Revisit to a
Blast From the Past with new found (old) information.
Can-Am Bowl I, 1/8/78
Travis Puterbaugh Tampa Sports History January 14, 2008
Blast from the past: The CAN/AM Bowl
From time to time I like to go down memory lane on here. Today, after seeing an Edmonton Journal post on the 1978 CAN/AM Bowl in Tampa, I'd like to share a selection from Jeff Morcom's Unofficial CIS Almanac on the two college all-star games played under Canadian rules in Florida between the CIAU and NCAA.
Jamie Bone stands his ground in the second CAN/AM Bowl at Tampa Stadium in 1979
January 5, 1978
TAMPA, FLA (CP) – All the concern being voiced about Canada’s chances against Division I United States college stars in Sunday’s inaugural Can-Am Bowl football game at Tampa Stadium is of little interest to the Canadians.
“The only difference between Division I and Division II players is the amount of money the school can throw into the athletic program – certainly not the talent” says John Priestner. The 19-year-old linebacker with the University of Western Ontario Mustangs was reacting to reports of the game organizers hoodwinking Canadian officials by supplementing their lineup with personnel from Division I schools.
Initial plans for the international match, expected to become an annual game, called for the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union to face a lineup of Division II and III players. The game will be carried nationally on CBC television starting at 12 p.m. CDT. “The players that would be coming from Division II will be drafted just as high as the Division I players here” Priestner said, “So I don’t think it’s going to make any difference whatsoever.”
Glen Wallace, a 28-year-old running back with British Columbia Thunderbirds and the greybeard of the game, is also one of the shortest. At 5’8” and 185 pounds, he’s more concerned about getting his timing down at three backfield positions – slotback, halfback, and fullback – than he is about the size of his opponents or their scholastic status. “It’s tough enough worrying about three positions without concerning myself with the opposition” said Wallace “But just for the record, I don’t think it really makes all that much difference. I feel the guys they’d have sent here from Division II schools have the same kind of talent as the guys they have here – no better, no worse.”
Bob Cameron of Acadia Axemen, who will direct the Canadian collegiate fortunes in the game along with Jamie Bone of Western Mustangs, admits he’s not overly awed by the big, mobile defensive front four he’ll be facing, nor the linebacking brigade that averages 6’3” and 245 pounds apiece. The fact all three starting linebackers played the line through their college careers doesn’t lessen their potential in Cameron’s eyes.
Cameron, the CIAU’s top player in 1977, has aspirations of making it in the pro leagues, either in the CFL or as a punter in the National Football League. He’s had the pro scouts timing his punts here this week. “I’ve had tryouts at pro camps, and run into a lot of big and tough American linemen,” says the Dundas, Ont. native. “But they can be beat. What we do have in our favour is the extra days of practice. We’ve had 10 workouts while they’ve had five. And they’ve got to adjust to Canadian rules. I think we’ll do a job on them.”
The only injuries of concern in the Canadian camp are hamstring pulls suffered by both Priestner and wide receiver Bob Stracina, the Hec Crighton winner in 1976. Stracina hobbled through Thursday’s workouts, but Priestner continued to limp along the sidelines as he has done since suffering the injury the first day of training. Both are expected to dress for Sunday’s game.
Priestner, especially, wants to play because he envisages a career in the NFL, although he’s only in his second year at Western. Most of the scouts here for both NFL and CFL teams are more interested in the seniors, but John says he hopes his play Sunday will rate some attention. “I want to play in the NFL, preferably as a linebacker.” The rangy 227-pounder is rated among the top two or three defensive players in the CIAU ranks. John fashions his play along the lines of NFL linebacker Jack Lambert of Pittsburgh Steelers, and admits that while Lambert may be a little taller, “I’m probably still growing.”
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