Sisco-less Rams open camp today
Aug. 20, 2010 - Regina Leader-Post
By Craig Slater
Another chapter in the history of the University of Regina Rams football club begins today, and it doesn't involve one of the most productive players to ever wear the Green and Gold.
For the first time in five years, Jordan Sisco will not be on the field this morning when the Rams open training camp at the U of R campus.
"Losing Jordan hurts. He's the type of guy that you can't replace just because he did so many great things," explained Rams quarterback Marc Mueller. "But we knew this would be coming and we're prepared to move on without him."
Sisco, who was selected eighth overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 2010 Canadian draft, is now practising with his hometown CFL team. He recently signed a contract with the Riders after he was released earlier this summer by the NFL's Indianapolis Colts.
Mueller and Sisco shared a special connection over the past couple of seasons in Canada West competition. Sisco led the conference last year with 52 receptions and was third in receiving yards with 700. The Riffel High School graduate joined Jason Clermont and Chad Goldie as the only players in Rams history to accumulate more than 2,000 receiving yards in a career.
A stellar four-year career also has Sisco ranked second on the Rams all-time list and sixth on the Canada West all-time list in career receptions with 141.
But Mueller doesn't see Sisco's departure affecting the team's offensive output this season. One of the most potent aerial attacks from the 2009 campaign is expected to be productive again in 2010 with Mueller back under centre.
"We'll spread it out a lot more than we did last year," Mueller said. "I have all the confidence in the world in our guys. We don't want any of them to think they have to be the next Jordan Sisco. We just need them to be themselves and we should be fine."
Mueller led the conference in completions (176) and passing yards (2,308) a season ago. The fourth-year pivot looks to get others like Brenden Owens, Jared Janotta and Mark McConkey more involved the offence this season.
"Brenden will be our big-play guy this year ... Janotta will have to step up, and McConkey, too, we're expecting big things from," Mueller said. "They know it'll be their time to shine with Jordan gone. They know they'll need to take a step forward and show they can be big receivers for us."
Mueller said he's been working out and playing catch twice a week with his receivers so they can be ahead of the curve when camp starts today.
The Rams will conduct two-a-day practices today through Monday at the U of R practice facility before they revert to single workouts on Tuesday. The annual Green and Gold game is slated for Aug. 27, 7 p.m., at Mosaic Stadium.
The Rams, who were 3-5 in '09, are scheduled to open the Canada West season on Sept. 3 at home versus the University of Manitoba Bisons.