Training camp is well underway for the Simon Fraser University football team and first-year head coach Kelly Bates is focused on getting the Clan ready for the season opener on Sept. 12 at Western Oregon.
“For us training camp is about getting our tempo up and practicing fast and physical,” said Bates, who replaced Jacques Chapdelaine as head coach. “Our guys need to understand that it’s going to take a certain level of conditioning for us to compete at the level we need to compete at to be successful. The one controlling factor that we all have is our effort, and so far that’s what I have liked from my group. Everyone has worked tirelessly in the offseason to get ready and the effort has been outstanding.”
Chapdelaine coached the Clan to a 2-9 record in 2014, his only season as head coach at SFU. Not surprisingly, the Clan has been picked to finish seventh in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s 2015 preseason coaches’ poll.
“That’s understandable based on our record in the past and our guys understand that,” said Bates. “Our guys understand that if they want to change that it will come through their effort on the field. But until we step on the field and prove we are better, then we are not any better.”
“The outside world is not going to impact what we are doing and the process we are going through to get better as a team,” added Bates. “As we move forward it is all about team and making ourselves better.”
After winning two straight championships in their first three years in the conference, Azusa Pacific is picked to win their third straight crown in the coaches’ poll. The Cougars went undefeated in their third GNAC campaign to win the 2014 championship and have not lost a conference game since a 7-3 defeat at Central Washington on Sept. 28, 2013.
Bates inherits a team that finished fifth in the conference, while ranking seventh in the league in scoring offense (21 points per game). The Clan was strongest on the offensive line, ranking 54th in Division II with 5.91 tackles for loss allowed per game. The Clan’s 259.5 passing yards per game ranked 51st nationally and their 13.47 yards per punt return ranked 26th.
Simon Fraser’s leading returner is linebacker Jordan Herdman. The Great Northwest defensive player of the year led the league with 165 tackles and finished second in Division II with 15 tackles per game. The Clan also return first team all-conference offensive lineman Michael Couture along with second team all-conference selections in defensive lineman Quinn Horton and Jamie Puffer.
“A few guys came in and you can see they have it altogether,” said Bates. “Michael (Couture) has really impressed and on the defensive side vets such as Puffer, Horton and (Martin) Duckhorn have stood out and are starting to lead the group.”
Puffer finished second in the conference in tackles for loss. He was the Clan's leader in sacks with five on the season, and earned a total of 42 tackles in 11 games. Horton had a total 38 tackles in his junior season, earning 19 solo and 19 assisted. He had 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks last season.
Senior quarterback Ryan Stanford, who averaged 213.7 yards passing per game and threw 17 touchdown passes is back to lead the Clan offence, which features multi-purpose offensive threat Earl Anderson. Anderson was SFU's leader in all-purpose yards, averaging 106.8 per game. He also established himself as the first player in conference history to record 100 returns and over 2,000 career yards. He averaged 19.7 kick-off yards per return and finished third in the conference in punt returns.
Of the freshmen in camp, Bates said that wide receiver Justin DesLauriers and running back David Lagou have stood out. “Both young guys pop out in my mind because they have really shown some speed,” he said.
Simon Fraser will kick off their season on Sat., Sept. 12, traveling to Western Oregon for a non-conference contest. The Clan plays at home on Sept. 19 at Swangard Stadium in an evening game, beginning at 6 pm.
