Bret Anderson
Born: (1974-04-23) April 23, 1974
New Westminster, BC
Career information
CFL statusNational
Position(s)SB/K
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight210 lb (95 kg)
UniversitySimon Fraser
High schoolTerry Fox HS
CFL Draft1997 / Round: 4 / Pick: 25
Drafted byBC Lions
Career history
As player
1997–2009BC Lions
Career highlights and awards

Bret Anderson (born April 23, 1974) is a former Canadian football placekicker and slotback who played his entire career for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League.[1]

Anderson is 6'3" and 215 lbs. He played 13 years in the CFL, mostly as a slotback and all with the Lions. He went to Simon Fraser University in Burnaby.[2] During that time, he also worked with former Coquitlam Cheetahs track and field coach Percy Perry on developing his running.[3]

Bret was drafted in the 4th round, 25th overall by the Lions in the 1997 CFL Draft. Anderson was key to the BC Lions's 2000 Grey Cup win. From 2001 to 2003, he caught 66 passes and had 4 touchdowns as a backup. He played only 5 games in 2004 before retiring to become a firefighter. In 2005, he came back and recorded his longest kick ever on October 16, 2005 against the Montreal Alouettes. The kick was 91 yards long. Anderson got his second Grey Cup ring in 2006.

Bret Anderson works for the Port Coquitlam fire department both during and after the football season.[4] The Coquitlam, British Columbia native has gone through the formality of resigning from the Lions each year since he got on full-time with the PCFD in 2004 (he left the team after five games that season and did not rejoin until 2005).

Anderson did not initially return for the 2009 BC Lions season but was re-signed on October 5, 2009.[5]

High school career

Anderson attended Terry Fox Secondary School in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia where he played both football and basketball. He played quarterback on the football team. As a senior in 1992, Anderson led the Terry Fox Ravens to the semi-finals of the provincial playoffs, where the Ravens lost to the Vancouver College Fighting Irish. He was designated the high school football offensive player-of-the-year in British Columbia.[6] As a basketball player, Anderson was selected as the MVP of the British Columbia AAA high school basketball tournament after leading the Ravens to their first championship in school history.[7] During the tournament, he scored 44 points against Caledonia and a game-high 28 points in the final against the North Delta Huskies.[7][8] He played in a provincial basketball all-star game and was selected to represent British Columbia in the first football national championship tournament.[9][10] Anderson was a finalist for 1993 British Columbia High School Athlete of the Year.[11]

College career

Anderson was recruited to play both football and basketball for colleges in the United States and Canada. By March 1993, over sixty colleges indicated interest. Anderson chose to remain in British Columbia and play both sports for the Simon Fraser Clan.[12]

Football

In 1993, Anderson was third on the depth chart at quarterback and contributed mostly as a punter. He finished with 1,406 yards on punts, and his only scoring play was a 53-yard rushing touchdown on a trick play.[13] As a sophomore, Anderson was initially used as a receiver after multiple players dropped out of the football team during training camp. After placekicker Tyson O'Shea suffered a knee injury, Anderson also began kicking field goals and regularly punting for the Clan.[14] In his first game as a placekicker, he kicked four field goals and four one-point conversions to be named Mount Rainier Columbia Football Association player of the week.[15] In 1995, Anderson was selected to the All-Conference first team as a kicker.[16] As a senior, Anderson's kicking was considered the most reliable portion of the Clan's offense.[17] He was named to the All-Conference second team.[18]

Basketball

As a freshman, Anderson didn't participate heavily on the basketball team. Due to overlaps in the football and basketball seasons, he didn't join the team until November, and he played only 13 minutes over the first four games he played with the Clan.[13] Anderson was eventually substituted into 13 games as a freshman and scored 21 points.[14] He was more active on the team as a sophomore. Anderson scored 10 points in overtime to help the Clan defeat Lewis–Clark State College 85–69.[19] The following week, he scored a team-high 18 points in a 90–87 playoff loss to Seattle University.[20] Anderson continued playing basketball through his junior year before deciding to focus solely on football as a senior.[21]

