'Father figure' resigns as Warriors' coach

McPhee leads his Warriors (Photo: Waterloo Region Record)

Having taken admirable care of his football family, Dennis McPhee has decided to turn his focus on the one closer to home – as he officially resigned as Head Coach of the Waterloo Warriors this past Tuesday.

In an exclusive interview with CTV’s southwestern Ontario affiliate, McPhee explained that he “wanted to step back a little bit and be with my own children for a while.”

Having been at the helm of Warriors' football for the past five seasons, the now ex-coach commented that “those kids at Waterloo, they’ll never be out of my mind.”

“I just want the kids to know that I’ve been thinking about them and I trust the staff,” said McPhee.

University of Waterloo Athletic Director Bob Copeland stated in a press release, posted on the school’s website, that a ‘leadership plan’ for the program will be determined in the next 10-14 days. Assistant Coaches Joe Paopao, Marshall Bingeman and Kani Kauahi will return next season.

While his coaching record at Waterloo stood at 7-25 (having endured a 0-8 season this past campaign), McPhee will most be remembered (and credited) for keeping the school’s football program afloat after the school-imposed decision to suspend the team for all of 2010. With many players having graduated or transferred to other programs, the coach was still able to field a squad this year – albeit with 36 freshmen on the 47-man roster.

When reached by SSN, Warrior all-star receiver Dustin Zender was quick to praise his former mentor.

“Obviously he’s shown great character in staying with the program, not to mention trying to get [the team] through an experience not many other coaches have been through,” reflected Zender, who played under McPhee for four years.

Summarizing the contribution McPhee had on the program, Zender explained the effort his coach made in trying “to show [the team] the light at the end of the tunnel.”

“He did a great job in leading the boys back on the field,” said Zender, adding, “Coach always tried to keep an open-door policy and be a father-figure for us as well.

“He always cared about the individual … He didn’t really care, moreso, about the whole political structure of things. He cares about the kids and he always acted that way.”

Having found out about the news in between one of his classes, the now-graduated receiver reflected on some of his personal favourite ‘Coach McPhee Moments’ – with the man’s pre-game speeches being at the forefront.

“He likes to tell the story of the Alamo a lot. I think I’ve heard that story about 20 times while I was at Waterloo,” said Zender, chuckling.

“They’re inspiring, motivating and really funny too – so it’s definitely one thing I’m going to remember of him.”

“It’s tough to see him go ... He’s going to be missed by everyone,” he added.

“Whatever he does next, I wish him the best of luck.”

Getting over the hump

McMaster receiver Mike DiCroce

For all the praise and analysis that McMaster Marauders receiver Mike DiCroce had for his teammates and opponent leading up to the team’s OUA semi-final (redux?) against the Queen’s Gaels (4:30pm, The Score), you get a sense that he could have summarized it all into a couple of words.

It’s time.

You see, the Marauders are carrying a load on their shoulders – and DiCroce is one to call it the ‘semi-final hump’. Having made it to within one game of a Yates Cup appearance in three of the last six seasons (including the last two years), the country’s leading receiver commented how “we really want to shake this monkey off our back.”

For all the success they’ve had in 2011 (posting a 7-1 record and earning a first-round bye), the team believes it’s of Yates Cup calibre - if not more. It’s all been said before though.

“We need to not talk about it anymore and lead with our actions,” said DiCroce, who led the nation with 908 receiving yards on 48 receptions.

Asked to compare last year’s Queen’s squad to the version they will face this afternoon, it’s obviously the Gaels’ defence that stands out for the Mac pass-catcher.

“Last year, they had so many injuries on their defence… that we could pick our poison and go after their weaknesses,” he explained, adding, “This year, with everyone healthy - and their [defensive] line being so disruptive - it’ll come down to that line of scrimmage.”

“They’ve been riding that kind of Cover-4 defence and giving up the holes ... here and there – so hopefully we’re going to attack those zones and just try to march the ball each and every time and not get stuck in that second-and-long [situation].”

While DiCroce admitted that there’s “a lot of pressure for us this week to come out flying [after the bye week]”, this wouldn’t be the first time the team has had to rally together to pull through a stressful situation.

