2011 CIS Football Team Preview: Guelph Gryphons

Source: Michelle Pino, Guelph Sports Info

2010 regular season record: 4-4
2010 regular season standings: 5th in the OUA
2010 playoff record: 0-1
2010 playoff finish: Lost 42-10 in OUA 1/4 Final

The 2010 season was the first under head coach Stu Lang after the departure of Kyle Walters to the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Lang led the Gryphons to a .500 record in the regular season, which included a 21-15 victory over his alma mater the Queen’s Gaels in week three. The Gryphons would rip off three wins to start the 2010 campaign, but they could not capitalize on the hot start as they posted a 1-4 record down the stretch of the regular calendar. The Gryphons season would ultimately come to an end at Laurier, dropping a 42-10 decision in the OUA ¼ Finals.

2011 will be a chance for the Gryphons to build on their solid 4-4 record of a season ago. In the off-season Lang added to his coaching staff by hiring a young, up-and-coming offensive coordinator in Todd Galloway. Galloway will have a deep and experienced receiving corps at his disposal. Not to mention, quarterback Chris Rossetti, who now has a year of starting experience under his belt after earning the starting job coming out of training camp last season.
Lang and his staff put together a recruiting class that is high on potential, and a couple of those first year players could make an impact in their initial season with the Gryphons.

Head Coach: Stuart Lang

- Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2011): 2
- Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2011): 2
- Career regular season record with team: 4-4
- Career regular season record in CIS:  4-4
- Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs only): 4-5
- Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only): 0-1

OFFENCE

Number of returning starters: 9

Key returning players:

QB Chris Rossetti
Rossetti returns to the Gryphons for a third season with a full year of starting experience now under his belt. The pivot passed for 1,447 in his first season under centre, including 10 touchdown strikes and just two interceptions. Look for Rossetti to continue to grow and evolve as he becomes more comfortable in new offensive coordinator Todd Galloway’s offence.

WR Jedd Gardner
Gardner will suit up for his fifth and final season with the Gryphons. He will continue to stretch opposing defences vertically and should only better his numbers. Last season he tallied 512 yards receiving and five touchdowns. After spending training camp with the Toronto Argonauts, and catching passes from a more experienced Rossetti, expect Gardner to have another impressive season.
Gardner is just 19 yards away from becoming the all-time leading receiver in Gryphon football history. He has amassed exactly 2000 yards receiving during his first four seasons as a Gryphon and it’s only a matter of time until he becomes the most productive receiver to ever suit up in Gryphon colours.

WR Dillon Dimitroff
Dimitroff enters his third season at Guelph and he was efficiently productive during his first year in a starting role for the Gryphons in 2010. He caught 23 balls for an eye popping 423 yards, a 17.9-yard average per reception. Look for Dimitroff to see more passes fly his way in 2011 as he looks to balance the field for Guelph.

OL Matt Richardson
Richardson returns as the anchor along the Gryphons offensive line. He has the most experience of the big men, and will lead the young group up front, as they will look to provide Rossetti with lots of time in the pocket, while paving the way for Guelph running backs.

Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):

QB Jazz Lindsey
The younger brother of Gryphons receiver Saxon Lindsey, Jazz comes to the Guelph program with a winning pedigree. He posses solid arm strength coming out of highschool and he can also use his feet to make plays outside of the pocket.

WR Jordan Boutilier
Boutilier joins the Gryphons after a terrorizing highschool defences with his speed. Coming out of London’s Central Secondary he was considered to be one of the top 25 prospects in Ontario. He has decent size at 5’11” 185 pounds and he will be focused on cracking the Gryphons opening day roster. 

Key losses:
RB Nick Fitzgibbon
OL Andrew Crosby

DEFENCE

Number of returning starters: 8

Key returning players:

DL Cameron Thorn
Thorn, in his third season with the Gryphons, will be a force on the interior of the Gryphons defensive line. He is a disruptive pass rusher, evidenced by his three sacks in 2010, who will only improve in 2011 after having starting all eight games for the first time in his career last season.

DB James Savoie
Savoie, a two-time All-Canadian, has been a permanent fixture in the Gryphons defensive backfield ever since he set foot on campus. The talented cover man will play his fifth and final year with the Gryphons in 2011. Savoie made 22 solo tackles in 2010 and he will continue to provide stellar play-making ability versus both the run and pass.

DB Mark Durigon
Durigon brings his nose for the football back to the Gryphons for his fourth season. In 2009 and 2010 combined, Durigon notched 11 interceptions, a total that leads the CIS over the two-year span. Look for him to be around, and get his hands on, more footballs from his cornerback position in 2011.

FS Jordan Duncan
Duncan will put on the Gryphon colours for his fourth season with the team. He has improved in each of his past three seasons on campus, going from backup in 2008 to starter in 2009 to OUA 2nd team All-Star in 2010. Duncan is the quarterback of the defensive secondary in Guelph and one that is full of talent and will be tough for opposing pivots to throw against.

Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):

LB John Rush
Rush joins the Gryphons after a standout career at St. Michael’s Catholic High School in Niagara Falls. He will look to make an immediate impact with the Gryphons, his size at 6’1” and 210 pounds should allow him to help him contribute early in his career at Guelph.

LB Connor Pritty 
Pritty, out of Markham District High School, will look to provide the Gryphons with improved depth at the linebacker position. He was considered one of the top linebackers in the GTA coming out of Markham where he helped the Marauders win a Metro Bowl Championship in 2009.

Key losses:
LB Adam Dunk
LB Matt Rossetti
DL Grant McDonald
DL Scott Eggleton

SPECIAL TEAMS

Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):

Daniel Ferraro
Ferraro has a chance, in his rookie year with the Gryphons, to win a starting kicking job. He was a GTA All-Star in high school at St. Marcellinus in Mississauga, and with the Gryphons unsettled with the kicking duties, Ferraro will have a shot to prove he is ready to handle the kicking duties early in his Guelph career.

Key losses:
Nick Anapolsky