Professional career

1997 season

The BC Lions selected Anderson in the fourth round of the 1997 CFL Draft with the 25th overall pick. He was expected to be "groomed as [kicker] Lui Passaglia's eventual replacement".[22] In the Lions' first preseason game, Anderson had a shaky start as a placekicker, missing two of five field goal attempts.[23] He competed for Trevor Shaw's slotback position, but the Lions eventually decided to convert Al Shipman to slotback and retain both Shaw and Anderson as backups.[24][25] Anderson contributed most as a kickoff specialist during the 1997 season, but he also was used as a punter occasionally.[26][27] He played in 13 regular season games as a rookie.[1]

1998 season

Anderson again competed for a roster spot as a slotback in 1998.[28] Despite catching five receptions for 45 yards in a preseason game, Anderson failed to make the roster as a slotback and was released as part of the Lions' final roster cuts before the start of the regular season.[29][30] In mid-July, slotback Shaw dislocated his shoulder and was unable to start. Anderson rejoined the team and received his first start in place of Shaw.[31] He reclaimed his kickoff role later that month before suffering a groin injury.[32] Anderson's injury prevented him from playing for the entirety of August, and he was unable to perform kickoffs even after his return to special teams.[33] He finished his limited season with 13 regular season appearances.[1]

1999 season

Anderson played in all 18 regular season games in 1999, mostly as a kickoff specialist.[1] Anderson acted as a backup kicker for Passaglia on field goals, but he didn't kick any field goals despite Passaglia suffering an adbdominal muscle injury in the early season.[26][34] Anderson recorded a career-high 21 special team tackles, including five against the Montreal Alouettes in early September.[1][35]

2000 season

After receiver Don Blair underwent surgery, Anderson again competed for a starting slotback role. He injured his knee while playing in a preseason game against the Calgary Stampeders, preventing him from continuing in the role during the regular season.[36][37] Although activated briefly for a game in late July, Anderson was later moved to the nine-week injured list and did not return until October.[38][39][40] He finished with four regular season games played in 2000.[1]

In the West final against the Stampeders, one of Anderson's kickoffs landed short, bounced off a Lions player's leg, and went out of bounds to allow the Lions to regain possession. This helped contribute to a 37–23 win, which was considered a major upset.[41] The Lions went on to win the 88th Grey Cup against the 27–21 against the Alouettes, making Anderson a Grey Cup champion.[42]

2001 season

After winning the Grey Cup, Passaglia elected to retire. Anderson competed with Jamie Boreham and Matt Kellett for kicking and punting duties.[43] The Lions elected to use Anderson more as a receiver than kicker with the Lions coaching staff believing he could have a "breakout season".[44] In the season opener against the Edmonton Eskimos, Anderson scored his first career receiving touchdown, following it with a single on the resulting kickoff.[45][46] Due to a hip pointer and back injury suffered during the opener, Anderson spent multiple stints on the injured list in July and early August.[47][48] After returning to the team in mid-August, Anderson was effective on special teams, blocking a punt in two consecutive games.[49][50]

Due to various injuries, Anderson spent September as back-ups at receiver, kicker, and quarterback.[51] He spent some time playing both receiver and kicker in late September due to injuries and a kicking slump by Kellett, respectively.[52] Anderson finished the season with 189 receiving yards on 18 catches over 15 regular season games, his largest receiving load with the Lions up to that time.[1]

2002 season

Anderson was re-signed by the Lions in January 2002.[53] Anderson solidified his role as a starting receiver during the preseason.[54] He briefly missed time in late July with a knee issue.[55] In October, Anderson scored a single on a trick play as the first half ended when he caught a 30-yard reception and immediately kicked it into the endzone, where it was recovered by the Calgary Stampeders.[56] The 2002 season was Anderson's most successful as a receiver with 409 receiving yards on 28 catches, both lasting career highs.[1]

