THIEL LOOKS TO IMPRESS AT EAST WEST BOWL

Linebacker one of four Huskies participating in Saturday’s game

University football players from coast to coast are experiencing high-stakes football this week.

Saskatchewan Huskies’ linebacker Peter Thiel, who is in London, Ont. for this week’s East West Bowl, says CFL scouts are a steady presence as players go through their paces.

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“Even running the 40s, you’ve got 10 guys down there with stop-watches,” Thiel said Wednesday. “Every time you do something, they’re writing stuff down. Nothing’s more stressful than when you mess up a play or do something wrong, the coach mentions something to you, and you glance over and see a guy on the sideline writing something down. You’re just praying he’s not putting something down about you.”

The game, scheduled for Saturday, is made up largely of players who are eligible for the CFL’s 2011 Canadian college draft. It gives scouts an up-close and early look at the talent.

Other Huskies at the game are offensive lineman Ben Heenan, receiver Braeden George and quarterback Laurence Nixon, who also played last year.

Players touched down Monday in London, did physical testing Tuesday morning and began practice that night. They practise through the week before squaring off Saturday at 11 a.m. Saskatchewan time.

“I’m trying to push all that (scouting) stuff out; just be here playing football,” said Thiel, who recorded a team-high 56 tackles in 10 conference and playoff games last season. “You don’t want to worry too much about it, because I don’t want to psyche myself out.

“It’s been an absolute blast out here, being completely immersed in football, going to meetings, pretty much living for football.”

Also in London this week are Huskies’ head coach Brian Towriss, who looks after quality control, and defensive co-ordinator Ed Carleton, who co-ordinates special teams alongside Manitoba Bisons head coach Brian Dobie.

The West head coach is Blake Nill of the Calgary Dinos; his East counterpart is Pat Sheahan of Vanier Cup-champion Queen’s.
Thiel, meanwhile, said he’s made new acquaintances from players he previously saw in the worst of lights.

“You find out that some guys you learned to hate on the football field are pretty great guys — outstanding people off the football field,” Thiel said.

“Its surprising how well everyone’s gelling together. We’ve only had three practices, we’ve got everything in and we’re fine-tuning it now.”
The West beat the East 16-7 last year and has won six of seven games since the event began in 2003.

Notes: Huskies’ offensive lineman Darren Hinds has signed a free-agent contract with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and will attend camp with them next month. The 6-foot-1, 300-pound Hinds is joined at Winnipeg’s camp by former Huskies’ slotback Scott McHenry, who also signed with the team this off-season.

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