Having lost potential Hec Crighton winner Kyle Quinlan to a three-game suspension in Week #3, the Marauders had to stay calm with Marshall Ferguson at quarterback until Week #6. And that they did.

“Both those quarterbacks can play at a high level and, with Marshall coming in, we knew we’d be comfortable - no matter who was playing [quarterback].

“We had to rally together … and we knew we wanted to win those games for Kyle.”

Now they’re looking to rally for their school and make it back to compete for a championship – and they at least know what it will take to do it.

“We cannot shoot ourselves in the foot and make mistakes that we’ve made in the past,” said DiCroce.

“Going forward, we believe we can compete with any team in the country – so hopefully we’ll [get a chance to] do that.”

It’s all about heart for D’Amore

Lancer Head Coach Joe D'Amore

Windsor Lancers football fans will remember September 17^th – or Week #3 of the 2011 OUA season – as one that provided a heartbreaker.

Down 15 points heading into the fourth quarter and playing under the lights, the Lancers – in front of a home crowd – came within a two-point conversion of completing a comeback in the game’s final seconds.

Interim Head Coach Joe D’Amore, while obviously focused on the game at hand, had other things on his mind though: the birth of his (and wife Sarah’s) second child; a girl named Ashlyn.

Much like the joy felt by the D’Amores with the new addition to their family (which also includes two-year old Tienna), Lancer players, alumni and fans alike are probably feeling something similar as, since that loss, the first-year Head Coach rallied his team and has them headed into the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Not to rub salt in the wounds, but it’s also only the fifth time in the last 11 years that the Lancers will be playing post-season football.

So what’s changed for what's been a moribund program the last couple of years?

“We really wanted to bring a positive approach [to coaching]. We wanted to bring an idea where the kids build some confidence,” explained D’Amore, who played 40 games as a Lancer receiver (and captain) between 1996 and 2000.

“We really believe that we have the talent here to win and it was more of a mindset. We have to get these kids believing in that they can compete in every game, that they can win football games.”

And win they did, as the team went 2-2 after the aforementioned loss to McMaster to wrap up the season at 5-3. In fact, it’s only the third time Lancer football has achieved a better-than .500 record since 1990.

A lot of that has been due to the new quarterback under centre – second-year player Austin Kennedy.

Having coached Kennedy prior to the player moving on to the University of Windsor, D’Amore commented how he offers a “pass-run dimension that not every quarterback can bring” – while also noting his competitiveness.

Asked to describe what thoughts went through the players heads when original starting QB Sam Malian suffered a season-ending arm injury at Laurier, the coach  reflected on how “the kids looked at Austin as a starter as much as they did Sam.”

“When he took over the team, we really weren’t feeling like we were lost,” said D’Amore, adding that, with using their quarterbacks as a tandem, “there wasn’t any leadership lost in the process.”

While Kennedy officially only has 11 ½ games played under his belt, D’Amore was quick to mention how his pivot has protected the football so effectively – anbeit taking a load of sacks in the process – is what has impressed him the most.

The confidence exuded by the team’s quarterback has let the passing-oriented squad go full steam ahead into the playoffs – and into the record books – as Kennedy set new school records in total passing yards (2,108 – surpassing Scott Mallander 1,821 in 1979) and touchdowns (20 – beating out current offensive coordinator/QB coach Jon Dent’s mark of 16 in 2004).

Make no mistake though; D’Amore is clear when he comments that “we’ve done a great job in running the football – and that’s really opened up our passing game.”

“We’re more of a speed-oriented team too,” he added. “We don’t really have a lot of size … Overall, compared to the Westerns and the Queens, we’re undersized. But the way we look at our team is that it’s one that’s going to work really hard. We’re going to limit the mental mistakes.

“We’re not a good enough football team yet to overcome the mental mistakes like maybe some of the stronger teams in our league can … and still come out victorious.

But that doesn’t diminish their confidence though heading into their quarter-final match-up on Saturday in Ottawa (1pm, SSN Canada) – which is the site of another heartbreaking loss this season, having lost to the Gee-Gees on a last second field goal. D’Amore commented how crucial playing “a real clean and strong brand of football” is to the team’s success moving forward - this season and beyond.