2003 season

Anderson played slotback regularly during June and July while Jason Clermont was injured.[57] By mid-July, Anderson had 11 receptions for 158 yards.[58] He slowed down through the rest of the season after Clermont returned, finishing with 20 catches for 237 yards and two touchdowns.[1] In November, Anderson signed a contract extension for one year with an option.[59]

2004 season

In July, Lions head coach Wally Buono had Anderson kick field goals in practice, announcing that Anderson may take over that responsibility if kicker Duncan O'Mahony continued to perform poorly.[60] Having already lost his kickoff role to O'Mahony, Anderson had no consistent role on the team in 2004 other than as a special teams player. In late July, Anderson announced he was leaving the Lions to become a firefighter full-time.[61] Anderson's departure was reported as a retirement.[62] He played in five regular season games during 2004 before leaving the Lions.[1]

2005 season

In April 2005, Buono negotiated with the Port Coquitlam Fire Department to allow Anderson to work both jobs simultaneously.[63] Anderson re-signed with the Lions in June, missing training camp but joining the team before the regular season started.[64] Anderson served as a backup slotback and kicker. In late July, he played most of a game at slotback due to a hamstring injury to Geroy Simon.[65] In August, he regained kickoff duties from O'Mahony.[66] After O'Mahony missed three field goals in an October game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Anderson attempted a 48-yard field goal to tie the game with less than a minute left to play. The field goal was blocked, resulting in a loss.[67] O'Mahony was later replaced by Mark McLoughlin with Anderson remaining the backup field goal kicker.[68]

The Lions' kicker issues persisted into the postseason. In the final game of the regular season, Anderson injured his ribs on the opening kickoff and was replaced by McLoughlin, who later damaged his hamstring.[69] Anderson healed in time to perform kickoffs in the West Final against the Eskimos, which the Lions lost 23–28.[70][71]

2006 season

Anderson "retired" prior to the beginning of training camp in 2006 as part of a deal between the Lions and the Port Coquitlam Fire Department. Anderson worked regular shifts as a firefighter throughout training camp before rejoining the team in early June, immediately before the start of the regular season.[72]

2007 season

2008 season

2009 season

Season statistics

[1][26]ReceivingKickingMisc
YearTeamGPRecYdsAvgLongTDKickoffsYdsAvgLongSinglesFGConTklsFUMFR
1997BC13000.000522,72852.567000700
1998BC1311212.01201376258.6670001200
1999BC18199.090734,08756.0892002100
2000BC75499.81301369853.7670001000
2001BC151818910.5161271,54057.085100710
2002BC182840914.6331951156.862100710
2003BC182023711.9362000.00000501
2004BC5000.000000.00000000
2005BC183258.3110573,16555.5911001110
2006BC1877510.7150713,99556.371000810
2007BC1811414.0140824,69557.367042500
2008BC15911813.1281301,70056.765000310
2009BC5000.000000.00000000
Total181931,13712.236542723,88155.9915429651

Personal life and career

Anderson has three daughters with his wife, Jennifer.[73] Anderson's father, Al Anderson, played American football at Western Washington University before declining a contract from the BC Lions in favor of becoming a high school teacher.[57]

