The Laval University Rouge et Or players interviewed believe that the private meeting, which took place on Tuesday without a coach, was beneficial.
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At the end of Saturday’s embarrassing 28-0 loss to the University of Montreal Carabins at CEPSUM, the veterans immediately felt the need to come together for a face-to-face conversation.
“It was absolutely necessary to only meet between players,” emphasized long-distance throw specialist and co-captain Ian Leroux. You have to go back to basics and pay attention to details. There was no complacency, but we took certain things for granted.”
“Because it has always been done this way in Laval, we have taken for granted certain things that seemed trivial but make a difference,” adds fourth-year scavenger Félix Petit. Details like keeping our locker room clean and wearing knee pads. Our performance was inadequate and did not meet Laval’s standards.”
Positive changes
The two veterans assure that they felt a difference when they returned to training on Wednesday evening. “The energy and the flame were back,” Leroux said. After a defeat like that we could have crashed, but that wasn’t the case.
“I saw a difference in training on Wednesday,” Petit added. The boys were smiling, everyone was shouting and there was a good atmosphere. We’re starting to have fun again.”
One question was on everyone’s lips. “We remembered why we played football and why we put in all this effort in the offseason,” Leroux said. We must all strive in the same direction to achieve the ultimate goal, which is to win at all costs.”
Petit believes the Rouge et Or can emerge stronger from this crushing defeat. “We can use this defeat as a lesson that would not have been possible after a setback in the Dunsmore Cup. I am still convinced that we have what it takes to win.
Do these meetings between players happen often? “Considering that our cohort is not the most victorious in the history of the team, this is not the first time that such a meeting has taken place,” Leroux emphasized half-heartedly. 2021 was a difficult season and we learned from it. In 2021 we would have liked more experienced guys to take the lead.”
Justin Cloutier, who was recruited at Rouge et Or, also believes that this meeting was necessary. “Some guys have more experience and the younger guys let them talk because they had more to say,” the linebacker said. This meeting was really important for the future of the season. The defeat against Montreal hurt, but we have to move forward.
“A great example of leadership”
Glen Constantin was very happy with this initiative from the players. “It’s a great example of leadership,” said the Rouge et Or pilot, who learned of the meeting through his partner who read the text of the journal. We have a good group of veterans and it is good for the players to take responsibility for the team.”
When the players met within their own four walls, there were also good conversations among the coaches. “Before the game we told the boys that we would come to Montreal with no pressure and that we had everything to win and nothing to lose, but the message was perhaps lost,” Constantin said. Do the boys understand that we’re going to Montreal to have fun?”