Guelph, ON – Any fan of Guelph Gryphons football knows all about
John Rush. He's the man wearing No. 5, patrolling the middle of the defence, with the flowing locks, wrapping up opposing runners or delivering vicious hits with a rare blend of speed and power. Rush is a fixture in Guelph. And after his standout season that helped the Gryphons climb to number five in the nation and win the Yates Cup for the fourth time in school history, Rush will be known across Canada, as well.
He's taking home one of the most prestigious awards ever won by a University of Guelph football player.
Rush, a native of Niagara Falls, ON and a fifth-year Marketing Management student, has earned the Presidents' Trophy as Canadian Interuniversity Sport Standup Defensive
Player of the Year, marking the first time ever that a Guelph football player has come away with that national honour. Rush accepted the award on Thursday night (Nov. 26) at the
Sun Life Financial All-Canadian Banquet presented by Mallette which was held in Quebec City as part of Vanier Cup week.
Other CIS major award winners
Hec Crighton Trophy (MVP) - Andrew Buckley, Calgary
Presidents' Trophy (Stand-up Defensive Player of the Year) - John Rush, Guelph
J.P. Metras Trophy (Outstanding Down Lineman) - David Onyemata, Manitoba
Peter Gorman Trophy (Rookie of the Year) - Mathieu Betts, Laval
Frank Tindall Trophy (Coach of the Year) - Wayne Harris Jr., Calgary
Russ Jackson Award (Academics, Athletics & Citizenship) - Curtis Carmichael, Queen's
"Just knowing the history of this award and being able to look at all of the names of the players who won it before me, it's truly an amazing feeling," said Rush. "I honestly can't take too much of the credit for this award because it was Coach (Kevin) MacNeill and (Adam) Grandy who put me in such a great position to succeed. I'm also surrounded by so many outstanding football players on our defence that opposing offences weren't able to key on one guy. So while Donnie (Egerter), (Curtis) Newton or Tristan (Doughlin) were doing their thing, I could go just go make plays.
"But my coaches and teammates are why I'm here."
Rush also won the OUA Standup Defensive Player of the Year like Guelph alum Mike O'Shea (1992) and Sam Benincasa (back-to-back in 1982 and 1983) but neither of those two went on to capture the national award. His was well earned. The humble leader of the Gryphon defence had an historic year from the all-important middle linebacker position. After missing the first game of the OUA season with a hamstring injury, Rush went on to record 32 solo tackles, 56 assisted tackles, three sacks, two interceptions and a fumble recovery in seven regular season appearances.
But it was during Guelph's magical postseason run that Rush did some of his best work. Before adding another 10 tackles in Guelph's Mitchell Bowl loss to the defending Vanier Cup champion Montreal Carabins, he racked up 18 tackles, four sacks, a forced fumble and a blocked punt in the Gryphons two wins over Carleton and Western. Rush was simply a monster against the Mustangs, recording 12 of those 18 tackles and three of the sacks to lift Guelph to an emotional 23-17 Yates Cup victory.
"John has set the bar extremely high for the next generation of Gryphon football players who will try to follow in his footsteps," said MacNeill, the Gryphons defensive coordinator. "Not only is he a talented player, he is also a strong leader who should be proud of the career he put together at the University of Guelph."
It hasn't been an easy road for Rush. During a practice in his third year at Guelph, he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. It was a non-contact injury and discouraging news. He had surgery in Toronto about three weeks after the injury and went to San Diego for eight months to see a rehab specialist, where he took five distance education courses before returning to Guelph for his fourth year.
Rush only admits now that he maybe came back too soon, resuming play after just seven months when most athletes need at least a full year. The proud player told people that he was 100 per cent healthy but that obviously wasn't the case.
"People see the success that John has had on the field this season but many are unaware of the incredible amount of adversity he has overcome off of the field," Guelph head coach Stu Lang said of the freak injury that temporarily derailed Rush's career. "He worked incredibly hard during recovery to make it back onto the football field and there is not a more deserving guy to receive this prestigious award."
Rush, now a 1
st Team All-Canadian along with Gryphons Jacob Scarfone, Nick Parisotto, and Gabriel Ferraro (all named to the 2
nd Team), has relished the opportunity to share the field with his teammates. He said that they have tried to develop a true sense of team and make the environment fun.
"We love playing together, we love being together and making big plays," said Rush. "One of our favourite things is to go around and hit people."
He has been the spine of the team in a successful 2015 season. But Lang suggests that his star linebacker has meant much more to Guelph football than just stats and on-field leadership.
"I thanked John for coming because he could have gone anywhere," the coach said. "He chose to come here and at that time, there was not a lot to promise or showcase because the previous decade, Guelph had not had a successful record. John said, 'I want to come here and I want to build a football program.' I'm glad in his final year he won a Yates Cup.
"He built the program for us."
What's next for the big linebacker is uncertain. He said that it's always been a dream of his to play in the Canadian Football League and he is hopeful of getting an opportunity to prove that he's worthy of job suiting up in the summer. Coaching is another possibility and given the role that the Guelph staff have played in his success, particularly MacNeill, that idea is appealing.
"I would really like to have an impact on someone in that way," he said.
Rush has now had some time to reflect on his five years in Guelph. It's been difficult at times, particularly when he was injured, but he insists that he wouldn't change a thing. He calls his coaches "some of the best in the CIS" and his teammates "a great group of men." The hardest part will be closing that chapter.
"I wish I could relive this," Rush said of his time as a Gryphon football player. "I don't want it to end. In some ways, it's an unfortunate feeling. But it's good.
"It's one of those moments in your life where you just have to move on."
Official Vanier Cup website: www.vaniercup.comPRESIDENTS' TROPHY (Outstanding Defensive Player)
2015 John Rush, Guelph
2014 Jonathan Langa, Saint Mary's
2013 Pawel Kruba, Western
2012 Frédéric Plesius, Laval
2011 Max Caron, Concordia
2010 Henoc Muamba, StFX
2009 Cory Greenwood, Concordia
2008 Thaine Carter, Queen's
2007 Mat Nesbitt, Regina
2006 Patrick Donovan, Concordia
2005 Patrick Donovan, Concordia
2004 Mickey Donovan, Concordia
2003 Neil McKinlay, Simon Fraser
2002 Adam MacDonald, StFX
2001 David Stipe, Bishop's
2000 Joey Mikawoz, Manitoba
1999 Mike Letendre, Saskatchewan
1998 Warren Muzika, Saskatchewan
1997 Jason Van Geel, Waterloo
1996 Derek Krete, Western
1995 Paul Frlan, StFX
1994 Cory Delaney, Waterloo
1993 Lou Tiro, Toronto
1992 Alex Eliopoulos, Saint Mary's
1991 Ray Bernard, Bishop's
1990 Randy Power, Mount Allison
1989 Mark Singer, Alberta
1988 Leroy Blugh, Bishop's
1987 Brent Lewis, Western
1986 Mark Norman, UBC
1985 Darcy Kopp, Calgary
1984 Larry Oglesby, Mount Allison
1983 Tom Timlin, Carleton
1982 Mike Emery, UBC
1981 Mike Emery, UBC
1980 Rich Payne, Wilfrid Laurier
