October 15, 2005

Acadia honours football greats

Acadia University celebrates 49 years of football history today by honouring its all-decade teams from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

The teams will be honoured during a special dinner in Wolfville, NS. Acadia's all-decade players helped the school earn regional and national titles that place Acadia amongst Canada's best football programs. Many Axemen greats enjoyed success in the CFL and all have led distinguished post-football careers.

Featured guests include:

Jim Durrell: Former Mayor of Ottawa, past president of the Ottawa Rough Riders, former Acadia Axemen.

Bob Vespaziani: Twenty-three years of CFL experience as a coach and executive officer, a former Acadia head coach and a member of the Acadia University Sports Hall of Fame.

John Huard: Two time all-American with the University of Maine, linebacker with the Montreal Alouettes and a former Acadia University head coach (Vanier Cup champions 1979 and 1981). He also coached the Toronto Argonauts in 2000.

Bob Cameron: Eighteen-year CFL veteran with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the 1977 Hec Creighton award winner with Acadia University, twice inducted into the Acadia University Sports Hall of Fame as a team member and as an athlete.

Paul Masotti: Former Toronto Argonaut, the team's all-time leading receiver and a three time Grey Cup champion. A former Acadia Axeman – all-Canadian in 1987 and all-conference in 1985 and 1987.

Larry Jusdanis: A former Acadia Axeman – first team All-Canadian, leading passer in Atlantic University Sport history and third in Canadian Interuniversity Sport history.

The following players are members of Acadia's all-decade teams:

The 1960s The 1970s The 1980s The 1990s
Offensive Line:
OL – Brian Barr
(1965)
OL – Dave Niznik
(1964)
OL – Bill Primmerman
(1972)
OL – Bill Smith
(1968)
OL – Jim Guimond
(1968)
Offensive Backfield:
QB – Gary Merrill
(1964)
TB – Ross Stanley
(1969)
FB – George Metzger
(1974)
Receivers:
WR – Joe Rindone
(1975)
WR – David Hirsch
(1969)
SB – Verne Ullrich
(1971)
TE – Ron Harrison
(1967)
Defensive Line:
DE – Bruce Galloway
(1968)
DT – Stu Ferry
(1968)
DT – Brock Fownes
(1969)
DE – Don Cameron
(1966)
Linebackers:
LB – Dave Ironsides
(1967)
LB – Roy Grant
(1968)
LB – John Faggiano
(1971)
Defensive Backs:
DB – Hans Strokan
(1972)
DB – Art Howard
(1970)
DB – Wally O'Meara
(1972)
DB – Warren Roy
(1968)
DB – Don Barrell
(Deceased) (1971)
Specialists:
Returner – Mike Roach
(1965)
Kicker – Nar Zanolin
(1973)

Offensive Line:
OL – Jack Hilton
(1976)
OL – Dale Tingley
(1976)
OL – Ian Crawford
(1974)
OL – Mark Moors
(1978)
OL – Bill Little
(Deceased) (1982)
Offensive Backfield:
QB – Bob Cameron
(1977)
TB – Cliff McLeod
(1976)
FB – Kevin Carson
(1978)
Receivers:
WR – Don Ross
(1980)
WR – Bob Stracina
(1978)
SB – Hubert Walsh
(1982)
TE – Drew Cooper
(1979)
Defensive Line:
DE – Marv Allemang
(1975)
DT – John Stevens
(1980)
DT – Terry Tapak
(1977)
DE – Andy Currie
(1976)
Linebackers:
LB – Ron Martin
(1980)
LB – Ed Gataveckas
(1980)
LB – Scott Baker
(1981)
Defensive Backs:
DB – Tony Jabar
(1978)
DB – Peter Limoges
(1975)
DB – Al Charuk
(1975)
DB – Cliff Steeves
(1977)
DB – Keith Skiffington
(1982)
Specialists:
Returner – Al Charuk
(1975)
Kicker – Bob Stracina
(1978)
Punter – Bob Cameron
(1977)

Offensive Line:
OL – Brad Tierney
(1988)
OL – Oral Sybblis
(1989)
OL – Mike Cox
(1982)
OL – Nader Haddad
(1983)
OL – Tony Munden
(1985)
Offensive Backfield:
QB – Steve Repic
(1981)
TB – Brian Walling
(1987)
FB – Larry Preistnall
(1987)
Receivers:
WR – Paul Masotti
(1988)
WR – Greg Bakeeff
(1989)
SB – Paul Hitchcock
(1990)
TE – Don Clow
(1983)
Defensive Line:
DE – Al Hartley
(1988)
DT – Scott Nicholson
(1989)
DT – Ernesto Salamone
(1984)
DE – Chris Rhora
(1984)
Linebackers:
LB – Paul Wetmore
(1989)
LB – Gar Dickinson
(1985)
LB – Stuart MacLean
(1983)
Defensive Backs:
DB – Ron Meech
(1984)
DB – Derrick Provo
(1988)
DB- Dan Murphy
(1991)
DB – Steve Crane
(1986)
DB – Chuck Wust
(1988)
DB – Dave McDowell
(1987)
Specialists:
Returner – Chuck Wust
(1988)
Kicker – Bruce Tufts
(1982)
Offensive Line:
OL – Trenten Simmonds
(2004)
OL – Danny Frame
(2000)
OL – Brent Weir
(1999)
OL – Paul Barkley
(1993)
OL – Bruce Beaton
(1992)
Offensive Backfield:
QB – Larry Jusdanis
(1995)
RB – Kyle Zurba
(2002)
RB – Paul Donkersley
(1998)
Receivers:
WR – Aubrey Cummings
(2001)
WR – Steve McLaughlin
(1996)
SB – Lee Barette
(1996)
SB – Grant Davy
(1996)
Defensive Line:
DE – Josh Thomas
(2001)
DT – John Horning
(1997)
DT – Richard Savoie
(1999)
DE – Karim Grant
(2002)
Linebackers:
LB – Al Wetmore
(1998)
LB – Matt Malowney
(1995)
LB – David Carrington
(2002)
Defensive Backs:
DB – Jermaine Romans
(2002)
DB – Jeff Brown
(1998)
DB – Ryan Carey
(2004)
DB – Mark Taylor
(1999)
DB – Nick Richards
(1993)
Specialists:
Returner – Jason Williams
(1998)
Kicker – Will Godfrey
(1997)