Season
Summary
It is a very
rare occasion that the Senior Sabres are finished before the end of
October. In recent years, a cycle of disappointing years has
occurred on odd numbered years. Unfortunately, the Sabres will
have to wait until 2003 to try and break the trend. In the last
minute of the last game of 2001, a dropped pass in the endzone
and a subsequent missed field goal symbolized how the Senior Sabres
sputtered through the season. A season that saw an offensive
that could not score and defense that could not stop the dominant
teams in the league. The salt in the wounds was the fact that
the Sabres could only muster a single point against the two other
programs in Sherwood Park.
Losing big
is not a fun way to end the season, but as hard as the Sabres practiced,
it was never to be as the team did not have enough talented and or
passionate seniors that could have led the way. A quick analysis
of the graduating players leads to an obvious fact; very few of them
had minor football experience. In contrast, the stand-outs from
the 2000 Sabres and the 2001 Jordan and Facey teams were were also
stand-outs in the Bantam league. If nothing else, this
is a testament of the important role that Sherwood Park Minor Football
has in producing quality players in Strathcona County.
A key to the
return to success for the Sabres will be the addition of Salisbury's
very own fitness centre. Due to be completed early in 2002,
the facility will have state-of-the-art mechanical and free weight
equipment. The fitness centre will also employ a staff of professional
trainers and therapists. No longer will Sabre football
players have to get memberships at local gyms. They will be
able to work out during their spares, at lunch or after school under
the guidance of Salisbury's fitness trainers. This will also
mean no more excuses for not getting into the gym!
It's important
to reflect back on the 2001 season. Many lessons were learned,
and a great many young players that will return next year, managed
to get a taste of the level of competition in the Metro League.
Yes reflecting back on 2001 is important, but it's hard not to quickly
think of the future. The Sabres were humbled by two very good
football teams from Sherwood Park in 2001. The dominance of
junior football at Bev Facey was bound to translate into a winning
senior team sooner or later. The continued success of their
junior team in 2001 indicates that the Facey program has the depth
to continue to be a strong opponent for the foreseeable future.
Archbishop Jordan developed a good team for 2001 and proved that they
belonged in the Carr Conference in 2001. However, the history
of Jordan is one of a team that shies away from the Carr when they
lack a good batch of quality players moving through. It
is a fact that Jordan is a Tier 3 school by population, but so is
Raymond. The one thing the Sabre program has learned is that
school population is meaningless. Ardrossan probably has the
strongest team in the county this year, and they are Tier 4.
The Sabres could have played in Tier 2 in 2001 as Salisbury's population
dropped below the Tier 1 cut-off. However, the Sabres would
fold their program before dropping a tier. The Sabres humbly
respect the beating that Jordan handed them in 2001, but welcome them
to stay in the Carr Conference for good.
Looking ahead,
members of the very successful 1999 and 2000 Rams and Northstars are
poised to make the Sabres their team next year. Most of the
2001 Sabres' offense will return. There will only be the odd
additions of up-and-coming players from the Junior Sabres to the 2002
offense. Also, the veteran-to-be backfield will be playing behind
what will probably be the largest offensive line in the history of
the program with three of them having started in 2001. Defensively,
the Sabres lose some key veterans, but a handful of returning players
will mix well with some young, passionate ball players from the junior
team. The staff is already excited about getting started
next year!
The Sabre
Program will be supporting the other Strathcona County teams as they
progress through the playoffs and into provincial play. Tiers
1, 3 and 4 will all be represented by teams from the county.
The Sabres wish them success in representing our local football excellence.
