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| Gryphon linebacker Jake Reinhart |
Just like one of Jake Reinhart’s OUA leading 56 tackles, the Guelph Gryphons will be taking this season’s most important challenge head on this afternoon in their regular season finale.
With the last playoff spot up for grabs, the Gryphons find themselves needing a win over the visiting Laurier Golden Hawks and a Waterloo Warrior upset of the Toronto Varsity Blues – which would be the Warriors’ first win this season (currently 0-7).
If Reinhart is any indication though, his squad is nothing but confident heading into the 1pm match-up (live on SSN Canada).
“Obviously we expected to start [the season] a bit better than we did. We fell behind pretty quickly but we’ve always believed in ourselves and thought that we could do better,” said the fourth-year student out of Guelph, ON.
“We’ll try to do our part and win against Laurier and hopefully Waterloo can do the same [against Toronto].”
Looking back on some of the positives the last few weeks, Reinhart saw the 33-29 loss to top-ranked Western two weeks ago as a true indication of the team’s potential.
“That Western game – we played like we felt we should have played at the beginning of the season … We thought that we played great as a team,” said Reinhart, who is also second in the CIS in total tackles.
“If we … play like that, we can really make a dent in the playoffs - if we’re fortunate enough to get in,” he added.
Looking back on the challenges that 2011 has brought, Reinhart can’t help being an optimist – as the football culture has somewhat changed in the ‘Royal City’.
“The recruits coming in this year are definitely the biggest recruiting class that I’ve ever seen – with solid talent all around not a single one of them has quit, which is pretty amazing. All the years that I’ve been here, at least 10 guys have quit or dropped out and none of these guys have,” he explained.
“Once these guys get experience ... and our coaches continue to recruit as they are, talent-wise we should be up there and pushing for a better record than this year.”
He also praised the work of second-year Defensive Coordinator (and former Laurier linebacker) Kevin MacNeill – who is “definitely the most intense coach I’ve ever played under”.
“Coach Mac will step in there and fire everyone up,” he said.
“He’s always rallying the troops and gets everyone going for practice and before a game. He’s a great coach to play for – no doubt about that.”
The former high school quarterback, who switched over to linebacker because “[former Head Coach] Kyle Walters wanted me to play on special teams”, noted the personal connection he’s made with his coach - who was a stalwart at the same position during his playing days.
“Playing linebacker himself, he knows a few tricks – so he’s passes that onto us, and it’s great for sure,” said Reinhart.
Will having a former Golden Hawk give them an edge though in the do-or-die game? Interestingly enough, it’s not something that had come to mind for Reinhart.
“I haven’t really thought about it like that. I know he’s watched a tone of film … so if there’s any edge at all, it’ll be from Coach Mac studying [for the game],” he said.
As a linebacker in Guelph’s 3-4 defence, Reinhart has been more-so a ‘student’ of the game behind the graduated all-star Adam Dunk. The time has obviously come for the Geography major to flourish - and he’s grabbed the opportunity by the horns.
“With [Dunk] having graduated, I do feel like the next [leader] in line,” said Reinhart.
“Playing behind Adam Dunk, who was a great mentor, I learned a lot from playing behind him.”
And what was it that he learned about himself as a player?
“I’m not as vocal or intense as Adam was, but I like to lead by working hard, being tough and just doing my best at all times."
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