Mountie football star gears up for final season while thinking about future

It was a feeling of more relief than disappointment when speedster Gary Ross learned that he had not been accepted into the dentistry program at Dalhousie University midway through last week.

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“It was a relief after things had been in limbo for such a long time,” said the Academic All-Canadian. “I didn’t know what to expect and that was stressful but I kept up my training program and am looking forward to my fifth and final season with the Mounties.”

He had applied to just one professional school but says next time he will submit applications to several. And he would love to ultimately set up practice in Sackville where he has found everybody to be so supportive and friendly.

“Certainly if there is a practice available or an opportunity to set one up here I would jump at the chance.”

The Ross story has been told many times but bears repeating. Gary was an outstanding athlete in high school in Windsor, starring in both football and basketball, and shortly after graduation married his long time love, Tanicia. During the next five years he was employed in a factory in his home city of Windsor, Ontario, while she went to college and they became the parents of two sons. About this time he felt the urge to improve his lot in life and fortunately, learned about Mount Allison University.

Since he had been out of football for five years he was not recruited and so he became, literally, a “walk on” with the Mounties after working out arrangements with then coach Steve Laonde. The family moved here and established a day care centre, which has made it possible for him to upgrade his education. When your columnist contacted him last week he was playing with the children and building factories with Lego.

While he has been a marvel on the football field for four years – he played some basketball – the family has grown by one daughter. Tanicia has also demonstrated a good deal of talent and has sung the National Anthem prior to a number of home games.

Gary Ross is perhaps the one player who has had more impact on the game of football in the Maritimes than any other individual. His accomplishments for the Mounties have been monumental but his presence forces opposing coaches to rejig their game plans. His uncanny ability to return kicks and punts for touchdowns or providing good field position has resulted in coaches having their punters to kick the ball out of bounds so Ross will not have an opportunity. For example, he has a pair of returns over 100- yards each for TDs. And he says he is still learning the game.

Asked if he feels he may be slowing down a step at 27, he says he finds himself getting stronger and faster mainly because of an intensive training program and knowing more about the game.

“I was in the best shape of my career last year and I expect nothing less this season.”

If that is the case other coaches will have to continue to double and triple team him while also “bird dogging” him on every play. As an inside receiver Gary Ross has “glue hands”, an incredible first two steps and is frequently used on misdirection plays.

Gary Ross is easily the outstanding performer in the Atlantic Universities Football Conference, certainly the most dynamic and exciting, and is a threat to score every time he touches the ball – a true game breaker. He came in an outstanding class of rookies that included quarterback Kelly Hughes, corners Bradley Daye and Jermaine Oram and receiver Adam Molnar.

To list his accomplishments would comprise an entire column. Last season, for instance, he was a first team All-Canadian as receiver, second team as a returner and a runner up for the Hec Creighton Award as the outstanding player in Canada.

During his fourth season – 2009 – Gary established a number of all-time records for the conference. His 60 receptions or 7.5 per game broke the previous mark, as did his 1365 yards of receiving. The performances shot him up to the upper levels of Canadian University football records, some of which could be surpassed this season. Two seasons ago he was the top returner of both punts and kicks but this is one area he was denied an opportunity to add to his totals with opposing teams using the short kickoff and punting out of bounds. There is no telling the yardage he might accumulate if given the opportunity. He has left even his coach in awe at times with his seemingly super-human accomplishments.

There is no question that Eric LaPoint had “pro” written all over him during his four seasons here. While Gary Ross does not expect to make a career of football he has accepted the mantle and has held it high, not only on the field but also in the locker room and in the community.

“Gary is such a valuable player because on any given play he can go all the way. He’s always a threat to score and he changes the game for us because he gives us better starting field possession,” says coach Kelly Jefferey.

Looking forward to his final season as a Mountie, Gary Ross says it is easy to be confident in July but you have to wait until camp opens in August to ensure everybody comes who has promised.

But he says Jefferey has been doing a fantastic job of recruiting and the team could do very well. With a big legitimate running back due to come in along with a strong kicker-punter and a plethora of defensive linemen there is a definite positive attitude around the weight room these days as several players remain in Sackville for the summer, preparing for the camp opening on Aug. 26.