In 2003, while Anderson was playing for the Lions, he was trained as a firefighter with the expectation that he may lose his position on the team after that season.[58] He accepted a job at the Port Coquitlam Fire Department in July 2004.[61]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Maher, Tod; Gill, Bob (2013). The Canadian Pro Football Encyclopedia: Every Player, Coach and Game, 1946–2012. Maher Sports Media. p. 145. ISBN 978-0-9835136-6-7.
  2. ↑ "Bret Anderson". BC Lions Football Club. Archived from the original on 2010-01-04. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  3. ↑ Coquitlam Now: Coquitlam loses coach, mentor Archived 2012-07-13 at archive.today Retrieved on 27 December 2009
  4. ↑ "Camaraderie the tie that binds on field and off". Vancouver Province. 2008-07-23. Archived from the original on 2010-11-20. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  5. ↑ "Bret Anderson returns to Lions". BC Lions Football Club. 2009-10-05. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  6. ↑ Little, Lyndon (November 21, 1992). "College talent just keeps coming". The Vancouver Sun. p. E19.
  7. 1 2 Kingston, Gary (March 15, 1993). "Hoop heroes win one in memory of Terry Fox: Namesake motivates champions". The Vancouver Sun. p. D3.
  8. ↑ Kingston, Gary (March 11, 1993). "Anderson pumps in 44 as legend grows". The Vancouver Sun. p. D9.
  9. ↑ Strachan, Alex (April 8, 1993). "Ball-hogs stayed on sideline in competitive all-star tilt". The Vancouver Sun. p. D20.
  10. ↑ Shutiak, Laura (July 9, 1993). "DUSSAULT ENJOYING WORKING WITH KIDS". Calgary Herald. p. D2.
  11. ↑ Strachan, Alex (February 24, 1994). "Anderson, Mattiazzo, Poole in running for top athlete". The Vancouver Sun. p. D7.
  12. ↑ Stinson, Dan (March 30, 1993). "Double major: PoCo prodigy sticks close to home for hoops, gridiron play". The Vancouver Sun. p. D8.
  13. 1 2 Stinson, Dan (December 2, 1993). "Bret Anderson finds Clan plays at higher level: High school star adjusts to faster university play". The Vancouver Sun. p. D12.
  14. 1 2 Stinson, Dan (October 19, 1994). "Aspiring quarterback trades in his arm for foot: ANDERSON: Likes to catch". The Vancouver Sun. p. D1.
  15. ↑ "BRIEF: Graves under knife for disc problem". The Vancouver Sun. October 12, 1994. p. D11.
  16. ↑ Stinson, Dan (November 16, 1995). "'Quarterback' Guichon leads UBC volleyballers against UVic". The Vancouver Sun. p. D2.
  17. ↑ Stinson, Dan (September 27, 1996). "Clansmen hoping to round out offence to beat mighty Pacific Lutheran". The Vancouver Sun. p. F5.
  18. ↑ "SFU's Brown honored". The Vancouver Sun. November 20, 1996. p. F4.
  19. ↑ Stinson, Dan (February 27, 1995). "Women volleyballers hope for return of power Sander". The Vancouver Sun. p. D3.
  20. ↑ Stinson, Dan (March 2, 1995). "Chieftains bring Clan's hoop season to an abrupt halt". The Vancouver Sun. p. D9.
  21. ↑ Tsumara, Howard (February 1, 2016). "'SuperSonic' Simson: Kelowna's two-sport star set to make grid-hoops history next season at UBC". The Province. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  22. ↑ Kingston, Gary (April 8, 1997). "Lions snare Beveridge with their first pick". The Vancouver Sun. p. E1.
  23. ↑ Macintyre, Iain (June 9, 1997). "Owner Braley 'enthusiastic' despite crowd". The Vancouver Sun. p. C3.
