Just in case you didn’t notice Erik Glavic’s total offensive output of 2,689 yards and 20 touchdowns, or his second Hec Crighton nomination, his knee is doing just fine.
The 6-foot-6, 230-pound pivot hasn’t missed a beat since leaving Saint Mary’s in January to take the keys to Blake Nill’s high-powered Calgary Dinos’ offence, leaving behind him a torn anterior cruciate injury that required surgery and more than a year of intense rehabilitation on the sidelines.
Heading into Saturday’s 1 p.m. Uteck Bowl at Huskies Stadium, Glavic is healthy, albeit slightly reinvented.
“I don’t think I’m the same player — I’ve matured, my arm strength’s gotten better and I’ve developed my mechanics and become more of a complete quarterback,” said the 23-year-old Glavic. “I’ve tried to throw the ball more and rely less on my legs and more on my football knowledge.”
The Pickering, Ont., native has always been able to make things happen with his feet, and the Dinos led the nation in rushing with a staggering 283 yards per game. Glavic piled up 503 rushing yards and six touchdowns, adding to tailback Matt Walter’s 1,114 yards and nine touchdowns on 169 carries.
All-star receivers Anthony Parker (816 yards, five touchdowns) and Nathan Coehoorn (765 yards, four touchdowns) give Glavic aerial threats that must be respected.
“We have a lot of weapons,” said Glavic.
“Erik’s given us another dimension,” said Nill, the Dinos’ head coach.
“Teams who defend us have to respect we can run the ball, and Erik can make things happen on his own. It makes it a difficult task for any defensive coordinator.”
Glavic knows he’s not going to be a popular guy this weekend, saying he fully expects to get booed for leaving.
But his biggest challenge won’t be the fans, it will be the Huskies’ defence, among the best in the nation all season.
“It’s not going to be easy,” Glavic said.
“We’re not going to get any easy points against these guys. If we make mistakes, we’re going to come out on the wrong end of this.”
