OTTAWA - The new-look uOttawa Gee-Gees expect up to 116 student-athletes with high hopes of making the cut when the team's 108th training camp opens Monday next week.

Twice daily on-field sessions begin with a bumper crop of transfers and first-year recruits August 18 before the first all-team workouts start Tuesday, August 19 and continue through Sunday August 31 at the Sports Complex (801 King Edward Avenue).

Final cuts will be made following the afternoon session on Thursday, August 21.

A media conference introducing the 2008 Gee-Gees football team will be held Friday, August 22, 1:00 p.m. in the Gallery on the second floor of the Sports Complex.

Six-foot-four senior quarterback Josh Sacobie is within passing distance of the CIS all-time records for career yards and touchdowns as he headlines 60 returning players, including 10 starters on both offence and defence.

The 24-year-old drop-back passer, who is 28-10 as a four-year starter with the Gee-Gees, enters his fifth and final university season 2,261 yards and 25 passing scores shy of breaking the Canadian Interuniversity Sport record for all-time passing yards and career touchdown passes.

Sacobie, the Gee-Gees all-time passing leader from the St. Mary's First Nation near Fredericton, has 7,714 yards and 63 career scores but may see a spike in his numbers with the addition of fifth-year receiver Ivan Birungi, a six-foot-four former two-time AUS player of the year with Acadia who holds the school and conference records for all-time touchdown passes with 29.

Gee-Gees head coach Denis Piche prepares for his seventh season one win shy of 40 victories overall and six back of 40 OUA regular season wins.

A former Gee-Gees starting receiver (1987-1990), Piche is looking to avenge a 23-16 home playoff loss to Ontario champion and Vanier Cup finalist Western Ontario last season for a sour finish off an undefeated (8-0) regular season for the seventh time since 1960.

"Let's get after it," said Piche. "There is the potential for something crazy this season."

uOttawa hosts Bishop's in a pre-season contest at Frank Clair Stadium Sunday, August 24, at 1:00 p.m.

The Gee-Gees open the eight-game regular season at Western Ontario Monday, September 1, 7:00 p.m. before hosting York in their 2008 home opener Saturday, September 6, 1:00 p.m. at Frank Clair Stadium.

uOttawa's first football season was 1881 but the team did not play over 13 years surrounding the First World War, missed five years during the Second World War and did not compete in either 1929 or 1930.


2008 uOTTAWA GEE-GEES FOOTBALL

TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE:

August 18: (rookies) 10:30-12:30; 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Veterans testing in the end-zones.

August 19: 10:30 - 12:30 p.m.; 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

August 20: 10:30 - 12:30 p.m.; 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

August 21: 10:30 - 12:30 p.m.; 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

August 22: 10:30 - 12:30 p.m.; 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

August 23: 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. (special teams)

August 24: PRE-SEASON vs. Bishop's at Frank Clair Stadium, 1:00 p.m.

August 25: 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

August 26: 10:30 - 12:30 p.m.; 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

August 27: 10:30 - 12:30 p.m.; 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

August 28: 10:30 - 12:00 p.m.

August 29: 10:30 - 12:30 p.m.; 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

August 30: 10:30 - 12:30 p.m.

August 31: 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. - Leave for London and OUA season-opener



GEE-GEES FOOTBALL IN-SEASON PRACTICE SCHEDULE:

Monday: off

Tuesday: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday -Thursday: 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Friday: home games 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.; away games 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Sundays: Meetings and film


Source:

Dan Carle
Coordonnateur des informations sportives /
Sport Information Coordinator
Service des sports de l'Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa Sports Services