Ex-Argos Eiben and Younger look to lead U of T's football program to the promise land
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Kevin Eiben didn’t have to do much thinking when he was tasked with bringing in a defensive backs coach for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.
“I was able to bring in my staff and do as I please and for Dbs, there’s no one else I’d ask other than JY,” the first-year Varsity Blues defensive co-ordinator said, referring to former Argonauts teammate Jordan Younger. “We were boys off the field and now we’re boys on the field again. He was one guy on the white board (in their later playing days) always helping the young guys get better.”
The Varsity Blues have a true Double Blue feel on defence as they prepare for their OUA season opener Monday night against the Laurier Golden Hawks at the Varsity Centre.
Eiben’s defensive staff also includes former Argos Anthony Cannon (linebackers coach) and John Scott (defensive line coach).
Eiben and Younger are the two most recent Argos, both key members of a defence that won a Grey Cup in 2004. Teammates for seven seasons, they expect the chemistry they formed on the field to carry over into coaching roles.
Under head coach Greg Gary, the Blues, a troubled program for most of the past two decades, had their best record since their 1993 Vanier Cup-winning season last year, just missing the playoffs at 4-4. Eiben and Younger hope to help take it one step further this year.
“When you can’t find a wining season, there is a breakdown in the culture in the locker room,” said Younger, a New Jersey native. “Winning is a habit and nobody’s had that habit in a long time. I think we bring good direction to the program. Guys understand we bring a level of commitment.”
Eiben, a three-time CFL all-star linebacker from Delta, B.C., comes over from the McMaster Marauders, where he was defensive co-ordinator last year while also working in the Tiger-Cats business office after his final season as a player in the CFL with Hamilton in 2012. Interestingly, the Marauders brought back former defensive co-ordinator Greg Knox, who had the same job at U of T last year, this season — eventually resulting in a job flip.
“Nothing I can do about it,” said Eiben, who will rely on kids like Everton Williams, Dylan Gordon and John Connors to help lead his unit. “No regrets. I had a great time.
“I’m back in the T-dot after 11 years of CFL bliss. What’s not to be happy about?”
Younger was a bit of a surprise no-show at Argos camp in 2013 after winning the Grey Cup in 2012. Several off-season injuries convinced Younger to step away. He filed his retirment papers this year.
“My body was letting me know,” said Younger, who helped run the International Developmental Fast Football League with Cannon last year. “I felt like I had accomplished a lot the previous year and it was time to step away and see what’s next in life.”
What’s next is a chance to re-establish U of T as a football factor, an opportunity for a couple of ex-Argo stars and NCAA grads to bring pride back to the once-powerful CIS program.
“We want to make this program an elite program in Canada,” Eiben said. “Give us some time and we can definitely get there. It’s a great school, great academics and it has some of the best facilities in Canada.”
YORK LIONS WANT TO ROAR
Warren Craney believes patience will pay off for the York Lions.
Entering his fifth year as head coach of a football program that was the opposite of stable before he arrived, the former Concordia defensive co-ordinator realizes there is no quick fix for a team that hasn’t won more than two games in a season since 2005.
“(Athletic director) Jennifer Myers didn’t keep anything from me, there was full disclosure. I knew what I was getting into,” said Craney, whose team opens OUA play on Labour Day in Ottawa against the Gee-Gees. “That being said, it’s definitely harder than I expected … I’ve definitely aged a lot the last four years, but I don’t regret it for a second. I’m here to see this through. Everyone wants to be 5-3 right now but I didn’t come here togo 5-3. I came here to build a championship program. Doing it the right way takes a long time.”
Craney, breaking in a first-year starting quarterback Nikko Stamatis (Chaminade College) and having lost defensive stalwart James Tuck to the Montreal Alouettes, finally has an entire room full of his recruits this year.
“We’re excited about that,” he said. “But we also have the reality that even though they’re all our kids, they still have a ways to go.”
Monday’s Matchups
Queen’s at Windsor, 1 p.m.
McMaster at Guelph, 1 p.m.
York at Ottawa, 1 p.m.
Carleton at Waterloo, 1 p.m.
Laurier at Toronto, 7 p.m.
