By:Oliver Strzelczyk of Europe’s Elite
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In 2012, the British University and Colleges Sport ( BUCS ) organisation officially added football to its list of sports available for universities to compete in. Since then, the sport has gained great popularity amongst fans not only in Britain, but also abroad thanks to the high level of competition and talent on the field presented under a league structure mirroring the largely successful system established by the NCAA. The current season is coming to a close with a grand final scheduled between two of the league’s greatest performers; the University of Nottingham Golds and the Bullets of the University of West England (UWE).
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First, lets examine the scenario that Nottingham and UWE have found themselves in. UWE has established itself as a dominant powerhouse, scoring 417 points over all 7 regular season game and conceding none. They appeared to be firing from all cylinders, with scores being made by both
the offence, defence and special teams units. Even in the BUCS semi-final against Leeds Beckett, where they appeared to be struggling in early stages of the ball game, they put up 52 points and conceded 6 – the only lost points all season.
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In the opposite corner we find the University of Nottingham, a squad that has also proved to be in contention for the national championship trophy from the very first game of the season. With a 7-1 record and margins of up to 42 points per game, the Gold team has repeatedly proved its worth and belongingness in the playoffs. While they have not been able to lock up offences to the degree that UWE has, they have still gained respect thanks to their consistency, hard work and prestige execution of plays that are seamlessly able to stop any and every type of offense, as seen in their 41-0 win over Birmingham on Sunday. And their own offense? Put it this way: you can trust QB Josh
Greaves and his squad to penetrate every defensive scheme and personnel. With what we now know, lets take a look at HC Jason Scott’s reflections regarding the game against Birmingham and his attitude coming into the championship battle against UWE.
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Over the years Birmingham have cemented themselves as one of the leading BUCS football programs. How much preparation went into that game both on and off the field?
We don’t play against teams based on their legacies, their history or their reputation. We look at who they are right here, right now, and prepare to allow our players an opportunity to succeed on gameday. We need to respect everyone who steps on the field against us; to do anything else would be foolhardy. We scouted the Lions, we did our homework, and put a plan into place – just like we would any other team.
Birmingham primarily lined their defence up in the 3-4, a scheme that is uncommon in today’s game. Was that something you were prepared for and knew how to counter? How much, if at all, did it impact your ability to execute your game plan?
Our family of coaches pride ourselves on our ability to expect the unexpected and to prepare for any contingency. We know that – whilst the Lions have lined up in even fronts, they do have it in their scheme to play with three linemen. We suspected they would need to account for our passing attack, so built that into our plan. It helps to have a wealth of talent and experience on the field; we have a QB who has seen a lot during his career, and an Offensive Line who communicates really well. All these things – of course – make our jobs easier as coaches.
At 34-0 in the 4th quarter, what led you to attempt a fake Field Goal instead of testing the kicker?
We try to be prepared for anything; sometimes the best time to practice certain plays and try certain formations are during game situations. We have great scout team sessions, but nothing compares to doing it in game situations, against a team wearing a different colour jersey, when there is something on the line. We’ve had the opportunity to be fairly creative this season, which will allow us to utilise what we’ve learned during the final.
When up by 7 points against UEA you elected to run a triple option “wishbone”, leading to a gain of about 15 yards. Can we expect more trickery in the final game of the season, how likely are you to risk a hit on your star QB, Josh Greaves, in aims of gaining crucial yards?
Expect the unexpected. We play teams based on what they’re going to give us, and look to exploit circumstances, formations and players. Nothing is off the table.
UWE conceded their first points ( 6 ) of the season against Leeds last weekend. On top of this, during post-game interviews their players claimed that their defence struggled with misalignment in the 1 st quarter. How does that impact your confidence in Gold’s ability to break through the previously impenetrable defence?
I have supreme confidence in our team; not just on the field, but off it as well. We’ve all endured a challenging few years, and this team has come together through difficult circumstances. Whether Leeds scored 6 or they scored 60,we know what we’re coming up against, and we’ll be prepared for any eventuality.
When asked about your team, UWE coaches said that you “have a good QB, a good team” but promised to “send a message and take home the title”. What is your response to this, and what do you think about your upcoming opponent?
That’s very kind of them, but there’s nothing ‘good’ about our team. We don’t deal in ‘good’ – we deal in ‘great’. Everything we do is focused on being the very best version of us that we can be; I’m sure they’re not bothered about what I think of them. We’re focused on having a great week of practices, and making sure that we’re as prepared as we can be.
The Bullets prize themselves in their QB who has been compared to the likes of Lamar Jackson due to his dual-threat ability. How do you prepare for a talent like him? Will you be making adjustments on the defensive side of the ball to adapt to the threat he poses?
Their QB isn’t Lamar Jackson, he’s Ivan Niyomugabo, which means he has his own unique set of skills and abilities. We’ll do our best to limit his strengths and force him into making mistakes. We have some talent on our defense, and we’ll put them in a position to succeed on Tuesday night.
What elements of the Nottingham program can we expect on show in the final?
The strength of our team is our team; which sounds strange, but it’s very true. We have some quality players down our depth chart ready for their opportunity to play. I also know that when they’re not on the field, they’ll be working as hard as the 11 guys on the field; encouraging, supporting and providing a great atmosphere on our sideline. We have a very passionate Green team, who have played a huge role in giving the Gold team great scout and fantastic looks during practices throughout the season – they have a huge role to play during Championship week. We really value, appreciate and are thankful for these guys – they are the heart of our team, and we’re excited about their future.
What is your message to fans and viewers from around Europe who will tune in to the game on Tuesday?
We’re excited to be playing in the National Final, and everyone watching can expect that the University of Nottingham will be extremely well prepared and ready for the game
From Coach Scott’s responses, it is clear that Nottingham are entering the game with an immense amount of confidence. To quote their Head Coach directly : “nothing is off the table”. The upcoming game appears to be the ultimate end to an extraordinary season, with both teams willing to show that a season of hard work can be materialised into a trophy and ring. How will UWE respond to the confidence of the Rolling Gold? Can the Bullet’s fire past another opponent the way they have done so all season, or will their opponent force them to step awaym from glory? All questions will be answered very soon, in the British University and College Sport football final- in a game which will be spoken about for years to come.
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The game will take place on the 22 nd of March 2022 and information regarding stream will be published on EE’s social media’s prior to the event.
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Article by Oliver Strzelczyk of Europe’s Elite (@oli.strzelczyk/ig)
Interviewee: Coach Jason Scott ( @uonaf_headcoach/ig)
Photo credits: Grant Lawless ( @coachlawless/ig)