Annual Predictions

Annual predictions below….

The “V” Line

Two 11-0 powerhouse teams face off in a battle between the #1 (Rouge et Or = 9 Cups) and #2 (Mustangs =7 Cups) clubs with the most Vanier Cup titles.

It's the third time they have played for the title, with Laval winning in 2008 and Western winning last year. Both of those games were in Hamilton so this year’s venue is guaranteed to be better.

The player to watch is Hugo Richard the Laval QB. He's got a pro level arm, a whole squadron of quality receivers and home field advantage.

The game will be tight, but it says here that the Quebec champs win by 3 in front of 16,500 fans.

Laval 28 Western 25

“G” – Line

I think we are going to see a good first half but with slower on scoring…. with a “feeling out process” between the 2 Goliaths getting acclimatized to the field and weather. I think it could be close at the half but ultimately Laval will pull away and have a comfortable margin….here’s why;

Although Western is very strong they are at a huge disadvantage at this field. Laval has never lost a Championship game at home and the crowd is going to be rabid. They also lost to the ‘Stangs last year and want revenge. One thing I can guarantee is that Laval’s stiff and aggressive defense (only allowing single digits point against in last 3 games) is coming after the Western QB. He left the game twice last week (but back came in the game) vs. Sask. And they know this well. There were holes in the Western O-Line that resulted in him taking hits… and I know Laval’s D will be smelling blood and come after him early and frequently. I think there is a good chance he will get knocked out of this game as he is already not 100%

With  a strong 2^nd half surge Rouge et Or take advantage of the good weather, home cooking and impose their will.  Laval ends up steamrolling Western

Laval 34  Western 17

Fir Sure list

Here is this year's Fir Sure list.

1. Adam "V" (Vanier Cup COO and Vanier attendance Ironman record holder)
2. "Jrock" (Vanier Cup VP Marketing and Crochet)
3. "Grimo" 
4. "Kenny G" (Vanier Cup CEO)
5. Spencer "Sugar Daddy" (Vanier Cup CFO)
6. "Big D" (Vanier Cup VP Food and Entertainment)
7.  "Towny or 'round the world, hold the fish" 
8. "Van-Van" 
9. "Sharpy" 
10. "Kinger" 
11. "Chad-Rad" 
12. "Dickster" 
13. "Bert" (Eastern Ont. Exec Rep)
14. "King Richard"   Dropped out late unfortunately due to the death in the family
15. "Commander" (Western Exec Rep)
16. "Marky Mark" 
17. "Robert Loggia" (Maritime Exec Rep)
18. "Garts"           (ROOKIE)
19. "Chewie” (ROOKIE)
20. "Red Lights" (ROOKIE)
21. "Julian" (ROOKIE)
22. "Rhino" (ROOKIE) *** Named Rookie of the Year
23. "Big Al " (ROOKIE)
24. "Scum-Bag" (ROOKIE) 

Vanier Eve message from Kenny

Hi Lads,

I wanted to send one final email with reminders/deets prior to leaving on our adventure. It should be a great weekend. Please let me know if you have any questions ! See you tomorrow AM!

• please be on time at The Gourmet restaurant tomorrow AM. Loading up bus at 9:30
• definitely bring pints for the bus but we will stop for lunch and buy Quebexican pints on the way there so you can stock up for weekend
• speaking of pints on the bus… it can be touchy till we feel out the driver, so let’s have fun but be gentlemen and respect the drive and bus. I will have garbage bags to we can keep it tidy
• dress warm for the game… don’t wear shoes! (Berty). Weather should be pretty good, partly sunny between -2 and -8 but a slight wind
• use the buddy system and when blamed for anything at the game… shrug and say it was a different Santa
• swim suit for hot tub… no Borats!
• Please review prior to crossing border; https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/canada/quebec/articles/13-quebecois-swear-words-that-confuse-the-french/
• Santa suit and festive gear
• ROOKIES - be prepared to do a brief intro tomorrow. 30-60 seconds on “Who are you, and what do you bring to the table?” ie. Special talents/stupid human tricks etc.
• rest your livers tonight

12 days of Vanier

On the first day of Vanier, my true love gave to me…. A wine fridge in a pear tree

On the 2nd day of Vanier, my true love gave to me…. 2 purple pimps

On the 3rd day of Vanier, my true love gave to me......3 French hens

On the 4th day of Vanier, my true love gave to me......4 Peres Noels thieving

On the 5th day of Vanier, my true love gave to me......5 Santas posing

On the 6th day of Vanier, my true love gave to me......6 peeps a Grapesing

On the 7th day of Vanier, my true love gave to me....7 guys a drinking

On the 8th day of Vanier, my true love gave to me....8 Santas cheering

On the 9th day of Vanier, my true love gave to me....9 celebrity sightings

 Miss Canada 2003

 Terry Greer

 Dave Dickenson

 Ricky Ray

 Itty Bitty Mike Pinball Clemons

 Right Honourable Jean Chretien

 Captain Laval

 Alan Doyle

Damon Allen

On the 10th day of Vanier, my true love gave to me....10 Santas hosting

On the 11th day of Vanier my true love gave to me....11 Santas creeping

On the 12th day of Vanier, my true love game to me.....12 GOLDEN BEERS!

Vanier Cup Intinerary

Hey Lads,

A few peeps were asking me what the dealio is for departure and the weekend… for the veterans, it’s a similar routine but this year we get picked up right in CP … so we got that going for us…which is nice.

