Mount Allison Mounties

Mt. A Mounties
University	Mount Allison University
Association	Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Conference	Atlantic University Sport
Athletics director
Location	Sackville, New Brunswick
Varsity teams
Football stadium	MacAulay Field
Arena	Tantramar Veterans Memorial Civic Centre
Mascot	Duck
Nickname
Colours	Garnet and Gold
Website	Official Athletics Page

The Mount Allison Mounties is the name given to varsity athletic teams that represent Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada.

The Mounties sports teams play their matches at MacAuley field which seats 2,500.^[1][2]

Athletics & Recreations

The Mount Allison University Athletics & Recreation is led by Pierre Arsenault.

Arsenault came to Mount Allison from the New Brunswick Golf Association, where he served as Executive Director for seven years. Prior to this, Arsenault worked with Hockey Canada’s Atlantic Centre of Excellence, the Saskatchewan Hockey Association, and with the University of Ottawa’s Gee-Gees Varsity Hockey Team. He holds a Bachelor of Physical Education (concentration in sports administration) from the University of New Brunswick and a Master’s degree in sport administration from the University of Ottawa.^[3]

Varsity teams

Mount Allison Mounties teams compete in:

• Badminton (m/w)
• Basketball (m/w)
• Football (m)
• Ice Hockey (w)
• Soccer (m/w)
• Swimming (m/w)
• Volleyball (w)

Varsity Head Coaches

• Badminton - N/A
• Women's Basketball - Matt Gamblin (2013-present)
• Men's Basketball - Duane Starratt (2012-present)
• Football - Kelly Jeffrey (2008-present)
• Women's Hockey - Zach Ball (2009-present)
• Women's Soccer - Kevin Johnson (2013-present)
• Men's Soccer - Roy Chineh (2011-present)
• Swimming - John Peters (1992-present)
• Women's Volleyball - Paul Settle (2013-present)

Logo

In the 1970s, Garney Henley, a former Canadian Football League player with the Hamilton T-Cats, became Athletics Director at Mount Allison and changed the logo from the "Double-Winged" A to the famous "Flying A" which remained the Mounties' logo until 2011. The Flying A became synonymous with Mounties athletics, and was arguably the most recognizable aspect of the department and the University.

In 2011, the University's administration undertook a re-branding initiative that would be campus-wide, stretching into the athletics department as well. Adopting a new, more modern look became the goal, and thus the current logo with an "A" adorned with a flame/torch was born. Taken from the University's crest, the flame, which also forms a stylized "A", along with the slanted font spelling "MOUNTIES" below the logo became the new look for the Mounties. Along with a new partnership with popular brand UnderArmour, it introduced the Mounties to the 21st century, and spearheaded by Athletics Director Pierre Arsenault became the one identity among all of the Mounties' varsity sports teams.

During the 2012 AUS Women's Hockey Playoffs, a new movement emerged on the Social Media website Twitter, when it is believed the phrase #MountiePride was first used in a popular fashion. Since then, the movement has leaped to new heights, and is now considered to be a part of this new identity, and a trademark of the Mounties teams.

In July 2013, the Football Mounties introduced two new helmet decals, one the word "PRIDE", proving the heights that the #MountiePride has reached, and the other an adaptation of the new torch logo. Done with the decal style of the Philadelphia Eagles in mind, the torch goes from the front of the helmet along the side reaching towards the back. The new decals, along with an official introduction of their new UnderArmour jerseys and their all-Schutt helmets, were introduced in a video entitled "New Age", which was the first video of its kind to be made by a CIS team. The video and introduction can be found here: http://mtamountiefootball.blog.com/2013/07/25/mounties-unveil-new-age-helmet-designs/

Mounties Football

Mount Allison Mounties
First season	1955
Athletic director	Pierre Arsenault
Head coach	Kelly Jeffrey
	5th year, 9–31–0  (.225)
Other staff	Scott Brady (DC) Pete Miller (Linebackers) Justin Richard (Defensive Line) Bradley Daye (Cornerbacks) Gaetan Richard (Offensive Line) Gord Francis (Running Backs) Brandon Dubs (Receivers) Aaron Harper (Fullbacks/Tight Ends)
Home stadium	MacAulay Field
Stadium capacity	2500
Stadium surface	Grass
Location	Sackville, New Brunswick
League	CIS
Conference	AUS (1955 - present)
Past associations	AUAA (1974-1998)
All-time record	142–180–0 (.441)
Postseason record	–
Vanier Cups	0
Atlantic Bowl Championships	2 1984, 1991
Jewett Trophies	4 1984, 1985, 1991, 1997
Hec Crighton winners	2 Éric Lapointe (2)
Colours	Garnet and Gold
Website	athletics.mta.ca

The Mount Allison Mounties football program is in its 57th year of active competition as of the 2012 CIS football season.^[4] The team has twice appeared in the Vanier Cup, once in 1984, and again in 1991, losing both times. Recently, the Mounties have made the playoffs three times in the past five years (2007, 2008 & 2010). The Mounties finished second in the AUS conference in 2010 and hosted their first home playoff game (conference semi-finals) since the new millennium.^[5]

Recent regular season results

Recent Playoff Results

• 2006 Lost to Acadia Axemen in semi-final 16-6
• 2007 Out of playoffs
• 2008 Lost to St. Francis Xavier X-Men in semi-final 52-12
• 2009 Out of playoffs
• 2010 Lost to Acadia Axemen in semi-final 22-14 (5OT)
• 2011 Out of playoffs
• 2012 Lost to Saint Mary's Huskies in semi-final 49-11
• 2013 Defeated Saint Mary's Huskies in Loney Bowl 20-17

Mounties in the CFL

As of the start of the 2013 CFL season, two former Mounties players are on CFL teams' rosters:

• Akwasi Antwi, Toronto Argonauts
• Mike Filer, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Mounties Football Coaching Staff

The Mount Allison Mounties Football team is led by head coach Kelly Jeffrey.

