University coaches still hope for football season
For the last 32 years, dating to his playing days as the quarterback for the junior St-léonard Cougars, fall has meant one thing to Marco Iadeluca — football.
Iadeluca, who went into coaching following his career, and was named head coach of the Université de Montréal Carabins in early February, hopes that streak continues this year. But the coronavirus pandemic has made that possibility tenuous.
“It’s hard to see where all this is going,” said Iadeluca, who turns 48 on Monday. Things change so much from one day to the next and we are a contact sport. It’s not going to be easy. That’s for sure.”
The Carabins, who fell to Calgary in the Vanier Cup last season, are completing their first week of running and conditioning at CEPSUM. The team hopes to begin padded practices in mid-august and ultimately commence their season not long after that.
Although the university football leagues in Ontario, the Maritimes and Western Canada have cancelled their seasons and there will be no Vanier Cup this year, no decision has been made by the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ), so the possibility exists of playing a season.
“We’re happy the RSEQ is taking its time and giving us an opportunity to see where the virus and situation goes,” Iadeluca said. “The longer we wait, the more of a chance we may have. At the same time, with this virus, we don’t know what’s going to happen.
“A few weeks ago, I was maybe a little more pessimistic. It’s been positive the last few weeks with the situation in Quebec.”
The Carabins’ crosstown rival at Concordia launched its conditioning program on June 15, continuing this week through Thursday. The players will have a break until
July 6, when the next phase begins.
Like Iadeluca, Stingers head coach Brad Collinson remains optimistic.
“Things are moving fast and changing daily,” Collinson said. “It’s so hard to follow. We’ll see. I know my (athletic director) would like to play and the school showed their willingness to see the athletes on the field. We’re looking at all the avenues to see what’s possible. The fact the RSEQ didn’t make the decision right away, for us as coaches, that’s a good thing.”
Mcgill’s football team, however, has not been cleared by the school’s administrators to commence onfield workouts and the school’s fitness centre remains closed.
“We’re currently developing plans and protocols that would allow some athletes to safely resume training on-campus,” said Geoffrey Phillips, director of sport programs for Mcgill’s athletics and recreation department.
Carabins and Stingers players have been conducting virtual workouts for months. Both schools are following Quebec government guidelines, as well as protocols instituted by their universities. Any player who has any symptoms or other health issues, or has been in contact with someone who has COVID-19, must see a doctor before being allowed onto the field.
The Carabins have 90-minute morning and evening sessions, along with another one that’s available Saturday mornings. At least three times per week, players are expected to attend a 30-minute seminar with the head therapist and complete a medical questionnaire. Each workout group has been capped at 30 players, all of whom adhere to social-distancing protocol.
Stingers players worked out early each morning, once per day. Collinson estimated between 35 and 50 players attended.