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June 1, 2008
...................................Huskies
Rebuilding
.......................................................................by
JASON HILLS, SUN MEDIA
Dalton Smarsh couldn't care less about what happened
the past two years with the Edmonton Huskies, but he realizes
that the next two years could be pivotal for the Huskies
organization.
The new head coach is looking
to build a new attitude after going through two tough seasons
on the heels of back-to-back national championships.
"We are recruiting
any kid that wants to play for the Edmonton Huskies and
we've put a huge emphasis on that this year," Smarsh
said yesterday as the Huskies went through their second
day of spring camp.
"We all dream of winning
a national championship, but the reality is if we don't
do a good job of recruiting this year and next year, and
even harder the year after, we won't get back to where we
were a few years ago.
"Ultimately we believe
we will be a Canadian champion again ... it will just take
time."
The Huskies have just 20
returnees coming back for the 2008 season, and with over
100 other spring camp invites, this is one of the biggest
spring camps the Huskies have held in recent years.
"We are going to have
a lot of rookies on this team and this year more than ever
we are going to have to rely on our veteran players for
leadership," said Smarsh, who coached East Glen high
school the past seven years.
One of those veterans is
linebacker Korey Johnson, who is returning for his third
year with the Huskies.
"There are so many
new faces, but there is a lot of young talent that we can
build around," said Johnson.
There aren't just a lot
of new faces on the field, Smarsh has brought in an entirely
new coaching staff from the previous year, so the Huskies
will have to get used to a new system led by Smarsh.
After former head coach
Beau Mireau was let go after a disappointing 3-5 season,
many veterans were upset.
But Smarsh has made it
known, right from the opening huddle of spring camp, that
this is his team now.
"A lot of guys were
sulking about it, but you have got to remember that you
have to come back for all the players on this team,"
said Johnson.
"Once they realized
what our new coaching staff is all about, the guys wanted
to come back.
"These guys have a
lot of experience and they can teach a lot of stuff we haven't
learned."
Smarsh believes his linebacking
core will be the team's biggest strength.
That's the area where the
Huskies can draw the most experience.
"Offensively, we are
going to have a lot of changes, not necessarily structure-wise,
but I think early on in the season, our defence will be
able to keep us in games, while our offence gets together,"
said Smarsh.
The Huskies biggest asset
last year offensively was their receiving corps.
They have four returning
in their receiving corps and they have some high end talent
out of high school that includes standout receiver Eric
Shuitt, who played last year for the Fort Saskatchewan Sting.
"I worked hard in
the off season and I really want the chance to play junior,"
said Shuitt.
"We have a lot of
talented receivers (on the team) and I just want to be able
to find my spot on the team. It's been a big goal of mine
to play football at the next level."
Ryan Meraw is in his final
year with the Huskies. He has won one national title as
part of the Huskies and has spent the past two years as
one of the Huskies biggest threats in the receiving corps.
He knows that the Huskies
are quite likely not considered a national championship
contender this year with so many fresh faces and rookies
that are wet behind the ears, but he poses it as a challenge
to help set a structure for the Huskies in the future.
"There aren't many
people out there that are giving us a chance and I have
heard it all about how we are going to do this year, but
I honestly think we'll surprise some people."
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