Jeffrey came to Mount Allison after being the head coach and offensive co-ordinator at Mayville State University (MSU) in North Dakota for four years (2002–2005). During those four seasons his team set numerous offensive records for most yards per game and total yards in a season, and he coached the all-time single season record holders for individual rushing, receiving, completions, and passing yards. Overall the school set nine offensive records while producing five Don Hanson All-Americans.^[6]

Before MSU in 2001, Jeffrey coached quarterbacks at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and at the University of San Diego (1998–2000) where he trained three all-conference quarterbacks in his three seasons and coached the all-time leading passer in touchdowns, completions, and yardage. He also coached running backs at Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD (1996–1997) and wide receivers at North Dakota's Dickinson State University (1994–1995), a team that finished with a perfect 10-0 season in 1995, and were conference champions in both 1994 and 1995.^[6]

Jeffrey came to Mount Allison in 2006, and that season and 2007 coached quarterbacks in addition to his duties as Special Teams Coordinator. Both seasons, the Mounties boasted the best punt return average and all-purpose yards leader. In 2007 Gary Ross, under the coaching of Jeffrey, became the first player in CIS history to achieve the "Triple-600" feat: attaining over 600 yards in each of the following categories: receiving, punt return and kickoff return yards. After these two strong seasons the Mounties definitely had the reputation of being the most feared special teams unit in the country.

In June 2008, Jeffrey was named interim Head Coach for the 2008 season, and led the Mounties to a berth in the playoffs for only the second time in the new millennium. Jeffrey's special teams were outstanding again, and with the additional responsibilities of offensive coordinator, the passing game flourished under Jeffrey's tutelage, resulting in quarterback Kelly Hughes being named the AUS Most Valuable Player. After this season, Jeffrey was named full-time Head Coach.

2009 saw the Mounties go 0-8, but Ross was named AUS MVP, the first time since 1991 and 1992 (Grant Keaney) that Mounties were named MVPs in back-to-back years. 2010 was the resurgence of the Mounties, led by second-year quarterback Jake Hotchkiss, who that year became the second Mountie quarterback under Jeffrey to be named an AUS All-Star. The Mounties went 4-4 and hosted the AUS Semi-Final for the first time, and the first home playoff game since 1998. Jeffrey was named the AUS Coach Of the Year, the first Mountie to receive this honour since John MacNeil in 1996.

Another 0-8 season in 2011 was followed up by a successful 2012 which had the Mounties in the playoffs again, and boasted the AUS leading rusher (Jordan Botel) and the emergence of a new leader at quarterback, freshman Brandon Leyh. The 3-5 Mounties also experienced an offence without either Gary Ross or Adam Molnar, as this was the first season without one of the two star receivers in the lineup.

In December 2012, Jeffrey signed a four-year contract extension.

Top Athletes

Philippe Girard ('98) (Football) Girard was a force to be reckoned with defensively for the Mounties, patrolling the secondary from his defensive back position. A league All-Star and All-Canadian in 1996 and 1997, Girard was also a nominee for the President's Trophy as the country's Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 1997, winning the Atlantic Conference's honour in that category. The following spring, in the 1998 Canadian Footbal League's (CFL) Canadian College Draft, he became the highest-drafted Mountie ever, going in the first round 5th overall to the Edmonton Eskimos. He played there for several seasons before joining former Mountie teammate Eric Lapointe as a member of Montreal Alouettes, retiring as a member of the Alouettes.

Eric Lapointe ('00) (Football) represents more than just records and statistics, although he dominated both areas of the sport during his four years as a Mountie. He was looked to by his teammates for on-field and locker-room inspiration, and he did not disappoint. Drafted by the Edmonton Eskimos, Lapointe ended up with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1999 where he rushed for 691 yards during the season, helping his team to the Grey Cup in which he was the game's leading ground gainer. Traded to Toronto, he ultimately ended his career with his hometown Montreal Alouettes. In his final season he was the starting running back in the Grey Cup game. Eric retired with the Alouettes in 2006 after their Grey Cup loss to the BC Lions.^[7] In 2012 he was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame for his career as a Mountie.

Gary Ross ('11) (Football) The football team’s most valuable player in recent years, Ross had an unprecedented football season in 2009, breaking several school and conference records along the way. Leading the league in most of the special teams and receiving categories, the five-foot-nine Ross was selected as the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conference’s MVP and was a strong nominee for the nation’s most outstanding player award — the Hec Crighton Trophy. While he narrowly missed this honour he was still recognized with two All-Canadian awards for the second consecutive season. A four-time AUS Player of the Week, he was named both as a first-team Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) All-Canadian inside receiver, and a second-team CIS All-Canadian return specialist. He led the Atlantic conference in receptions (60), receiving yards (818 yards), receiving touchdowns (four), and all-purpose yards (1,423 yards). He has been an all-star receiver and the conference’s top special teams player in each of his four years at Mount Allison, and is now the AUS career leader in receptions (172), receiving yards (2,582), and all-purpose yards (5,990 yards). This season he was the only Atlantic conference player to average over 100 yards receiving per game (102.2 yards per game) and his 60 receptions are also a new AUS single-season record, smashing the previous mark of 48. His 818 receiving yards are a new Mounties’ single-season school record and the fourth highest total in league history. He currently ranks second in AUS history with 1,679 career punt return yards and 1,403 career kickoff return yards.^[8]

See also

• Canadian Interuniversity Sport

External links and References

• Mount Allison University Athletics

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