“We want to be more of a disciplined team as far as … not taking too many chances; just being a team where we play base coverages,” he said.

“That’s a learning process though; it’s not going to change overnight. We can’t expect our kids to just, all of a sudden, become everything we want them to be.”

“We’re looking for kids who are going to be mentally tough. We’re going to have our highs and we’re going to have our lows and we want kids who are going to fight through either-or; they don’t get too excited when things are going well and they don’t get too down when things are going bad.

The next obvious question to ask of D’Amore then is how motivated he is to have the ‘Interim’ tag removed from his title, whenever this season is over.

With the very-much needed support of his wife, he now "plans be here for a while; the next five to ten years” – if all goes according to script is.

“I didn’t necessarily think that I would get this kind of opportunity so early [in my coaching career], but when they approached me about it obviously I was very excited. Being an alum, it was a chance to put the program in the direction where I thought it should go.”

When asked what has made the transition a lot easier, he credits a couple things – beginning with his supporting cast.

“There are a lot of good coaches in this city – and I was able to get some of the best ones here. I was excited about that; surrounding myself with guys that I trusted and believed would work together and weren’t in there … to maybe take care of themselves.”

He also describes how he brings a ‘new-era’ style of coaching to the table.

“I like to look at myself as a player’s coach. I’m very approachable; my door’s always open. Kids nowadays – you’ve got to be able to relate to them. You want to get the most out of them. I don’t think you can come in with an iron fist and just bark orders around. You’ve got to understand where they’re coming from,” he explained.

All that being said, the rookie head coach is trying not to get too far ahead of himself - despite his enthusiasm for the gig.

“I hope on getting an opportunity to stay here. That’s kind of out of my hands, but we’ve just approached this season as doing the best that we can.”

Gryphons not ready to quit



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."

A warrior fighting to the end

Waterloo receiver Dustin Zender

While Dustin Zender may not be remembered for helping to fill the University of Waterloo football trophy case when his university career comes to an end in two weeks time, there are few who will ever epitomize what a true Warrior is more than him.

From fighting for what he believed in off the field to excelling in the midst of futility on it, Zender may sound a little cliché in saying so, but states the reason for his success in 2011 with conviction.

“Pretty much, it’s all come down to hard work,” said the fifth-year receiver from Kitchener, ON who, up until last week’s final home game loss to Laurier, led all OUA receivers in reception yardage. He currently sits second - both provincially and in the CIS - with 688, as well as first in receptions with 51.

“Hard work is always going to be that thing that gets you to that level and gives you that chance [to perform],” added Zender.

That effort was also reflective as one of the team’s most vocal advocates as a team suspension loomed in the summer of 2010 – and was eventually handed down. It was even more evident as he sucked up his pride and donned the purple and gold of city rival Laurier that season - so as not to let a year of playing football slip through his fingers.

“Thinking about it now, I made a lot of great friends [because of the move],” said Zender.

“Those guys, they’re just really nice. They really do care about you on the field as well as off of it.”

It certainly wasn’t a rosy experience either though, as the Hawks started 0-3, forfeited a win (due to using an ineligible player), then came up one game short of reaching the Yates Cup final.

All in all though, Zender (who was fourth on the team with 235 receiving yards) still feels fortunate for having done the switch.

“It was a tough experience back at Laurier, but look where we went; we lost by one point in the [OUA] semi-finals. Up to that point, that’s the first time that I’ve ever even played in a playoff game.

“To get that far was an amazing experience for me,” said Zender.

With the return of the ‘black and yellow’ to the OUA fold this season though, all friendships were put aside as Zender and the Warriors got to the task at hand of simply fielding a complete squad.

With a considerable lack of players with OUA experience, it’s no real surprise that the team is currently in last place at 0-6. That being said, Zender speaks highly of Head Coach Dennis McPhee.

“He’s had to persevere through a lot. He’s been through things other coaches obviously haven’t had to go through,”  said Zender, adding “I feel for him; it weighs heavy on him but he’s doing the best that he can – and doing an amazing job.”

