KVHS rebuilding project right on track with former CFLer
Published Saturday September 6th, 2008
SAINT JOHN - With a 31-0 lead and just 1:05 remaining in the game, the Kennebecasis Valley Crusaders were well on their way to a pre-season high school football win over the Harbour View Vikings Friday night at Millidgeville Field.
And although the outcome was all but official, Crusaders head coach Eugene Belliveau continued to work with players on the sidelines, explaining what they did well and what could have been done better.
When the contest was over, the celebration was brief. Belliveau told his squad there would be a post-game prayer with Harbour View players. After that, there would be a brief team meeting. The Crusaders appear to have a balance between having fun and maintaining a business-like approach.
The turnaround is impressive considering the KVHS team folded two games into last season. But with the help of a new coaching staff and the players' unbridled enthusiasm, Belliveau has breathed new life into the program.
"We're on a journey,'' said Belliveau, who played 10 seasons as a defensive lineman in the Canadian Football League with Montreal and Calgary. "We started two weeks ago.
"We cleaned out our old locker room and repainted it, and KV pride is coming back. It's a symbol that we're here to stay. We lost our team last year and we're rebuilding.''
That process started shortly after the program died last year. Belliveau arrived on the scene and started looking forward instead of lamenting about the past.
"At the end of the season, I held some meetings in the school with the players and talked about the tradition that KV had and how it was almost embarrassing to lose the team,'' the coach said. "Amongst themselves, they built up the spirit and they started pulling each other to meetings.''
The Crusaders are in a tough division with Fredericton High School, Leo Hayes, Oromocto, Hampton and Sussex. Friday night, however, the only thing that mattered was that KV was on the field in their royal blue jerseys and silver helmets, making a statement that the program is healthy again. The Crusaders' other pre-season action was an 18-0 scrimmage win over the Rothesay High Red Hawks.
"It's all about pride, it's about conditioning, it's about having fun,'' Belliveau said. "It's always a team effort and we're not relying on just one person.
"We're spreading the ball around to everybody, and everybody is getting a chance to do their thing. They're playing excellent as a team right now. I'm very pleased.''
As a former CFLer, Belliveau brings instant credibility. The native of Clark City, Que., is also a constable with the Rothesay Police Force, as are assistant coaches Shawn Coughlan, Jason Murray, Matt Marsh and Aaron Haynes. Two other assistants - Chika Ikejiani and Jeff Wilson - are both auxiliary police officers. Deputy chief Steve Palmer is the parent-player coordinator.
"The kids are taking us very seriously,'' said Belliveau. "We have a good sense of humour, but I think we're getting a lot of respect and a lot of rapport with these kids.
"It's community policing. We're teaching the kids discipline, athletic skills, confidence building and self-esteem building. I think the parents will come to realize we're molding a really good bunch of guys here.''
While Belliveau realizes KVHS is in a competitive conference, he's excited about the team's potential.
"If we keep improving every week, we might surprise some people this year,'' he said. "We're extremely pleased with the talent we have.''
The Crusaders open the regular season a week from today in Oromocto at 1 p.m. In Friday night's win, touchdowns came from Nick Sipprell, Mike Roy, Matt Rogers and Chris Landers. Ben Young booted a field goal and chipped in with a point-after. The rest of the offence came courtesy of a touchback and a point-after from Nathan Edwards.
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