Tuesday 13 August 2019

Hilltops’ Holmes gets a short taste of Roughriders dream

Colton Holmes meets some 
    Colton Holmes didn’t want to bow out early this time from Saskatchewan Roughriders training camp.
    The Saskatoon Hilltops star defensive attended the Roughriders CFL training camp a year ago, but he was sent home early after injuring his knee during the first week. After having a strong campaign last season with the Hilltops, Holmes was hopeful he would get a chance to attend this year’s Roughriders camp.
    The graduate of Saskatoon’s Aden Bowman Collegiate was told by Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant a Roughriders camp invite might be coming.
    Holmes officially received his invite about nine days before Roughriders camp started.
    “It was a just a great opportunity to be able to go back and put everything that I got into it,” said Holmes, who helped the Hilltops win a fifth consecutive Canadian Junior Football League championship last season.
Colton Holmes gets set for a drill at Roughriders camp.
    Holmes made good on the opportunity he was given hanging around for the entirety of Roughriders camp that ran from late May to early June. After camp activities wrapped up, the Roughriders added Holmes to their practice roster.
    He remained with the Roughriders until rejoining the Hilltops last Thursday.
    “It was awesome,” said Holmes, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 200 pounds. “Growing up in Saskatchewan, it has kind of been the Saskatchewan dream.
    “To get to do that was pretty cool.”
    Last season, the Hilltops had a dominating campaign posting an 11-0 overall record, while trailing on the scoreboard for just a combined time span of 81 seconds.
    Holmes did his part to contribute to the success posting 29.5 total tackles, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and one sack in 11 overall appearances.
    Stepping on the field with the Roughriders, Holmes said the biggest initial adjustment is getting used to the increased speed of the game. He also looked forward to the challenge of covering the team’s receivers that were born in the United States.
Colton Holmes guards his zone at Roughriders camp.
    “It was a little bit different, but at the end of the day, I grew from it and learned a lot from it,” said Holmes. “It was pretty cool getting to line up against them.
    “Some of those guys got to play in the NFL.”
    Holmes said there were times in training camp things were a bit of a grind, but he didn’t mind. Overall, he cherished the opportunities that came his way with the Roughriders.
    “Once I got adjusted, it was really good,” said Holmes. “Just the whole experience there to play at that level and that speed and with the coaching, I really learned a lot, so it was a great experience.”
    Sargeant was pleased and proud Holmes hug around with the Roughriders for as long as he did before rejoining the Hilltops.
    “What a great experience number one for Colton (Holmes),” said Sargeant. “He’s earned it.
    “He has been a great Hilltop for the last few years. He is going to bring a lot of savvy and moxy. I had a good visit with him, and it was very impactful for him. It will be impactful for us.”
Colton Holmes in action for the Hilltops last season.
    The Hilltops sideline boss always appreciates seeing his players get an opportunity to try and prove themselves at the professional level.
    “We were able to send two players there this year with him (Holmes) and (left-tackle) Mason Ochs,” said Sargeant. “I think that is a pretty good deal.
    “It sort of shows you the type of calibre of players we have when Colton (Holmes) can stay there for two months. That is pretty good.”
    Holmes is entering his fourth-year with the Hilltops, but will be using the final year of his CJFL eligibility. He turned 22-years-old in September.
    A Prairie Football Conference all-star last year, Holmes has been thinking about his chances of playing football, when this season is done. He would like another opportunity to crack a CFL roster one day and notes he has to do his part on the effort front.
    “Just keep working and stay healthy,” said Holmes. “The biggest thing is to just keep working at it.
    “I’m still young. I have lots of football left.”
Colton Holmes (#9) enjoys the Hilltops CJFL title win last November.
    In the present, Holmes plans to soak in every moment in his final campaign with the Hilltops, who got going with training camp activities on Aug. 5. Saskatoon opens its regular season schedule this coming Sunday by traveling to Winnipeg to take on the Rifles.
    Holmes is looking forward to getting back in the groove with Sargeant and defensive backs coach Brent Turkington.
    “I’m actually grateful to come back here to play my final year and work with an amazing coaching staff,” said Holmes. “I love coach Sarge (Sargeant).
    “I love coach Turk (Turkington). I just want to pass on the knowledge that I learned over there (with the Roughriders) and bring it back to the Hilltops and embrace the Hilltop tradition.”

“Sarge” pumped Hardy is Huskies’ top dog

Tom Sargeant, right, is happy Dave Hardy is the Huskies’ CAO.
    Tom Sargeant had the biggest grin, when he was asked about an old friend that isn’t slowing any time soon.
    Last Thursday, the University of Saskatchewan announced that Dave Hardy would become the new chief athletics officer for Huskie Athletics. Hardy officially assumed his new job on Monday.
    At age 71, Hardy takes over the top job with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies program, which plays out of the U Sports ranks, from Shawn Burt, who recently stepped down to be closer to family in Ontario.
    Hardy has a storied career in the Saskatoon school system as a teacher, principal and school superintendant. He is a former president of Vancouver College, and he led that institution to new heights in academic and athletic excellence.
    That included facilitating a capital fundraising campaign that exceeded $20-million.
    In Saskatoon, he is widely remembered for guiding the Saskatoon Hilltops as head coach for 10 seasons from 1988 to 1997. The Hilltops won two Canadian Junior Football League titles in 1991 and 1996 under Hardy’s guidance.
    Hardy brought Sargeant to the Hilltops coaching staff before the start of the 1991 campaign to be the club’s special teams coordinator and defensive line coach. The two coached together for seven seasons.
    Sargeant was pumped to see Hardy will take over as the Huskies top boss.
    “That is fantastic,” said Sargeant. “Dave, the guy is just a proven winner wherever he goes.
    “He is a difference maker. He is going to make the University of Saskatchewan a better place. He is ageless.”
    Hardy posted a 70-18-1 regular season record guiding the Hilltops as head coach. In 1995, Hardy was named the coach of the year for the entire CJFL.
    When he departed from the Hilltops, Hardy was at that time the team’s longest serving head coach.
    He is an alumnus of the Huskies men’s basketball team and coached basketball for extended stints during his time in the Saskatoon school system.
    Hardy and Sargeant coached against each other in a junior high school boys’ basketball game during the 1990-91 campaign, and Hardy came away impressed with Sargeant from that encounter. That helped lead to Hardy bringing Sargeant on board with the Hilltops coaching staff.
    In 1998, Sargeant succeeded Hardy as the Hilltops head coach. In his 21 complete seasons as Hilltops head coach, Sargeant is the all-time leader in career CJFL regular season wins at 147 and has guided the Hilltops to 12 CJFL titles.
    Under Sargeant’s guidance, the Hilltops have won the last five straight CJFL championships and have claimed the CJFL crown eight out of the last nine years.
    At age 54, Sargeant is embarking on his 22nd season as head coach of the Hilltops. He is grateful for Hardy bringing him on to the team’s coaching staff in 1991 and for the influence Hardy provided in the seven campaigns they worked together.
    “He (Hardy) has always got tremendous passion and energy for life and for situations,” said Sargeant, who was the CJFL coach of the year in 2000 and 2003. “I am very proud of him and know that he is going to walk in there (with the Huskies) and do a fantastic job.”


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