CFL.ca Staff
OTTAWA — Laval defensive tackle Étienne Légaré and Alberta offensive tackle Simeon Rottier are the two Canadian Interuniversity Sport football players selected to suit up in the 84th edition of the prestigious East-West Shrine Game on January 17, 2009 at the University of Houston’s Robertson Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Every year since 1985, CIS players are invited to the annual all-star showcase, which features over 80 of the top university players in the United States. After Calgary offensive lineman Tom Spoletini was selected in 1985, two CIS representatives made the trip down south annually from 1986 to 2007, and four CIS players were invited exceptionally to last year’s event.
The Shrine Game has been played annually since 1925 to raise funds for Shriners Hospitals for Children and to raise awareness about the expert orthopedic, burn, spinal cord injury rehabilitation, and cleft lip and palate care, available at no charge to patients and families, through the 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children.
The impressive list of past CIS standouts invited to the Shrine Game includes current NFL players Israel Idonije (Chicago) and Dan Federkeil (Indianapolis), who starred at Manitoba and Calgary, respectively; Samuel Giguère of Sherbrooke, currently on the Indianapolis Colts’ practice roster; Hec Crighton Trophy winners Andy Fantuz of Western Ontario, Jesse Lumsden and Kojo Aidoo, both of McMaster, and Don Blair of Calgary; three Presidents’ Trophy recipients as CIS defensive player of the year, and 13 J.P. Metras Trophy winners as CIS lineman of the year.
Rottier topped the two CIS prospect lists published this fall by the CFL’s Amateur Scouting Bureau, while Légaré was ranked fifth in the first poll and fourth in the second one.
Légaré, an education student from St-Raymond, Que., claimed the Metras Trophy and was named a first-team all-Canadian in 2008, after playing in the CIS East-West Bowl last May.
The 6-foot-4, 265-pound fourth-year senior tallied 23 tackles and finished second in Quebec with 6.5 quarterback sacks despite missing one regular season contest, before adding three sacks in four playoff games. He was the undisputed leader of a Laval defensive unit that set a team record in conference play allowing only 60 points, topped the nation in total yards (255) and rushing yards (69) allowed per game, and finished second in pass defence (185 yards per game).
Légaré and the Rouge et Or captured a second Vanier Cup in three years last month with a 44-21 win over Western Ontario.
Légaré is the third Laval player invited to the Shrine Game following linebacker Éric Maranda in 2008 and offensive lineman Carl Gourgues in 2004.
Rottier, an agriculture, life and environmental sciences student from Westlock, Alta., was named to the first all-Canadian team this season, marking his second consecutive selection as a CIS all-star and his third straight as a Canada West all-star. He also suited up in the CIS East-West Bowl last spring.
The 6-foot-6, 286-pound fourth-year senior led an Alberta unit that ranked third in Canada West during the regular season in least sacks allowed (13), third in pass offence (206.2 yards per game) and fourth in points scored (140).
Rottier is the fourth Golden Bear selected to the Shrine Game after offensive lineman Carlo Panaro in 2001, linebacker Mark Singer in 1990 and defensive end Brent Korte in 1989.
In Houston, Légaré and Rottier will get a chance to play for a pair of coaching legends.
The East team will be led by Bobby Ross, who retired from coaching in 2007 following a three-year term as head coach for Army. Over his distinguished career, Ross was head coach of San Diego and Detroit in the NFL, leading the Chargers to a Super Bowl appearance in 1995, and guided Georgia Tech to the NCAA title in 1990.
Leading the West squad will be Gene Stallings, who retired at the end of the 1996 season after seven years at the helm of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Stallings guided Alabama to the NCAA championship in 1992, was head coach of the NFL’s St. Louis and Arizona Cardinals, and was an assistant coach with the Dallas Cowboys for 14 seasons under the legendary Tom Landry.
For all the information on the 2009 East-West Shrine Game: www.shrinegame.com.
