Guelph Gryphons quarterback James Roberts tries to keep things on an even keel, but he admits there's always something a little special about the start to a new season.
"I never go into a game with excitement. I just try and keep things level, as a quarterback you kind of have to be," the third-year Gryphon and second-year starter said Friday at Alumni Stadium where the team was wrapping up its two-week training camp.
"Anxious, for sure, and nervous as well. It's what we do. We love this, it's awesome and we can't wait to get out there."
Guelph opens its regular season Sunday at 1 p.m. at Alumni Stadium against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.
Guelph finished second in the OUA regular season last year with a 7-1 record and went on to capture the Yates Cup.
The U of T, which has not had a winning record since 1995, finished eighth a year ago with a 3-5 record.
The two teams did not play one another last season.
"I know how good we are. I think we are definitely a very good team," Roberts said of this year's Gryphon squad.
"There is that little aspect that says 'we can be a little better,' which is a good thing. But from Day 1 of camp I thought we could play a game right away. We're well-meshed together right now and I can't wait to see what happens."
Gryphon head coach Kevin MacNeill said a new season always brings out some new players that rise to the occasion.
"Every team is a little bit different. Every year you want to see who steps up and who's going to become performers. We have a good group of guys coming back and a good group we're hoping will step up," MacNeill said.
While most of the skill positions are well stocked with veteran starters, the spotlight will be on the offensive line, where three new starters will line up.
MacNeill said he's confident in his new O-line.
"I don't even consider them new starters, because they've all got game experience before," the coach said.
"Reality is, we have a very mature group. Some of them haven't had the game reps, so it's going to be important through the year to put them in a position to be successful and get comfortable."
"We want that experience to catch up with their maturity. But they're a good, hard-working mature group and that's the nice thing when you have depth. You have those guys ready to step up."
Roberts said the new offensive line doesn't feel that new given that the new starters have all been with the program for two or three years.
"The offensive line learned from the guys that were here before," Roberts said.
"When we won the Yates, you could arguably say that three of those guys that didn't even dress could have been playing on other teams.
"That's the biggest thing about building a program. There's other programs across the country that do that and that's why they have continued success."
Week 2 of the regular season sees Guelph play in Windsor.
