Big changes for the Bulldogs

The Northern Football Conference is gearing up for another full summer of football action with teams all over Ontario getting their pre-season training camps underway. The NFC this year is very different from the NFC of the last 30 or so years with many changes to the teams in the league.

As of 2007 five different clubs have won the NFC Championship in the last 5 years. The league did not entertain any expansion for 2008, so the league remains 11 teams strong. The Toronto Raiders, the Toronto Maddogs, the Sudbury Spartans, the Tri-City Outlaws and Sarnia Imperials will all be operating under new head coaches for 2008.

“All these coaching changes should produce some significant changes in offense and defense systems across the league this year,” said Dogs Head Coach Marc Mathon.

There seems to be a feeling around the league that any team in the league is capable of winning the Championship and it’s likely that the club that is prepared to do the work will win it. There has been significant player movement again this year, mostly in the south, as some clubs improved their roster talent and others lost some ground. As for the Bulldogs, there will be some changes this year at a few positions including the Defensive Line, linebacker and in the offensive backfield.

On the D-Line, long time anchor and league all-star Mike Gauthier will be taking the season off to continue his rehabilitation of an Achilles tendon injury he suffered in 2007.

“His shoes will be big ones to fill and we will miss him this year, but we do have a number of young players looking for the opportunity to play,” explained Coach Mathon.

In the defensive backfield longtime NFC veteran Chris Bowes retired, so there should be some healthy competition for the positions in the defensive backfield.

“It appears that our veteran linebacking corps will be intact with long time veteran and NFC All-Star linebacker Randy Nodder returning for 2008. There is a chance we might have to fill a couple of voids, but we’ll see in the coming weeks,” coach Mathon said.

Offensively the Dogs are looking to develop a quarterback as Jason Ferriera is likely not returning for the 2008 season. Newcomer Zach Moreau from Widdifield will join Matt Gordon and Dave Wilson in the offensive backfield all of which have QB experience.

“We’ve planned an offensive system that will see each of those players working in at the QB spot. With so many talented players in the offensive backfield, the QB position will be another way of getting the ball into the hands of our play-makers,” said Mathon.

"Matt Gordon, Dave Wilson, Andre Landry, Sterling Bilz are all veteran receivers who can throw the ball. “At this time we are looking for some healthy competition for the position of QB during the training camp," he adds.

The O-Line will be the strength of the offense as many veterans are returning and will be adding some young talent, including Ottawa Gee Gees Jean-Luc Roy and Laurier Golden Hawks A.J. Wendover. Veteran guards Jason Partridge will make the move from player to O-Line coach for 2008.

The Bulldogs are maintaining their junior Dogs program for high school football players interested in practicing with the Bulldogs during the summer at a reduced fee or $50, may come out as well. The Bulldogs Junior Program gets the young player good coaching and gets players to learn the techniques needed to play at a higher level.

“It’s like being in a summer long football camp…and we often get them into games depending on their readiness,” said Mathon.

Training camp opens this Saturday with a practice for all new first year players from noon to 2 pm at Chippewa Secondary School’s football field and the whole team joins together on Sunday May 4th at noon as well.

Anyone interested in further information can contact coach Mathon at 744-1618.

The Bulldogs’ home opener is on June 7th at Rolly Fisher Football field as they host the Sarnia Imperials.