My annual 'disclaimer' which I essentially took from my opening column last year (and the year before)...

It's the start of the new year and we have a ton of new viewers to the website (thank you & make sure you tell a friend - especially our younger parents) so let's get started with a little brief history and information for all our newbie's...

Vince Rew & I bought stalbertsportsfan.com in the fall of 2004 from cyanetsports.com and thus this begins stalbertsportsfan's 12th season covering St. Albert! Vince & I eventually sold the site to your current owner, Owen Burgin, and now I'm a volunteer.

Over the years, some don't know, some have been confused and some just don't remember or 'get it' so let's be clear: St. Albert does not own this website. They have NO control on our content. They are gracious enough to let us use their logo's and we in turn promote and highlight the school - mainly high school 'stuff'. If you don't like something you see on the site - don't call or email the school. They don't own it, control it or have access to it.

That being said, we have a VERY good & strong relationship with the school. We love all things green & gold, just like you do! We try and partner with the school and their interests and 99.9% of the time if they ask for something we try and accomodate. However, once in awhile we'll differ or offer another opinion than what is being presented.

And finally, we're not professionals on this site.  We're all volunteers.  If you really want well written, gripping reading or interviews, please see Kevin White and his staff at The Nonpareil or Derek Martin and his staff at KMA...

So let's get started with 2015-2016...

1st off: Good for TJ & AL to finally get a new stadium complex - loooooooong overdue.  My parents, Jon & Candy, are proud 1965 & 1966 TJ grads (along with their brothers & sisters) so I've always cheered for TJ when they don't play SA.  I'm just throwing that out there.

Let me throw this out there: Your new SA Trainer from Jennie Ed Sports Med is 1997 St. Albert graduate, Nick Finken.  He and his wife, Emily, and son Evan moved from Indiana last month.  He'll have the joy of working at St. Albert but will also have to try and replace the irreplaceable Jill White...  Nick is a proud University of Iowa graduate and also holds a degree from Indiana State.

Here's your series history as I have it:

I wasn't at the 'Soap Game' (still old school) and I didn't see the scrimmage last week - so most of you already know a lot more than me (not sure seeing any of the games has anything to do with that fact)...

Big team, big game, big crowd... Will the Falcons be big-time ready??? 

It all starts with The Big Nasty's up front (loosely used term in Class A football)... The Falcons will have a bunch of new starters on the line and they'll be missing one of their best linemen for a bit (so I've heard) - that scares me.  If the Falcons can protect and create up front, they've got the skill players and the speed to score, a lot.  So don't just watch the ball early on, watch the 'big guys' and also watch the downfield receivers and their blocking.

The bigger issue may be the D.  Most teams have their D far ahead of the O at this stage of the season.  That may not be the case with SA early.  Why? Just a got feeling after trying to replace some of the studs that graduated.  We shall see...

In the end, the new CB Stadium turf helps the Falcons with their speed and they run away from The Wasps in the West End...

St. Albert wins 31-18