"BACK TO THE FUTURE" AS REBELS NAME JOHN  CARDILICCHIA HEAD COACH

The Victoria Rebels Football Club has announced that Paul Orazietti has left his post as Head Coach to pursue an opportunity with the University of British Columbia. The club has proceeded to name former Head Coach John Cardilicchia as Orazietti’s replacement.

Orazietti will join the staff of former UBC teammate Shawn Olson, who was named as Ted Goveia’s replacement on January 20^th. Cardilicchia has been a fixture in the Vancouver Island football community, highlighted by his previous stint as Head Coach of the Rebels from 1998-2002. During this time, Cardilicchia compiled a record of 33-15-3 and led the Rebels to a Coastal Division Championship in 2002. In 2007, he was named a recipient of a BC Lions Orange Helmet Award for his accomplishments in Minor and Junior Football. Most recently, John served as a Defensive Coach for the 2009 edition of the Rebels.

The entire Rebels organization wishes Coach O all the best in his new position and is very pleased to officially welcome Coach Cardilicchia back to the club.

REBELS' ALUM COTE MAKING AN IMPACT FOR STAMPS

Rob Cote in recent action at BC Place Stadium

 

Rob Cote is not the first weapon that comes to mind when people think of the Calgary Stampeders' explosive offence.

Nonetheless, the 23-year-old has -- in the latter stages of this Canadian Football League season -- become a clandestine option in the team's attack.

"Better late than never," said Cote, a native of Cochrane, Alta. "I've had a chance to make a couple of plays and I feel like I've tried to take advantage of those opportunities. With Teyo [Johnson] hurt, it's opened the door for me and I've tried to do what I can to help us win."

The Stamps returned home with a 28-26 triumph over the B.C. Lions in their pocket. The victory solidified home-field advantage in their first playoff game; whether that's the West Division semifinal or the final will be determined Saturday in Regina.

Cote, who played junior football with the Victoria Rebels, made his presence felt Saturday night in Vancouver, catching four passes for 75 yards including back-to-back 28-yard receptions in the first quarter that led to an eventual one-yard Henry Burris touchdown.

For a guy whose duties have been primarily special teams related, the chance to step into Johnson's spot has been fruitful. Cote had scored a touchdown in each of the two previous games, his first majors since his rookie year in 2007.

"It's definitely a lot of fun when you get a chance to do that," he said. "That's not to say that I take any less pride in any of the other parts, the special team parts; the tackles mean just as much to the team as the first downs."

"Some of us have always known Cote has potential," said fellow Canadian Jon Cornish.
"One of the first things I heard in the CFL is that you're only as good as your Canadian players," Cornish continued, "and having the depth that we have at the fullback position gives us an upper hand."

Victoria Times Colonist: REBELS SEE BRIGHT FUTURE ON AND OFF THE FIELD

By Sharie Epp October 28, 2009

As difficult as it was to be happy following a season-ending loss, the Victoria Rebels closed out their 2009 campaign with heads held high.

The Rebels put together their finest game of the B.C. Football Conference season last Saturday, losing the BCFC semifinal 52-46 to the South Surrey Rams. But for a couple of breaks here and there, the Rebels could easily have been the team, rather than Surrey, to be playing the Vancouver Island Raiders in the B.C. Cullen Cup final this Saturday in Nanaimo.
 

“As a coach, you never want to lose, and 99 per cent of the time the season ends on a bad note,” Rebels coach Paul Orazietti said, thinking about a Rebels squad that racked up 510 yards in offence in the semi. The main difference in the game was the kickoff and two punts returned for touchdowns by BCFC special teams player of the year Nick Downey.

Despite a devastating rash of injuries, particularly to three 300-plus pounders on the offensive line, the Rebels finished the season in third place, with six wins and four losses. They “almost” beat the Raiders — losing 15-6 and defeated the Okanagan Sun in Victoria for the first time in 22 years.

“This time, [the end of the season] really left me with a good feeling.”

Unlike 2007, for example, when the underachievement of a talented team led to a miserable off-season, the current Rebels have plenty of positives to reflect on as they build for 2010. One of the biggest happenings this year was the team’s move to the West Shore and the new City Centre Park Stadium in Langford. Despite some scheduling conflicts, the Rebels averaged more than 1,200 fans a game, hundreds more than they drew at Royal Athletic Park.

“Moving out there was a huge step in the right direction,” team president Roger Wade said. “It’s been great. We learned a lot.”

Now responsible for the whole show in their new digs, rather than just paying rent and playing football, the Rebels will be looking at improving the concessions, and adding to the atmosphere — a band playing some pre-game rock was a hit this season. They’ll also be taking a closer look at what other events are going on in the community. The lowest attendance of the year came on a night when there were races at Western Speedway, a Victoria Grizzlies game at Bear Mountain Arena, and a UFC fight on television.

“We’ve got to get the right dates and times,” said Wade, who figured the reviving economy and the team’s first-year success in Langford should help generate more sponsorship dollars to ease a perennially cash-strapped budget. “I think next year it’ll be an easier sell, because it was well-received by the public.”

On the field, the team loses quarterback Yannick Rickli, the BCFC rookie of the year and semifinal offensive player of the week, and all-star offensive lineman Kurt Tonowski, among others, but the Rebels also have many of the core group coming back. Backup quarterback Brett Seryenko is expected to return, as is running back Sam Adu and linebacker Nick Duncan. On the other hand, the Okanagan Sun, who were edged 25-16 by the Raiders in the other BCFC semifinal, are losing 18 players to graduation.

“There’ll be a very solid team back,” Orazietti said.

What’s still up in the air for the team is just who will be on the sidelines. After five years as head coach, Orazietti is not sure about his future. If he’s not back to run the show for a sixth season, it won’t be because his time with the Rebels hasn’t been a great experience.

“It’s been first-rate all the way,” Orazietti said. “I think that really bodes well for the future of the Victoria Rebels.”
 

RICKLI NAMED BCFC ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

  
 

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