Concordia Football News
A message from Concordia Stingers Football Coach Gerry McGrath
On behalf of my staff and players, I would like to take this opportunity to bring you up to date on some of the outstanding achievements of the Concordia Football program and the student-athletes that continue to set the standard for what it means to be a Stinger.
Our program has celebrated many outstanding achievements over the past six years. During this span, we have amassed 10 All Canadians and six major awards, including four President’s trophies (outstanding defensive player), one Metras Trophy (outstanding lineman) and one Peter Gorman Trophy (outstanding rookie). During this same period, we have also seen 11 players sign CFL contracts and three sign NFL contracts. This brings the total of Concordia Stingers who have signed in the NFL to seven, including one draft pick from 1994, Mark Montreuil.
The Concordia Football Program has not missed the playoffs since the transition year of 2000. While competing in the toughest conference in the country, Concordia has played in the league championship in five of the previous nine years. The Rouge et Or of the Université Laval is the only team in the conference with more wins over this nine-year span.
In 2009, the program slipped a little but we did not fall down. We started the season by losing our first four games. We suffered setbacks in the form of season-ending injuries to key personnel. We replaced seven outstanding graduates from the 2008 season that saw us come within seconds of defeating the defending Vanier Cup champions, the Rouge et Or, in the league championship game. Despite being outmanned at most positions, our coaches and players demonstrated tremendous “Stinger pride” by rallying in the second half of the season to make the playoffs—many teams under such trying circumstances would have finished without a victory. However, in spite of this effort, the 2009 season was certainly the most difficult year in my past 19 years at Concordia.
Just weeks before training camp, tragedy struck with the sudden passing of our star linebacker, Ricky Zieba. Ricky was taken from us in a car accident. Despite their pain and sorrow, the Zieba family raised more than $20,000 in Ricky’s name for the football program. A dedication to Ricky’s family took place at our home opener last September, allowing fellow players, fellow students, fans and friends to express once again their profound sadness at the loss of such a remarkable young man and thanks to the Zieba family for their support of Ricky’s teammates and the Concordia football team that Ricky loved so much.
Despite all these challenges in 2009, there were nonetheless several outstanding achievements that continued to demonstrate just how rich the program is in social capital. Quarterback Rob Mackay shattered the Quebec Conference passing record by more than 200 yards. Rob threw for an amazing 2,736 yards while averaging 342 yards per game! We also celebrated Concordia’s fourth President’s Trophy with middle linebacker Cory Greenwood. Liam Mahoney (48 catches in six games) and Cory Watson (58 catches) both surpassed the school record for receptions in a season. That is quite an accomplishment when considering former greats like Gerry Prud’homme and former first-round draft picks and NFL participants Sylvain Girard and Denis Montana also suited up in Stingers jerseys. Well done, guys!
As a proud football program, we have won some great individual and team awards over the past years. However, I believe the most significant event of the last several years will prove to be the founding of the Champions Club. A short time ago, I was fortunate enough to make the acquaintance of Ghislain Arsenault. Ghislain is a graduate of our John Molson School of Business and a very successful businessman. He is a member of the Recreation and Athletics Fundraising Campaign cabinet, a team that is chaired by Richard W. Pound, S BA 63, LLD 10.
With Ghislain’s guidance, we have been able to assemble an outstanding group of volunteers to help raise money for student-athlete scholarships. The much-needed new funds will help us compete in recruiting for the best student-athletes. This of course also helps us build a stronger program on the field and in the classroom. In our first year of involvement, we hosted a Champions Club Dinner and raised $35,000. All of this money will be allocated to deserving student-athletes to help alleviate their need to work while going to school and trying to compete as an elite athlete. To borrow a baseball phrase, Ghislain has also “stepped up to the plate” and led the way by pledging $10,000 a year from his own pocket. The goal for this year’s Champions Club Dinner is $50,000. The Dinner will be held Saturday, September 25, 2010, at the Holiday Inn Montreal Midtown, 420 Sherbrooke St. W. Visit our webpage for more information.
Looking ahead to 2010 and beyond, there will be some significant changes to the Stinger coaching staff. Warren Craney has left to take over as the head coach at York University. I would like to thank Warren for his contribution to Concordia and wish him the best of luck with his new team. Brad Collinson has also left Concordia to pursue interests outside the coaching milieu. I would also like to thank Brad for his longstanding contribution as a player and coach. I wish Brad the best of luck with his new endeavours.
I am proud to announce some outstanding additions to the 2010 Stingers staff. I am honoured to report that former Montreal Alouette great Bryan Chiu has joined our staff on a full-time basis. The future Hall of Famer will coach the offensive line and assume the role of assistant offensive coordinator. Bryan will also be the coordinator of the Concordia Football School. I am also proud to announce the signing of Phil Roberts as the defensive consultant and recruiting coordinator. Phil has had a long and very successful coaching career at Vanier College, the University of Ottawa, Concordia and the Ottawa Roughriders. He brings a tremendous knowledge of defence and is recognized as one of the country’s top recruiters.
The 2010 Stingers will rebound in true Stingers tradition and once again be a highly competitive program. We have had a good recruiting class and our coaches and players cannot wait to get this season started. Please come out and support your Stingers. I believe that university sport is truly one of the “last bastions” where honour, hard work, team work, discipline and a passion for pure competition still exists. I also believe that the Concordia Stingers are great ambassadors for our institution and to the sport of football.
I would like to call on you as a former Georgian, Warrior or Stinger to become a part of the Champions Club. What could be more rewarding than knowing you helped a special young man achieve his goals so that one day he will also be a community leader?
If you would like more information regarding the Champions Club or our Scholarship Dinner, please contact Ghislain or myself.
Go Stingers!
Gerry McGrath
Coach, Concordia Stingers Football
Contact us at:
Gerry McGrath
514-848-2424, ext. 3845
gmac@alcor.concordia.ca
Ghislain Arsenault
514-949-9004
ghislain@trucknroll.com