LONDON | The Rouge et Or travel to the Vanier Cup with a younger and less experienced squad than their Saskatchewan rivals. Regardless, Glen Constantin sees similarities to Laval University’s first Vanier Cup win in 1999.

Before his first consecration in the great crowd of Canadian varsity football in 1999, the Rouge et Or had rubbed shoulders with the Huskies at Laval University’s PEPS at the Churchill Bowl on November 20. A 27-21 win that paved the way for a national title.

Reflecting on his memories, the first thing that springs to mind for the head coach is a comparison between his current team and that of 1999, when young, less experienced players brought Laval’s football program to national attention.

“Our players were very, very young. They didn’t know the history of Canadian college football. The coaches knew very well that this was an experienced team. It was the team of the 90s, our players didn’t have that pressure because they didn’t know them.

Constantin has younger, less experienced players on hand and very few of them have Vanier Cup experience. Quite the opposite of the huskies.

“[Les Huskies] that was the program in Canada back then. But our players didn’t feel the pressure and we just played football.

“The connection to this team is that there are not many players who have been to the Vanier Cup. They just play football, have fun, compete against each other.

“A Loser’s Experience”

The Huskies’ experience doesn’t scare wide receiver Kevin Mital in the least. Although Saskatchewan took part in last year’s Vanier Cup in Quebec, that’s not what will keep the prolific red-bearded wide receiver awake.

“Experience… you have experience as a loser. Is it really a quality experience?” he asks.

“The rest of us have been here for ten days and we are fine. We will take the experience with us during the game on the field. […] I don’t think that much will change there,” continued Arnaud Desjardins’ favorite goal.

precious adversity

He also believes the Rouge et Or’s path so far brings valuable experience to his teammates. He still remembers the Dunsmore Cup game and the Mitchel Cup that followed.

“The last two games really got on our nerves,” assures the second grader.

“It’s something that not everyone has experienced. I think we’ve been through all year and we’ve been through enough adversity to be ready for a game like this whether we were there last year or not.”

Guay in middle position?

Fifth-year veteran Nicolas Guay will most likely be the starter at center on Saturday. Last week, his teammate Nicolas Thibodeau missed three quarterbacks early in the game and Guay took over.

“I picked up quite a bit from all the rehearsals at the center this week, so I’m expecting that,” says the man who will play the final college game of his career.