Football, except in a few instances, is not considered among the fine arts.
Sure, some running backs and wide receivers can weave, glide and stretch like Mikhail Baryshnikov, but more likely they barrel and bash their way like renegades from a stampeding herd.
Well, the St. Thomas More Knights this year are all about the ART.
That is assignment, responsibility and technique.
Knights head coach Bernie Kully’s biggest addition this year isn’t in the form of a hotshot Grade 10 or 11 talent – although he does have his share. His biggest addition is new offensive coordinator Denis Kelly, already a legendary skipper on the B.C. High School gridiron ranks.
“Getting (Kelly) was a huge pick-up, no doubt,” said Kully. “There was some recruiting, by coaches and parents, but in the end it was just a great fit for everyone.”
Kelly, the founder and head coach of the W.J. Mouat football program for 28 years, has taken on the OC role, replacing longtime STM coach Joe Adams, who has moved to St. Patrick’s as a vice-principal.
One of Kelly’s first implementations was the ART process.
“We have always emphasized the philosophy of process vs. outcome at STM since I have been around the program back in 1989 and coach Kelly’s ideas really mesh well with that concept,” said Kully. “Work as best as you can each rep and let your effort dictate your success.”
With a young team, the Knights are primed for molding and shaping as a challenger in the 3A Eastern Conference – where the competition includes potential No. 1-ranked Terry Fox and Mouat.
“We are a very young team this year with the majority of our team comprising a solid group of grade 11s and a small veteran group of grade 12s,” noted Kully.
Kelly, who spent last year as an assistant at Simon Fraser University after retiring as a teacher, has brought in a new offensive system and spent a lot of time already with senior starting quarterback Kolby Buljevic.
“Kolby is a great leader and has shown a great deal of desire to be our leader at the QB position under (our) new offensive coordinator system. He has spent the off season learning all he could about the nuances of a very complex system under the tutelage of coach Kelly.”
Another key returnee is Grade 11 running back and defensive end Tyler Eckert, who as a Gr. 10 demonstrated strong skills and big-play capability, having tied for the league lead in QB sacks with 13.
“(Eckert) is very coachable, always wants to learn more while working hard all the while (and) always finishing first in conditioning,” said Kully. “He is explosive and I think he will be a surprise performer this year.”
Filling the fullback role is Grade 11 Joel Pielak, who at 5-foot-9 and 185-pounds casts a stocky shadow.
Anchoring the defensive side of things will be free safety David Osho and returning seniors Anthony Prpic, a strong safety, and linebacker Devon Hayek.
Last year’s 6-2 regular season mark got them into the provincial quarterfinals, where the season came to a halt in a disappointing 27-13 to New Westminster.
And while the upheaval and turnover from last year’s lineup is considerable – the likes of veteran standouts Luca Bellini, Ben Steele, Demarius Henderson and Landon Jackson have all moved on – the ranks of the returnees and incoming juniors are encouraging, said Kully.
“I think you assess as you progress, and thus far we’re quite happy how the players have come prepared to compete in camp,” he noted. “It all fits in with our process vs. outcoming focus.”
The Knights launch the 2016 senior season on Sept. 9 against Notre Dame.
