CFL.ca Staff
OTTAWA – Nine months after winning the Vanier Cup final on their home turf at PEPS Stadium, the Laval Rouge et Or lead the first Football Reporters of Canada – CIS national poll of the 2011 season.
Laval received 20 first-place nods and 200 points from the 20 FRC pre-season voters. The Rouge et Or have opened five of the last six seasons in the number one spot. Last year, the Calgary Dinos edged out Laval for the top spot.
The Yates Cup champion Western Ontario Mustangs come in at number two with 150 votes, with OUA rival McMaster close behind in third at 131.
The three-time defending Canada West Champion Calgary Dinos are in fourth with 124 votes, with conference rivals Saskatchewan (119) and Regina (106) close behind.
Rounding out the pack are Montreal (79), Sherbrooke (69), St. Mary’s (46), and Laurier (37).
The CIS season kicks off Thursday night with Montreal hosting McGill, who are coming off a surprising 37-14 pre-season win over Ottawa.
No. 1 Laval: 9-0 regular season record and 13-0 overall record in 2010… Beat Calgary 29-2 in the Vanier Cup in Quebec City… Beat McMaster 24-10 in pre-season… Open 2010 regular season on the road at Concordia on Sept. 3 (1 p.m., SRC)
No. 2 Western Ontario: 7-1 regular season record and 9-2 overall record in 2010… Lost to Laval 13-11 in the Uteck Bowl at Quebec City… Open regular season at home versus Waterloo on Labour Day, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m.
No. 3 McMaster: 6-2 regular season, and 7-3 overall in 2010… Lost 24-28 to Western in conference semi-final… Lost at Laval 24-10 in pre-season… Open 2011 regular season at Queen’s on Labour Day, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m.
No. 4 Calgary: 6-2 regular season record and 9-3 overall record in 2010… Lost 29-2 to Laval in Vanier Cup… Beat Alberta 49-14 in pre-season… Open 2011 regular season at Manitoba Sept. 3 at 1 p.m.
No. 5 Saskatchewan: 6-2 regular season record and 6-3 overall record in 2010… Lost to Alberta 31-30 in conference semi-finals… Beat Windsor 34-23 in pre-season… Open 2011 regular season at home versus Alberta, Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
No. 6 Regina: 5-3 regular season record and 5-4 overall record in 2010… Lost 40-33 at Calgary in conference semi-finals… Beat Manitoba 15-7 in pre-season… Open 2011 regular season at home versus UBC, Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Montreal: 6-3 regular season record and 6-4 overall record in 2010… Lost 33-26 to Sherbrooke in QUFL (now RSEQ) semi-final… Open 2011 regular season at home vs. McGill, Sept. 1, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Sherbrooke: 5-4 regular season record and 6-5 overall record in 2010… Lost 22-17 to Laval in Dunsmore Cup… Open 2011 regular season at home versus Bishop’s Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
No. 9 St. Mary’s: 5-3 regular season record and 6-4 overall record in 2010… Lost 35-8 at Calgary in Mitchell Bowl… Open with exhibition game at home versus Acadia Sept. 3, 1 p.m. (Eastlink).
No. 10 Laurier: 4-4 regular season record and 5-5 overall record in 2010… Lost 32-31 to Ottawa in OUA semifinals… Open 2010 regular season at York, on Labour Day, Sept. 5, 1 p.m.
| Rank | Team | Pts. (1st place) | Last Week |
| 1. | Laval (0-0) | 200 (20) | – |
| 2. | Western (0-0) | 150 | – |
| 3. | McMaster (0-0) | 131 | – |
| 4. | Calgary (0-0) | 124 | – |
| 5. | Saskatchewan (0-0) | 119 | – |
| 6. | Regina (0-0) | 106 | – |
| 7. | Montreal (0-0) | 79 | – |
| 8. | Sherbrooke (0-0) | 69 | – |
| 9. | St. Mary’s (0-0) | 46 | – |
| 10. | Laurier (0-0) | 37 | – |
Other teams receiving votes: Concordia (16), Acadia (12), Ottawa (7), Queen’s (3), Guelph (1), UBC (1).