  24. ↑ Macintyre, Iain (June 11, 1997). "Perseverance pays off for B.C. Lions' receiver Shaw". The Vancouver Sun. p. D13.
  25. ↑ Macintyre, Iain (June 23, 1997). "Shipman, Philpot share backfield: Lions' coach Adam Rita makes bold move to keep both speedsters on roster as CFL club trims roster to 36-man limit". The Vancouver Sun. p. C3.
  26. 1 2 3 Maher, Tod; Gill, Bob (2013). The Canadian Pro Football Encyclopedia: Every Player, Coach and Game, 1946–2012. Maher Sports Media. p. 590. ISBN 978-0-9835136-6-7.
  27. ↑ Little, Lyndon (October 6, 1997). "Lions' confidence takes a beating, courtesy of Toronto". The Vancouver Sun. p. C1.
  28. ↑ Klovance, Rob (June 22, 1998). "Shillingford is no lock for Canadian receiver: Six homebrew receivers remain in camp as Lions get ready for last exhibition game Thursday at B.C. Place". The Vancouver Sun. p. D7.
  29. ↑ Klovance, Rob (June 26, 1998). "Lions win one but take hits to key players". The Vancouver Sun. p. E1.
  30. ↑ Klovance, Rob (June 29, 1998). "Quick Six is deep sixed as Lions alter backfield". The Vancouver Sun. p. D1.
  31. ↑ "Scouting Report". The Vancouver Sun. July 10, 1998. p. E1.
  32. ↑ "Scouting Report". The Vancouver Sun. July 30, 1998. p. E3.
  33. ↑ Klovance, Rob (October 15, 1998). "Kickoff auditions no boot at Lui: B.C. Lions are happy with veteran Lui Passaglia, but are looking for somebody who can hoof the ball near the goalline on kickoffs". The Vancouver Sun. p. F5.
  34. ↑ "Passaglia's three misses hurt Leos". The Vancouver Sun. September 20, 1999. p. C1.
  35. ↑ Klovance, Rob (September 3, 1999). "Lions whip Alouettes to lead the CFL". The Vancouver Sun. p. E1.
  36. ↑ Ullrich, Lowell (June 21, 2000). "A shot at slotback for versatile Lion". The Vancouver Province. p. A55.
  37. ↑ Ullrich, Lowell (June 29, 2000). "Game stymies QB: CFL nuances sack hopeful Nussmeier". The Vancouver Province. p. A58.
  38. ↑ Ullrich, Lowell (July 20, 2000). "It's more than the score: Offensive and defensive sets are important, and then there's the mindset". The Vancouver Province. p. A52.
  39. ↑ Ullrich, Lowell (August 3, 2000). "Leos pondered kicker deal: Argos' Giancola targeted because he's Canadian". The Vancouver Province. p. A53.
  40. ↑ Ireland, Joanne (October 1, 2000). "Game-Day Snaps: Edmonton Eskimos vs. B.C. Lions". Edmonton Journal. p. D1.
  41. ↑ Petrie, Michael (November 20, 2000). "Double destruction: Roaring Lions, eight turnovers derail stunned Stampeders". Calgary Herald. p. D1.
  42. ↑ Maher, Tod; Gill, Bob (2013). The Canadian Pro Football Encyclopedia: Every Player, Coach and Game, 1946–2012. Maher Sports Media. p. 51. ISBN 978-0-9835136-6-7.
  43. ↑ Beamish, Mike (June 9, 2001). "Lions defend CFL title". The Vancouver Sun. p. G4.
  44. ↑ Ullrich, Lowell (July 5, 2001). "Roaring success: Near invisible in the offseason, the Lions look set to unveil Sneak Attack. B.C. Lions talk about what it'll take to repeat as Grey Cup champions". The Vancouver Province. p. A58.
  45. ↑ Ullrich, Lowell (July 8, 2001). "Kellett boots Esks". The Vancouver Province. p. A86.
  46. ↑ Hall, Vicki (July 8, 2001). "Lions claw to prevent a draw: Millington's short OT run ruins gutsy comeback by Esks in season-opener; Lions 35 Eskimos 28 (OT)". Edmonton Journal. p. D1.
  47. ↑ Beamish, Mike (July 21, 2001). "CFL Game Day". The Vancouver Sun. p. G3.
  48. ↑ Beamish, Mike (July 27, 2001). "CFL Game Day". The Vancouver Sun. p. D3.
