Axemen already looking ahead after disappointing 2008

BY JOHN DECOSTE

Kings County Register

The Acadia football Axemen, according to head coach Jeff Cummins, “are already looking to 2009, and making things better” after a disappointing 2008.

The Axemen fell victim to inconsistency and too many injuries and ended up in last place 1-7, arguably Acadia’s worst finish ever.

Still, asked last week if he felt the Axemen were the best 1-7 team in the country, Cummins replied, “that may be true. “You can look at all the scores, and we’re certainly better than the record we ended up with.”

A year ago, it was a different story. Acadia ended up 3-5 in 2007, “and we won some games we probably shouldn’t have won. This year, we were 1-7 and probably deserved to have a better record.”

Acadia lost games by two points and five points to Saint Mary’s, and by seven (in overtime) and 11 to St. F.X. (a game where the deficit was four in the final minute). “If we had hit four field goals we missed, and caught even five passes we dropped, we’d likely have had three more wins” and right in the middle of the hunt for a playoff berth. “I was pretty confident in most of the decisions I made this year,” he said. “A lot of it was just plain bad luck.”

Cummins acknowledged “key injuries were a major factor” in Acadia’s lack of success. Arguably the most significant was the loss of veteran defensive lineman Jamie Johnson, who ended up playing less than half the season. “We went to a three-man D-line this year, then lost our starting nose guard. Then his backup also got hurt, leaving us to start a freshman at that key position.” Rookie Wade Conrad “played very well,” but he, and the team, suffered from a lack of experience.

Another key injury saw Cale Inglis, the conference’s leading rusher in 2006, miss most of the season.

Freshman Nick Lauder ended up with “significant playing time” and also did very well. “He started training camp as our #4 running back, and ended up starting every game.”

The Axemen also felt the absence of all-Canadian free safety Elliott Richardson, who missed the first half of the season due to a torn bicep suffered in the CIS East-West all-star game. Combined with an injury to fellow defensive back Najja Coley, it left the Axemen vulnerable.

Cummins agreed a lack of consistency, in many ways tied to the injuries, also hurt Acadia. “The defense played very well early in the season, and by the time the offense caught up (in the second half), the defense was riddled with injuries.”

The Axemen also “missed 10 field goals,” many of which were very makeable. “I found that very frustrating,” he said. “We have to move on, put this season behind us” - except of course for learning from it wherever possible. “You can’t dwell on what’s past. The ‘what ifs’ will kill you.”

The Axemen lose some significant players, particularly on the offensive line, but there are “a lot of good young players and a lot of potential” in those returning. “I don’t expect the same result again next year - not even close,” he said. “I’d bet the farm on it.”