-game slate.
Orban’s arm killed opposing defences to the tune of 327.4 yards per game even though most teams knew the Rams were going to pass on nearly every down. In a single game against UBC on Sept. 29, Orban torched the Thunderbirds’ secondary for 548 yards and six touchdowns.
But as many things as Orban has going for him, there are also factors that can hurt him, such as the team’s 4-4 record.
Naysayers will also point to the fact that Regina’s running game was almost non-existent. The Rams had 1,094 rushing yards this season, second only to the winless Simon Fraser Clan for fewest in the conference.
The fact that the last eight winners, and 32 of the last 39, have been from schools east of the Ontario/Manitoba border may also work against Orban. Or it may help, if some decides it is again time for a western winner.
“With any of these voting things, it depends on how strong an advocate you may have,” said Rams head coach Frank McCrystal. “Any time you close the door and you have a group of people, you have leaders and you have followers.
“I think the schedule we played (six games against top 10 teams) should be a factor. That should be an indication that despite us having some numbers put on us, we do have some pretty good players.”
If it isn’t Orban nominated out of the West, another Regina-born quarterback, Manitoba’s John Makie, could be the winner. Makie’s numbers (2,099 yards, 14 touchdowns, two interceptions) aren’t quite as impressive as Orban’s. But the numbers 8-and-0 (representing the Bisons’ record) and 1 (their CIS ranking) pull Makie at least on par with Orban.
Saturday’s Canada West semifinal between the Rams and Bisons in Winnipeg will probably determine which pivot wins that race.
That’s not to say that a couple of running backs playing in the other Canada West semi don’t have a shot, too. UBC’s Chris Ciezki led the CIS with 16 touchdowns, was second with 1,082 rushing yards and averaged 9.2 yards per carry. Saskatchewan Huskies back Scott Stevens was seventh in the CIS with 855 yards along the ground but likely needs big numbers in a long playoff run to be considered.
On the defensive side of the ball, Regina’s Steve Wilson led the CIS in tackles for the second year in a row, finishing with 90 tackles — 30 more than his closest competitor, Alberta’s Dan Bass. Throw in a pair of interceptions for Wilson and he’s a likely contender for the Presidents’ Trophy as the top defender in Canada.
The knock on Wilson, similar to the one against Orban, is that Regina’s defence is on the field so much, the third-year linebacker can’t help but make a lot of tackles.
Bass, who also had eight sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, might be Wilson’s top competition for the award.
Orban and Wilson aren’t the only Rams who could hear their name read on CIS awards night.
Receiver Chris Bauman should receive first team All-Canadian status after leading the CIS with 923 receiving yards and 10 touchdown catches. Slotback Chris Getzlaf may join Bauman on the first team. Getzlaf was third in the CIS with 786 yards and tied for second with nine TDs. Defensive backs Joel Lipinski (an second team all-Canadian last season) and Steve Ryan, who each had three interceptions and continually locked down their opposition, warrant consideration too.
“Canada is a huge country and regionalism plays an important role politically, socially and athletically,” said McCrystal. “Those awards are going to be sprinkled across the country.
“Regionalism is, in Canada, not always a good thing but overall it is our strength too. You have to represent the regions and that’s what will happen.”
