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Canwest News Service
CALGARY – He's the only man who has led the University of Calgary football team to a national championship. In fact, he did it a record four times.
And as Peter Connellan basks in the 24C weather in Mesa, Ariz., the 2009 Dinos aren't far from his mind.
"The difference will be Calgary's offence," said Connellan by phone. "Their defence will be able to handle Queen's, but Queen's I don't think will be able to handle Calgary's offence."
Connellan coached the Dinos to their first Vanier Cup title in 1983, the first time Calgary had played Queen's University in a final.
The second meeting between the two schools takes place Saturday in Quebec City, when the second-ranked Dinos play the fourth-ranked Golden Gaels for national honours.
Connellan has forgotten more about university football than most coaches know. After the win in 1983, he marshalled the Dinos to Vanier Cups wins in 1985, '88 and 1995. The one that got away was in 1993, a 37-34 loss to Toronto.
"I'm missing the one we should have won . . . and probably won one that we shouldn't have, so I guess it evens out," said Connellan, who posted a 70-32-2 record in 13 seasons on the sidelines.
"I think that the 1983 group stands out for me because it was the first one and those players – as well as the ones just prior to '83 – are really the backbone of the Fifth Quarter and strong supporters of the current program.
"But each year, each team is unique."
Since the last national triumph 14 years ago, the Dinos haven't enjoyed particular success in the playoffs – at least not until last year, when they made it to the Uteck Bowl under the tutelage of Blake Nill.
As far as Connellan is concerned, getting out of the West has and will always be a real test.
"Calgary had their run and then Saskatchewan was the team in the West that dominated," he said. "When a team dominates like that, you need to build a team that can compete. I think what had happened was I don't think any individual school was able to put together a program that could compete with the Saskatchewan one. It takes somebody that can put everything together and I think Blake has done that.
"They're two very evenly matched teams, but this could be the start of a run for the University of Calgary . . . or they could battle it out again."
Connellan, a two-time winner of the Frank Tindall Trophy as the Canadian Interuniversity Sport coach of the year, has been impressed with this edition of the Dinos.
"(Quarterback Erik) Glavic is outstanding and unique as he's a force as a runner," said Connellan. "He's a very good passer, but he's very mobile in the pocket and can turn nothing into something. That really forces the defence to come up with a scheme to control him. He's got very good receivers, three or four of them, not just one or two.
"And the running backs are doing a good job. The defence can't stack any one area, so that makes everyone more effective. The linebackers have to play looser on the outside. They're a handful offensively and the defence is also playing well."
He watched Queen's in its Mitchell Bowl upset over Laval last Saturday and foresees a tough battle.
"They're very well coached," he said of the Golden Gaels. "They have a defensive end (Shomari Williams) who stood out in that game; they've got a very good quarterback (Danny Brannagan) and receivers. The difference between him and Glavic is that he's the prototype drop-back passer. With Glavic, you see it on film but you don't know when you're going to get it."
Calgary Herald
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Peter Connellan was a class act as far back as Viscount Bennett High, and it continues today. Thanks for the memories, Coach.
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