Rams look forward following tumultuous week

The University of Regina Rams went from battling for a home playoff game to battling for their season as they entered Friday’s game against the University of Alberta Golden Bears.

Due to an ineligible player, the Rams forfeited their three wins on the season and fell to 0-5 on the season.

Head Coach Stephen Bryce said the team needs to find a way to focus on their games despite what has happened off the field.

“It’s our job as coaches and players to put some stuff behind us, find the reset button and move forward,” Bryce said. “We always tell our guys they can’t control the past but you can start right now and control the future so we can only do what’s in our control and that’s what we’ve got to focus on.”

Brcye said it was “crushingly hard” to deliver the news to the players, particularly for those in their fifth year.

“You just look at the investment that they put into this year and all the years leading up to this, it’s unbelievable how that would affect you, knowing that this is the culmination of your career and it’s gone in the blink of an eye.”

Another major worry for the Rams is the health of quarterback Noah Picton. The U Sports all-time leading passer didn’t practice earlier in the week due to a toe injury.

If Picton is unable to play, Seb Britton is expected to line up under centre in the Rams biggest game of the year thus far.

“(Britton’s) been very, very good, very consistent this year, he takes advantage of every opportunity he has, … I think our coaches and our players would rally around him if that was the case,” Bryce said.

Britton has put together a nice stat-line when he has come in for relief this season — he’s completed all five of his passes and has thrown for two touchdowns.

Despite the Rams winning their first meeting with the Alberta Golden Bears, Bryce said there’s no room for error from here on out.

“We can’t look back at our game that we played against them and focus our attention on that because they’re a different team,” Bryce said.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium Friday.