RAMS TACKLE NEW SEASON

REGINA, Sask. – The University of Regina Rams begin on-field practices on Friday as the 2014 Fall Camp presented by Laurentian Bank Securities begins at the U of R Field.

Camp Schedule
Friday, Aug. 22 – Practices at 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 23 – Practices at 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 24 – Practices at 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

After two-a-day practices finish on Sunday, the Rams will revert to evening practices in preparation for a home non-conference game against Alberta next Friday, Aug. 29 at Mosaic Stadium. The Rams open the Canada West schedule on Friday, Sept. 5 against the UBC Thunderbirds, also at Mosaic Stadium.

The Rams missed the postseason for the first time since 2005 last season after going 2-6 over the conference schedule, but hope that the experience gained by their youthful roster coupled with some additions at key positions will contribute to an improved campaign in 2014.

The team returns a total of nine starters on the offensive side of the ball and eight on defence, led by a pair of All-Canadians in wide receiver Addison Richards and cornerback Tevaughn Campbell.

“We expect to be able to run the ball more than we did last year and defensively, we’re going to be extremely aggressive with a great group of athletic defensive backs,” Rams head coach Frank McCrystal said. “We think with our quarterback situation and the returning experience we have on the roster, we have a good chance to challenge for the Hardy Cup.”

Besides Richards, the group of returning offensive players also includes quarterback Cayman Shutter, who led a Rams offence last year that relied almost exclusively on the passing game. Shutter ranked among the nation’s leaders in most quarterbacking categories in 2013 and will close out his CIS career this year. Also back this season is offensive lineman Kyle Paterson, who was drafted by the Saskatchewan Roughriders but will return for his fourth season of CIS eligibility. Other returning starters include linemen Matt Degelman, Bryce McKinnon, Lyndon Smith, and Jeremy Zver and receivers Landon Buch and Jared Janotta.

Joining Campbell on the list of returning starters defensively is linebacker Michael Stefanovic, who earned a Canada West all-star selection after a breakthrough season in 2013. Stefanovic – who still has four years of CIS eligibility remaining – and fellow linebacker Connor Ketchen will form the backbone of the team’s defence, while defensive lineman Tyler Perkins and defensive backs Joey Dwyer, Justin Edralin, and Patrick MacDonald also return after playing significant roles for the team last season.

Among the incoming players most likely to make an immediate impact is offensive lineman Tristain Hoath (Saskatoon Hilltops), wide receiver Mitch Thompson (Regina Thunder), running back Atlee Simon (Thom Collegiate), defensive lineman Dean Viena (Shoreline CC), linebackers Zack McEachern (Calgary Colts) and Danny Nesbitt (Dr. Martin LeBoldus HS), defensive backs Korey Greene (Waldorf College) and Kadeem Ellis (Toronto Thunder), and kicker Andrew Fabian (Calgary Colts).

The 2014 season will be McCrystal’s last as the head coach of the Rams, as the 31-year veteran announced Tuesday he would retire following the conclusion of this season. McCrystal coached the Rams for 15 seasons as a junior program and has been the team’s only coach at the CIS level since they joined forces with the University of Regina in 1999.

(Courtesy U of R Athletics)