Brandon Gandire in many ways is the embodiment of the new Westshore Rebels 鈥� young, brash and with big dreams.
The defensive-secondary rookie from Chilliwack aspires to play U.S. collegiate NCAA Div. 1 football and believes the Rebels are the route.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of Div. 1 talent on this team. It鈥檚 a matter of getting exposure,鈥� said Gandire, a basketball player who didn鈥檛 even begin playing football until Grade 12.
鈥淏ut we have two great coaches here with NCAA Div. 1 experience [Rebels GM and head coach J.C. Boice and assistant coach Shane Beatty].鈥�
Gandire is among a flotilla of promising new faces as the Rebels opened training camp Tuesday night at Westhills Stadium in Langford with 70 players and big ambitions ahead of the sa国际传媒 Junior Football Conference season opener July 24 at Weshills against the Langley Rams.
鈥淭he kids believe in what we are doing. There is a lot of buy-in from these young men,鈥� said Boice, whose off-season recruiting was among the strongest among Canadian junior football teams.
So much so that a team that missed the sa国际传媒 playoffs last season is talking about making a national impact this season.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely different this year,鈥� said fourth-year returnee defensive tackle Tyson Morrison, out of the Belmont Secondary Bulldogs.
鈥淵ou can feel a whole new energy with all the new faces. Last year, it was: 鈥楲et鈥檚 just try to make the playoffs.鈥� This year, it鈥檚: 鈥楲et鈥檚 try to make a national impact.鈥� 鈥�
Strong-safety Brody Uddenberg, another returning veteran, concurred.
鈥淭here are a lot of new faces and a whole new attitude,鈥� said the graduate of Nanaimo District Senior Secondary, entering his fifth season with the Rebels as the leader of the defensive secondary.
鈥淓verybody is working hard because there is so much competition from within for roster spots. We are now looking toward being a national-level contender,鈥� added Uddenberg.
鈥淛.C. [Boice] has been here a year now and he has changed everything. And so has the addition of coach Beatty, with his experience and attitude.鈥�
Boice, who has consulted with pro and college pivots, has established a reputation as the Quarterback Whisperer.
Fighting for the Westshore starting role under centre are former Mount Douglas Secondary star quarterback Ashton MacKinnon and former CIS St. Mary鈥檚 University Huskies thrower Scott Borden, who is looking to eventually transfer to another CIS or NCAA program.
鈥淭hey are deadlocked,鈥� said Boice, of the starting quarterback stakes.
鈥淓ither one could start and we could win with either one.鈥�
Training camp continues all week.
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