The Université de Montréal Carabins continued their celebration of their Vanier Cup victory on Wednesday with a stop at City Hall.
The champions met with Mayor Valérie Plante and signed the city’s guest book.
Head coach Marco Iadeluca was born in the metropolis of Quebec and has always lived there.
“As a Montrealer, it’s really special to be recognized by your hometown,” he said. Our players really enjoy it. When you make the jump to college football, imagine yourself winning. When it happens, it’s huge.”
Photo credit: Courtesy of University of Montreal Carabins
CEPSUM’s general director, Manon Simard, also visited the town hall in 2014 during the Blues’ first coronation. The woman who has been at the heart of the Carabins’ revival and development since 1995 gave an interesting reflection on the importance of this second national championship for the football team.
“This victory represents something different. The first one showed that we had climbed the mountain. This confirms that we are well anchored at the top of the mountain.”
Smile and nightclub
Defender Kaylyn St-Cyr was selected to speak on stage on behalf of her teammates.
“It touches me to have been selected,” he said. I was one of the leaders of this team all year long. This closes the circle. It is an honor to represent my teammates at City Hall.”
Photo credit: Courtesy of University of Montreal Carabins
However, this is not the moment alongside Mayor Plante that has had the most impact on St-Cyr since her family’s coronation. After returning to Quebec on Saturday evening, the Carabins pulled out the big trophy at a nightclub. It wasn’t until between two dance steps that the veteran realized the significance of what he and his teammates had just accomplished.
“When we were at the club, I had tears in my eyes,” remembers the likeable athlete. I was a little high. I looked at everyone and saw smiles on everyone’s faces. It came for me. At that moment I realized we had achieved our goal.”
Place to learn
The celebrations for the Blues are soon coming to an end. The coaches already have their nose in recruiting. For student-athletes, it’s a different story.
Unlike the Alouettes players, who only have to celebrate their championship in the coming weeks, the Carabins footballers have to return to school. Work submissions and final exams await you.
“The biggest challenge for our program right now is not preparing for next season. It was more like school, Ms. Simard said. If you make it to the end, you will play soccer at the end of the unit. Some of our young people have fallen behind.”
“They want to party and are in demand everywhere. However, they have to concentrate on school. It’s difficult after experiencing all these emotions. If they want to experience this again next year, they must successfully complete their studies. That’s the goal right now.”
Courtesy of University of Montreal Carabiners
This is the reality for student-athletes who, remember, are not paid for the long hours of hard work they put in on the field and in the gym.
“I often tell them they impress me,” Iadeluca said. There are people who study medicine, others get a university degree. You are at Polytechnique, HEC, Law, Pharmacy or Physiotherapy. These are extremely demanding programs. To be able to combine that with all the workload of football is really extraordinary.”