2018 VANIER CUP ITINERARY

Friday Nov 23

9:30                    meet at Gourmet Restaurant, Hwy 7, Carleton Place – Load Bus

9:40                    depart to Quebec City

9:41                    salutations

9:42                    commence cranial dehydration

11:00                  official rookie intro’s/ presentations

11:30- 12ish      stop for lunch somewhere en route

1:30-?                 Drinking, spinning of yarns, sharing of curds, multiple renditions of singing 99 bottles of beer on the wall, churlish behavior

4-ish                    Arrival at Hotel Chateau Laurier. Disembark/unload, check -in, go to rooms

4:30-6:20           Free time. Suggested activities include; wine machine, hot tub, combing your Santa beard, ironing slacks, flossing, practice Franglaise

6:21-6:40           primp and prepare for “Slack night”. Don your on finest Under Armour clothing and Brut 33

6:41-6:49           meet in Lobby, partake of wine machine, general banter

6:50                    depart for Restaurant Louis Hebert @ 668, Grande-Allée Est

7:00 – 9:30        Fine French Cuisine and spirits, general regalia

9:30-???             Spill into Grand-Allee and enjoy evening ** recommended at some point in weekend to partake late-night poutine at Chez Ashton @ 640 Grande Allée E **

Saturday Nov 24

5:00                    Curfew

8:00                    Arise

8:10                    Partake of Breakfast Caesars and/or Coffee w Baileys… BREAKFAST?

8:45                    prepare for Tailgate; gather gear, beer & cheer

8:55                    Santa’s suit up

9:05                    Meet in Lobby

9:15                    load bus and depart for Stade Peps

9:35                    arrive at Stade Peps, unload bus and setup tailgate

9:36                    The first shooter of Vanier

9:37 -12:40        General debauchery and tailgating activities

12:41                  Tidy up tailgate stuff and depart for Stadium

1:00                    kickoff

2:45-ish               Halftime Tailgate?

4:00                    return to tailgate spot and grab stuff, meet bus

4:20                    arrive at Hotel, disrobe, clean up

4:30                    Free time. Recommended activities include; shower, neatly fold Santa suit, hot tub, switch to white liquor

???-???               Head back out to enjoy Quebec City for round 2

Sunday, Nov 25

9:49 AM             curfew

9:50 AM             Be on bus or find alternative way home

Predictions aka “the V-Line”

Predictions:

Uteck Bowl - St Francis Xavier at Laval

Laval is 10-0 this season. They have been in seven of the last ten Vanier Cups, and have won the title nine times, the most in Canadian university football history. St F.X. is 8-2 and pulled off an upset to win the Atlantic conference. The last time the Xmen were in the Vanier was 1996, the second year of the Road Tour.

V-Line: Laval beats St FX by 48 points. No chance for the Atlantic Champs. This one will be over by half time and it won't be pretty.

Mitchell Bowl - Saskatchewan at Western

Western is also 10-0 this season. They had two close three-point games, but have generally been dominant, including beating York by 73 points. The Mustangs have the second most titles in history with seven, and their most recent was last year over the Rouge et Or.  Saskatchewan is 7-3, and after finishing third during the season pulled off two upset wins in the playoffs. The last time the Huskies were in the Vanier was 2006, when five hearty men from the Tour watched the game in -25C temperatures in Saskatoon.

V-Line: Western dominates the game both in the air and on the ground, and wins by 30.

Slack night confirmed!

The "SLACK NIGHT" group dinner reservation is confirmed at Louis-Hébert at 7 pm in a private salon for our group on Friday November 23!

14 sleeps newsletter

Good Day Lads,

Only 2 weeks / 14 sleeps till the trip… I can smell the poutine and the beer already! We have a great group of guys going this year and we are blessed with an excellent crop of 7 fresh rookies….the quest for the coveted “Rookie of the Year” title will be interesting! I will send out a roster closer to the date so you know who to keep an eye on for voting ; )

As for the actual football, we are down to the final 8 teams and there are some beauty matchups this weekend. Important to note that Laval is still in it. The tailgate and game will be great regardless, but Vanier Cup will go to “11” on the dial if Laval makes it in. Guelph beat Ottawa U in a thriller last week, so we have no “local” team as far as Eastern Ontario is concerned. The Gryphons will play Western this weekend and we all know that “Western SUCKS”. I am cheering for Guelph as my wife went to “U of Moo” as did 2018 Vanier rookie candidate (and my roommate this year),  Big Johnny. Just to clarify, he is not to be confused with this Johnny Lever ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Lever )

Big Johnny played for Guelph with famed CFL’er (and now coach) Mike O’Shea and Chuck Simms from Deep River. Interesting anecdote about Chuck… Spence and I played against him in HS. He was one heck of a football player and perhaps one of the least aesthetically pleasing people I have met. But I digress…

Other games are;
St. FX vs Saint Mary’s
Montreal vs Laval
Saskatchewan vs Calgary

I am working on final $$ for the bus and will get back to you soon with a final amount. Adam is going to order the game tickets this weekend, so I will send out a “housekeeping email” soon and to make it easy, we may just total both so you can send one E-transfer. Make sure you have your Santa suit! I will likely have the bus pick us up at the Gourmet restaurant parking lot… Maybe we can grab some breakfast (and a good base)  before for those who are interested…departure from there will be approx. 9:30.

In the meantime, if you want to back 10 years in the Vanier Cup Trip time machine, check out these links. Our 2008 Rookie of the year was Towny

http://vaniercup.blogspot.com/2008/11/

http://vaniercup.blogspot.com/2008/12/