Morning rounds ... accolades for Bennett

MEDIA

• The Score producer/football sideline reporter DJ Bennett, a former tailback at Western, is up for a Gemini Award for Best Sports Feature. It was one of two nominations for the network in that category.
  

  "Sarah Meehan and Jake Thompson were nominated in the Best Sports Feature category for their excellent exploration of minor hockey's woes ... Producer DJ Bennett was nominated in the same category for a sports special on Black History Month.

  Not only does that speak well for the people at The Score, it is testament to the network's willingness to put young people in leadership roles. As Chris Zelkovich says, "Instead of the usual suspects, most of whom get the paycheques from the CBC, this year's list includes a lot of new faces from a lot of different places."
  
  Of course, some would argue that See Bee See folk should be the first option for these awards. They are smarter and better-looking, after all. (Toronto Star)

FOOTBALL

• Laval running back Samuel Fournier talks about the attitude adjustment he's made since last season. (Le Soleil)
  
  
• Q&A with Simon Fraser coach Dave Johnson. (Little Man on Campus)
  
  
• Monty Mosher has the lay of the land in the Atlantic conference. (Halifax Herald)
  
  
• The Saskatchewan Huskies receiving group is in good hands (groan). (Huskies Football Outsider)
  
  
• Manitoba QB Nathan Friesen self-applies the term "football nerds" to himself and player-turned-assistant coach John Makie. The reporter's Remember The Titans reference is a perfect opportunity to point out Varsity Blues is actually the superior late 1990s high school football movie. This is not up for discussion. (Winnipeg Free Press)
  
  
• Another first-year starting QB, Ottawa's Brad Sinopoli is rarin' to lead the Gee-Gees, even though Davie Mason might not be there to take handoffs. The latter has Capital Region Football Blog concerned. (Ottawa Sun)
  
  
• Mr. Mo looks at the Western Mustangs' main area of concern, the defensive secondary without Corey McNair and Matt Carapella. Cornerback Josh Foster was quietly efficient last season, was he not? (London Free Press)
  
  
• Does anyone else feel like Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback Jason Clermont (U of Regina) is tempting fate by using his column to talk about how CFL rules dealing with the release of a veteran player? (Regina Leader-Post)
  
  
• Huskies Football Outsiders has your Canada West headlines.
  

BASKETBALL

• Mark Wacyk is in a southern Alberta state of mind, previewing the Lethbridge Pronghorns. New coach Don Adams has added some new guys, including former Calgary Dinos point guard Jeff Price and sharpshooter Randy Davis from Red Deer College. (cishoops.ca)
  
  
• cishoops.ca should be a one-stop location for updates throughout Canada's run at the FIBA Americas championship, which begins today for Canada vs. Mexico (The Score, 4 p.m. ET). Canada Basketball has a complete schedule posted, plus you have to see how one advance story mangled Aaron Doornekamp's first name. The surname was been known to trip up people who didn't grow in the greater Kingston area.
  
  
• A good primer on the St. John's Red Storm, who play Carleton and Ottawa on Sept. 6. (SLAM Online)
  
  
• Were it not for work commitments, we would be at the Vermont-Carleton women's basketball exhibition game tonight.
  

HOCKEY

• Former Manitoba Bisons coach Wayne Fleming has joined the coaching staff of the NHL's Edmonton Oilers.