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From the coach on down to the ball boy, the word ‘REPEAT is lodged in their minds as they begin their familiar march to the Vanier Cup, to defend their CIAU football championship. Last vear‘s miracle Hawks overcame great odds to stop the No. 1â€" ranked Western Mustangs from London for the Yates Cup. Hawks were blown away in their regular season encounter with the Stangs, but a touchdown by Hawk quarâ€" terback Bill Kubas in the dying moments of the game sidelined the highlyâ€"favored Mustangs for another season. They went on to win the Vanier Cup by defeating the Mt. Allison Mounties capping off an incredible season No. 1 ranking, no surprise Just how important are those J preâ€"seasons rankings? Even before the university footâ€" ball season sees its first punt, pass or kick, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawk head coach Rich Newbrough knows his rookies and veterans serise the pressure of the upcomâ€" ing season Last week‘s media poll ranked the Hawks No. 1 in the nation, but that was no surprise to Newbrough who admitted that the defending national champions are usually ranked in the premier posiâ€" tion "Everybody says they don‘t pay any attention to the Top Ten rankings, but they still read them and still comment on them, but the only thing is, is that there‘s no place to move up, only down." "If anybody deserves it, I suppose we do. I can‘t understand for the life of me if Western has got five preâ€"season allâ€"Cana dians why they wouldn‘t be ranked higher than us." Newbrough openly admitted his disapâ€" pointment with the lack of respect his individual players received from the poll. Not one was named offensive or defensive allâ€"Canadians. "You‘re darn right I‘m upset that we were overlooked in the allâ€"Canadian selections. Reinhardt Keller, I think, by season‘s end and certainly by the end of the Vanier Cup, had everybody talking about him as the leader of our fine defensive line and he doesn‘t even make an honorable mention as allâ€"Canadian." tb The ironic part of Keller‘s obvious absence from the rankings is that ie was an unanimous first choice allâ€"Canadian last year on a Hawk team that didn‘t get out of the OUAA Western Division. Newbrough, trying to sweeten the efâ€" fects of a bitter pill, is looking at Keller‘s omission from the allâ€"Canadian list as a blessing in disguise. "I would hate to single out anyone of my guys at this stage, and since they were all ignored, maybe we have something to prove." Over the weekend Laurier held its rookie and veteran camp, hosting a small army â€" about 90 â€" of players. Hawks will have some pretty big gaps to fill with the loss of allâ€"Canadian tailback Andy Cecâ€" chini, allâ€"Canadian â€" linebacker Fred Grossman, as well as fellow linebackers Jim Burkitt, Dave Nagey and centre John Palmer. Defensive back Greg Knox will also be missing from the line up as he had made the jump to the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. "Linebackers are a critical issue right now. We lost five of our front eight. ‘‘Talent wise, we‘ll find somebody to replace Freddy Grossman because we have some talented kids here. But you don‘t replace Grossman‘s five years of experience or Burkett‘s and Nagey‘s four years of experience. We won‘t have a With those key players gone, Newborâ€" ough is hoping that key veterans can pick up the ball and be team leaders. "I think Hugh Lawson, coming back for his fifth year on the defensive line, is one of the finest leaders we have had and I think he is one of the most mature athletes we‘ve ever had." fourthâ€"year linebacker, we‘ll have a third, second or first year linebacker and we‘ll miss that experience, especially in the big games." Offensively Newborough is counting on P.J. Martin, one of the strong silent types, who the Laurier coach feels is going to have to open up a bit more this year. Hawks will see 10 offensive and eight defensive starters returning and looking at all the returning players the Hawk coach knows that they‘ve worker harder this year than in the past. ‘‘They‘ve been to that well and they tasted that sweet water and they want to go back for another drink, but they also know this: Since we are reigning champs and ranked No. 1, everybody is going to be gunning for us. Everybody is going to play a level higher against us and our kids are going to have to realize that." Hawks first exhibition game will be September 5 when they host York Univerâ€" sity at Seagram Stadium. siepsngin Ri ic se 3 Tough week for rookie Mitchell Last year Jody Mitchell was preâ€" sented the Doug Shuh Award, symbolic of high school‘s top football award. This week his high school fame is a thing of the past. The former Bluevale Knight running back will know the meaning of pain. He‘ll be hit harder and he‘ll hit harder than ever before and practise until he feels like dropping while fighting for a position with the Wilfrid Laurier Goldâ€" en Hawks during the first week: of football camp. i es With tailback Andy Cecchini gone from the 1991/92 championship squad, the door could open for Mitchell. It‘s doubtful that the key to the door will be handed to him; he may be forced to break it down. On the same note, former Cameron Heights Gael Tony Doherty is also looking to go through that same door. The big question remains, who will go through first? brough said. ‘"He‘s what we call ‘flexible‘ and he certainly has the tools to play a couple of positions." Also coming into camp from Califorâ€" nia, with two years of junior college experience, is Doherty, who also apâ€" pears to have all the tools to play tailback. According to Mitchell, university football is going to be a whole new According to Laurier coach Rich Newbrough, Mitchell is one of the more talented athletes the Hawks have recruited this season, but he‘s not quite sure where Mitchell is going to line up. He could be in the backfield or a receiver. "We think he has a couple of possibilâ€" ities. He has the potential to play this year and certainly next year and the years after that, it all depends on how "It‘s quicker, stronger and I‘m going to have to go in there (camp) with my head up and an open mind," Mitchell said. At 173 pounds, Mitchell built up his endurance over the summer months by cycling over 1,000 kilometres, but he‘s down about 10 pounds from last seaâ€" son, something he knows won‘t imâ€" press Newbrough. ‘‘They‘re looking for a tailback, but at my size and weight, they‘ll probably want me for a flanker or receiver. I would even settle for special teams. I just know that I‘m going to have to do my bulking up during the season." He realizes that he‘s going to be the little guy at the camp, no more Big Kahuna, and he hasn‘t made any goals for the team. He‘s hoping for a starting position, but admits he‘ll take anyâ€" into W iaisn in iea a 3v,