Tigers are growling, getting ready to roar
Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
USS Tigers football team hopefuls take a knee during the first day of practice at the high school on Tuesday. This is the first football team Uxbridge Secondary School has had in 13 years. Photo by John Cavers
Two dozen young high school students turned out Tuesday morning for the first tryout of the Uxbridge Tigers football team in over 13 years.
The workout, which saw the boys, all Grade 9 and 10 students, put through a number of exercises by head coach Jeff Keeping, was repeated Wednesday morning at the USS sports field. Other practices will be held over the next couple of weeks as the newly revived Tigers prepare for their first exhibition game, to be held Sept. 18 against St. Andrew's College.
Although Keeping is the head coach, the team's real "boss" is English teacher Natalie Little, who is general manager. Little will be the one keeping an eye on the players' academic progress as the season progresses. Little said she already has a full schedule lined up for the season. The regular season starts Sept. 26 against Holy Trinity and the first home game will see the Tigers host O'Neill CVI on Oct. 3.
Head coach Keeping has the necessary credentials to lead the team. He played with the Toronto Argonauts, serving two stints with them from 2005 to 2007 and from 2009 to 2015. The Argos won the Grey Cup in 2012, and Keeping was named to the CFL All-Star team in 2013. During his career, he also signed with the Montreal Alouettes and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but never played for either team due to injuries. As Tiger head coach, he is assisted by a roster of coaches: Jim Hillock, Ely Matlow, Andrew McFadden, Jim Massey, Lyle King and Michael Kerford.
It was Kerford who was responsible for this week's tryouts. He started a "Restore the Roar" campaign earlier this year to help bring football back to Uxbridge Secondary School, and said Tuesday the campaign had raised more than $50,000. The money will be used to buy equipment for the junior team, and fundraising will continue in order to equip a senior team in two year's time. Kerford said the Tigers need $5,000 a year to keep the football program running.
On top of that, players will have to pay a fee of $450 for the first year and $200 afterwards, but Kerford said there will be help available for students who have difficulty paying that fee.
Kerford, a former Tiger himself, said the idea of restoring football to USS came about after he ran into former USS head coach Phil Mazza and later met with former teammates at the USS 100th anniversary celebrations.
Kerford said he expects to have about 40 players on the squad by the time the season starts and is hoping for a good show of support at their first home game.