By Neil Stevens,
Canadian Press
TORONTO — Head coach Brian Dobie is trying his best to downplay the advantage his Manitoba Bisons got when the Saint Mary’s Huskies lost star quarterback Erik Glavic for the Vanier Cup.
A dejected Glavic, a nominee for the Hec Crighton Trophy for Canadian university player of the year, limped into Varsity Stadium late Tuesday afternoon to watch his teammates practise.
He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while helping Saint Mary’s defeat No. 1 Laval last Saturday. Backup Ted Abraham, who saw little action all season, gets the start Friday night (7:30 p.m. ET).
Football is all about systems and team play, and not about individuals, Dobie stresses. He’s coached for 34 years, so he knows what he’s talking about. It’s a tough blow for the Huskies to lose Glavic, he said, but it is entirely possible the rest of the Huskies will rally around Abraham and play their best game of the year.
“We don’t really know who or what we’re facing,” said Dobie. “Nor do they, until the bullets start flying.
“You prepare for systems. You can only focus on what you do and what you do well and try to get better at it. That’s our approach.
“We would be fools to suddenly get giddy because the other team is at a perceived disadvantage. That would be a huge mistake.”
Manitoba is 11-0, and it allowed the fewest points in the country in building its undefeated record, while Saint Mary’s is 9-1 going into the Canadian university final game at Rogers Centre on Friday night. The Huskies had the No. 1 offence in the country before Glavic went down.
The teams have met only once previously, and that was when Saint Mary’s smashed Manitoba 42-16 in the 2001 national final. The Bisons are making their first appearance since that game. Saint Mary’s won the title again in 2002 and the Halifax school has waited five years to go for it again.
Huskies coach Steve Sumarah says his players remain confident even though Glavic, who is doubly disappointed because the title game is to be played so close to his home city of Pickering, is limping instead of throwing passes.
“Throughout the whole season, we have preached team, team, team,” said Sumarah. “Once your quarterback goes down, there’s no greater challenge to your team as a whole than to pick up the pieces.
“Our guys are very excited about this opportunity. I think we’re going to be fine. I think the guys truly believe in themselves.”
Abraham played the second half against Laval.
“With Ted, it’s going to be managing the game, just like he did the second half last game,” said Sumarah. “As a quarterback, you’re not always expected to carry the play.
“These are playoff games and defence and special teams are the keys in these games.”
John Makie of Regina is Manitoba’s No. 1 quarterback, and he’s sparked the offence to 40-and 50-point outbursts lately – not bad for a team noted for its defence.
“We’ve become pretty balanced in the last few games,” said cornerback Mike Howard of Victoria. “Our offence has really opened up the playbook.
“They’ve been attacking teams more. It’s been awesome to see them score the points they’ve been scoring.”
If Howard and the rest of the Bisons defence can pressure Abraham and unnerve the inexperienced quarterback, Manitoba could maul Saint Mary’s.
“I hope our D-line gets pressure on the guy. He hasn’t played much,” said Howard. “But, like I was saying to the guys earlier, he could have the game of his life.
“You never know. There’s always that possibility. That’s the great thing about sports in general, and especially football. If our D-line gets some good pressure on him and we play like we’ve been playing, hopefully we’ll come out on top.”
The Bisons apparently are hearing Dobie’s message on overconfidence loud and clear.
“We’re confident but definitely not over-confident,” said Howard. “Saint Mary’s is a great football team.
“They’ve got a great defence and good offence. It’s going to be a great game.”
With the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Grey Cup game Sunday, the Manitoba capital’s football fans have plenty to cheer about this week.
“It’s crazy in Winnipeg with the pride being generated by the two teams getting here,” said Dobie.