  49. ↑ Ullrich, Lowell (August 10, 2001). "Allen ready to run risks". The Vancouver Province. p. A54.
  50. ↑ "Report card". The Vancouver Province. August 26, 2001. p. A79.
  51. ↑ "But can he also drive the team bus?". The Vancouver Sun. September 5, 2001. p. C1.
  52. ↑ "Bombers prove they're best". The Vancouver Sun. September 29, 2001. p. H1.
  53. ↑ Little, Lyndon (January 31, 2002). "Rita cutting down potential free agents: Mantyka and Anderson the latest to sign contracts". The Vancouver Sun. p. E6.
  54. ↑ "Lions counting on Allen". Prince George Citizen. June 21, 2002. p. 11.
  55. ↑ Ullrich, Lowell (July 30, 2002). "Passing his prime: Allen's still a good quarterback, just not quite as good as he used to be". The Vancouver Province. p. A42.
  56. ↑ Ullrich, Lowell (October 15, 2002). "Trickery a nice touch in win". The Vancouver Province. p. A43.
  57. 1 2 Beamish, Mike (June 28, 2003). "Opportunity knocking: CFL I Anderson gets a chance to prove he's ready as the Lions put in the call". The Vancouver Sun. p. J1.
  58. 1 2 Ullrich, Lowell (July 15, 2003). "No cause for alarm to veteran slotback: Bret Anderson can be a firefighter and a player - Buono". The Vancouver Province. p. A40.
  59. ↑ Beamish, Mike (November 6, 2003). "Ackles expects the Lions to progress: President intends to remain with the project as long as he is healthy and can see the team moving forward". The Vancouver Sun. p. E1.
  60. ↑ Ullrich, Lowell (July 8, 2004). "Buddy, can you spare ...". The Vancouver Province. p. A58.
  61. 1 2 Ullrich, Lowell (July 25, 2004). "Career change for career Lion". The Vancouver Province. p. A71.
  62. ↑ Petrie, Michael (July 28, 2004). "Notable". Calgary Herald. p. C2.
  63. ↑ Beamish, Mike (April 14, 2005). "Taking out fire insurance: B.C. Lions want to share Bret Anderson with the Port Coquitlam fire department". The Vancouver Sun. p. E6.
  64. ↑ Beamish, Mike (June 21, 2005). "Lions gain non-import depth: Bret Anderson, Chris Hoople return to the fold". The Vancouver Sun. p. E4.
  65. ↑ Beamish, Mike (July 30, 2005). "Stamps underfoot: CFL I B.C. remains undefeated on the season, but win could be costly". The Vancouver Sun. p. E1.
  66. ↑ Ullrich, Lowell (August 15, 2005). "Kicker's out on an island after latest shocker: Coach is giving wayward O'Mahony less work to do". The Vancouver Province. p. A39.
  67. ↑ Mcintyre, Gordon (October 2, 2005). "O'Mahoney figures he's gone: SCAPEGOAT: Kicker's fate will likely be revealed on Wednesday". The Vancouver Province. p. A65.
  68. ↑ Henry, Ken (October 25, 2005). "O'Mahony no longer kicking field goals: But Abby man says he has no hard feelings". Abbotsford Times. p. 24.
  69. ↑ McIntyre, Gordon (November 7, 2005). "If you're any kind of a kicker, just make sure your cell's on". The Vancouver Province. p. A38.
  70. ↑ Morris, Jim (November 19, 2005). "Lions' kickers may go toe-to-toe". Hamilton Spectator. p. SP07.
  71. ↑ Maher, Tod; Gill, Bob (2013). The Canadian Pro Football Encyclopedia: Every Player, Coach and Game, 1946–2012. Maher Sports Media. p. 38. ISBN 978-0-9835136-6-7.
  72. ↑ Ullrich, Lowell (June 9, 2006). "He's available to fight fires". The Vancouver Province. p. A69.
  73. ↑ Ullrich, Lowell (October 2, 2002). "Stensrud gets call to stave off Montford". The Vancouver Province. p. A35.
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