Coming up just shy of 100 yards receiving in a 69-3 loss to his former teammates just prior to the Thanksgiving weekend, Zender described it as a “bittersweet moment”.

“The fact that it was my last home game and the first time … playing Laurier, and seeing all those guys, a lot of stuff was happening on that one night.

“When it was over, I did take a bit of a step back to realize what just happened. It’s tough to think that that was the last home game and that I’ll never play on that field [again],” he said.

For ever having run onto the football field in the first place though, he places much of the credit with his father Carl – who was the receivers coach at Waterloo before moving with his son to Laurier. He has since stayed on staff with the Hawks.

“I’ve been blessed, just because of the relationship with my dad. He’s my father but he’s always been my coach as well. Even from a younger age playing basketball then switching over to play football, he’s always supported my choices,” said the younger Zender.

“I know he’s pushed me a little bit harder … just to make sure that he’s not showing favouritism,” he added with a laugh.

Asked to reflect on how he and the rest of his teammates have been able to stay positive through a campaign having to endure so many growing pains, Zender fell back on his coach’s adage.

“[Coach McPhee] always says they can’t take away your heart; you have to play and not surrender – and he preaches that to us all the time,” explained Zender.

“You can see that it’s shown through the players on the field too.”

Ottawa defence hits the ground running



Ottawa linebacker Tyler Sawyer

The Ottawa Gee Gees will forgive those taken a little aback by their strong start. They’ve been simply misunderstood – in the eyes of defensive leader Tyler Sawyer anyway.

“We were definitely underrated coming into the year,” commented the fourth-year linebacker, during a phone chat from his residence near the University of Ottawa.  

“Especially with losing [Brad] Sinopoli, three All-Canadian receivers, most of the offensive line, three-time Canadian on the defensive line … we lost a lot of fifth-year guys and talent,” he added.

Yes, a lot of talent.

Sinopoli, for one, is now a back-up quarterback with the Calgary Stampeders – a year after becoming the fourth Gee Gee to win the Hec Crighton Trophy. It’s no wonder then that most OUA prognosticators and fans would have expected a rebuilding period to follow for the garnet and grey.

That was never in the team’s blueprint though, according to Sawyer.

“People looking at us didn’t understand the hunger of the guys that were on the scout team servicing these guys for years. They wanted it. Everyone wanted it,” he explained with emphasis.

It’s been that passion that drove Ottawa to a 3-1 start on the season, and listed as the second best defence in the OUA before Saturday’s loss to Laurier on the road.

Not to mention speed as well.

“Our defence is predicated on speed and getting to the ball. We want to finish with 12 guys on the tackle.

“We are undersized … but our scheme allows for our athleticism to shine and just let us do what we do,” said Sawyer.

On top of that, without having any of their defensive linemen coming close to the standard playing weight of 300 pounds, Sawyer (who, as a linebacker, is a tad undersized at 6’0, 210lbs) credited the unit’s cohesiveness as the key to their surprising success.

“All of the guys now are getting into their third or fourth year, so we’ve been playing side-by-side for a couple years now, so you start to create that chemistry; it’s really huge,” said Sawyer.

“In the back-end with our defensive backs, they are really comfortable with one another. Our front seven, we’re just really tenacious in trying to go after the ball,” he added.

That athleticism is something that Sawyer is exuding even more of now - and it has him ranked in the top five in the OUA and top ten in the CIS in total tackles with 30. It all comes part in parcel of trying to be a leader, according to the 21 year-old from Metcalfe, ON.

“I’ve learned a lot from some good players … about leadership and work ethic. I’ve felt that every year that I’ve been in this system I’ve progressed more as a leader.

“I’ve been training a lot harder every year and understanding more of what it takes to succeed at the CIS level. I think I’ve found the formula and that’s why everything seems to be clicking,” he said.

He also credits part of that formula being the team’s second-year Head Coach Jean-Philippe Asselin.

Asselin (from Quebec City) led the team to a 7-1 record and their first Yates Cup appearance since 2008 last season – as the interim coach. This past summer, it was made official that he would be handed the reins, and it’s been a move that the players couldn’t be happier with.

