April 6, 2006 Source: :
http://www.therecord.com/links/links_0604039406.html 1,500 gather to celebrate Hawks national football championship WATERLOO -- The 142 people needed to bring Wilfrid Laurier University its second national football championship assembled to reprise their roles as 2005 Vanier Cup champs one last time on Saturday. WLU's administration, the City of Waterloo and about 1,500 of the team's closest friends rolled out the red carpet as Laurier honoured its reigning gridiron kings with a ring ceremony in their gymnasium. "We now have a symbol of our accomplishment," Golden Hawks head coach Gary Jeffries told his championship squad and the team behind the team. "I can guarantee every time I look at this ring, I'll see each and every one of you," he said to the Hawks' dress roster, scout team, coaching and support staff, each of whom received a clunky, portable trophy. The 10-karat gold baubles were customized for each recipient. They feature the Golden Hawk logo, a name plate, jersey number (if applicable), the team's 2005 won-lost record (12-0), 24 diamond-like zircon chips in recognition for each point Laurier scored in the championship game and the inscription: Mission Accomplished. Roughly the size of a wristwatch face, inconspicuous they are not. The rings even came in "his" and "hers" models. The latter were presented to a handful of female trainers and to Laurier's beaming athletics department secretary Agnes Pitsch. The price tag for each jumbo ornament? Seven hundred smackers. Big and beautiful. But they aren't too showy for the Hawks, many of whom said they intend to wear their keepsakes, which were paid for by the team's fundraising efforts. "I wouldn't mind looking down at my hand every day to be reminded of a national championship," said graduating kicker Brian Devlin, who sent the Vanier Cup-winning field goal through the uprights with 19 seconds on the clock as his underdog Hawks notched a 24-23 come-from-behind win over the Saskatchewan Huskies on Dec. 3. Four months seems like a long time ago, especially when awaiting those rings. "It's always great when you can throw another party for it (their championship)," said Hawks all-Canadian defensive end Brandon Keks. "The last couple of months have been busy for a lot of players,'' he said. "It's been training, rehabbing old injuries and just trying to get ready for next season. We've been grounded a bit the past few months. But days like today, we fly high." Kitchener Eastwood graduate and Hawks linebacker Jesse Alexander said anytime he can get together with so many of his best buddies, it's a good day. "We are all best friends on this team. I think that helped to determine how well we do as a group," said Alexander, 24, who will likely be the first Hawk selected in the 2006 Canadian Football League's college draft on April 20. Alexander who was invited to a recent CFL combine in Oakville along with his draft-eligible teammates, running back Nick Cameron, offensive tackle Kyle Weston and receiver/defensive back Joel Wright, has attracted attention from both the Edmonton Eskimos and the Toronto Argos. Devlin, meanwhile, has been added to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' negotiation list, though he has yet to be offered a training-camp tryout. The Sarnia product finished his storybook university career as Laurier's all-time leading scorer and now plans to begin a career in teaching. Devlin, 27, said he loved tugging his No. 18 jersey over his head one last time Saturday. "It's a perfect way to end my career. I'll miss it, but I'm ready to move on." Time, too, for the rest of the Hawks to turn the page. "Obviously this day is very special," Jeffries said. "But it's time to put it to bed. Our thoughts really are of '06. That's the way it has to be." crivet@therecord.com
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