Much has changed for the Carleton University varsity football team since the end of last season. Former McMaster University offensive coordinator Corey Grant replaced last season’s head coach Steve Sumarah, and a few Ravens players have left the team to continue their careers in the CFL.
However, the Ravens plan on using the recent changes as a force for success after a tough year.
“We take things one day at a time,” Grant said. “If you keep winning every day, every hour, that adds up and things turn out the way they’re supposed to.”
Grant’s “marathon-not-sprint” mindset requires everyone involved in the Ravens’ upcoming season to be disciplined. The players and coaches have to build good habits and work hard both on and off the field.
“My expectation is to put together a quality team of players and coaches that work extremely hard,” Grant said. “Our guys are working out, for those doing summer school we’re on them to make sure they’re doing the work.”
The work Grant expects from his players stretches beyond physical fitness, it expects the players to adopt new offensive tactics too. Quarterback Tristan Lefebvre said the offence has changed since Grant came in as head coach and requires more focus on fundamentals.
“In the winter, for a lot of these practices, we worked on the fundamentals, and after [Sumarah] left, the offence changed and we learned it bit by bit,” Lefebvre said.
According to him, current Ravens offensive coordinator Josh Sacobie was a major factor in changing offensive tactics. After Grant joined the team, he decided to keep the offensive fundamentals that Sacobie spearheads and build off it.
For Grant, the work the team does on the field is just as important as the work done off the field—preparing oneself for life outside of football.
“Change is inevitable in every aspect of life so learning to deal with those changes and adversity is something that prepares you for life beyond the field,” Grant said.
Grant said there is always room to improve. His motto reflects this sentiment: “There’s always something you can learn from someone else.”
He said his coaching philosophy is influenced by the lessons he learned from fellow coaches, his parents and his kids.
The upcoming season is fast approaching and activities are picking up for the team. Coaches expect players to be sharp and ready for day one.
“Training camp starts Aug. 13 and our first game is two weeks after that on the 27th so we have to be ready to take on McMaster,” Lefebvre said.
Featured image by Spencer Colby