“Coach JP is a player’s coach. He’s very organized and very good at setting out what we need to do; not concentrating on ten different things. We concentrate on one thing and put all of our attention onto that,” explained Sawyer – the Week #4 OUA defensive player of the week.

And what would that one thing be?

“It’s just basically wins or losses. Every Saturday, you’re playing for your life – especially when it comes to late October and start of November.”

Dillon Heap: finding a niche

Laurier receiver Dillon Heap

To Laurier’s Dillon Heap, the game of football is a lot of things. It’s about wins, family and God. At the very core of it all, however, it’s about competing.

And boy, can ever he ever do that.

If there will be one stat to prove it, once his career is said and done, it’ll be as the new OUA record holder for most career punt return yards. He needs just 15 yards to supplant Windsor’s Don Hollerhead (1971-75) from the top of the list, but what adds to Heaps allure is that he’s done it all as possibly the smallest man on the team.

Listed at 5’10” and 175lbs, the fifth-year receiver/return man from Waterloo, ON, Heap admits that he hasn’t “achieved the strength of the strongest guy at my position.”

“But I’ve definitely improved it. And that’s the important thing; where I was worst at I got better,” commented Heap, after attending practice this past week.

To say that he got ‘better’ would be an understatement.

Coming to Laurier via Waterloo Collegiate in 2005, Heap departed for his two year mission – in conjunction with the requirements of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – and didn’t step back onto a football field until 2008.

By the end of 2009, he had broken a CIS single-season record by returning 60 punts for 962 yards and been named the team’s MVP. At the end of 2010, he led the team’s receivers in touchdowns – on top of his astronomical return yard numbers.

Ask Heap what he credits to finding success in the OUA as an undersized, but shifty, player, it’s simply been a matter of “just using what I did have to the best of my ability, rather than focusing on my weaknesses … and becoming a niche player in that sense.”

“Part of the major concern for myself was, in high school, I was always able to compete – despite my weaknesses in my size … but coming into university was a big shock. Ultimately, I think it’s whether or not you can play football,” said Heap.

And football is something that has run through Heap’s veins since he picked it up playing with his two older brothers as a child. With the desire to beat his own siblings engrained in him at such a young age, you can take Heap at his word when he says he “hates to lose.”

With that being said, that’s one of the reasons a second season full of adversity has been so tough for Heap.

“As an individual, you can be content with what’s happened but, as a competitor, I want to win games,” said Heap, adding, “Going into [last] year, I had high expectations going in for myself. I think we ALL had high expectations … We thought we were going to be good. We went through a lot of stuff …

“This year, it’s kind of been the same thing. It’s hard when it ends up on the scoreboard that we’re down and have an ‘L’ in the loss column.

“We’ve dug ourselves into a little bit of a hole, but offensively and defensively we have good athletes with lots of potential and it’s just a matter of gelling and seizing the moment,” he summarized.

Despite the tough spell thus far for WLU, it will never overshadow the benefits of being a part of the Hawks.

“It’s been such a ‘family’ environment; a place where Coach Jeff does such a great job of … caring about each player,” he said.

“We also do a good job of looking out for each other. I can still meet guys from the past … and embrace them as brothers.”

And, aside from being an environment where he could grow athletically, how he’s been able to evolve spiritually has had an even bigger impact.

“My faith does play a role … [Football] has been a great platform for me to demonstrate what I believe in and talk to other people about what I believe because some of my habits and my actions and my characteristics are a little bit different than the typical university athlete,” commented Heap.

Put that all aside for the moment though and Heap still only has one current goal in mind – and it’s not the OUA record that he’s so close to achieving.

“I remember taking a look at [the record] in the off-season but, other than that, I’ve deliberately not looked until earlier this week when my brother emailed me. I didn’t really know where I was, I don’t really want to know where I am. I think that creates a little bit of expectation for me and it’ll make me force things during the game,” said Heap.

“I want the team to come first. However many stats I get, it’s all about winning games. At the end of my career, I think I’d rather have a Yates Cup or a Vanier Cup over a new record.”