Bret Anderson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Anderson with the BC Lions in 2007 | |
| No. 8 | |
|---|---|
| Positions | Slotback • Kicker |
| Personal information | |
| Born | April 23, 1975 New Westminster, Canada |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Terry Fox HS |
| University | Simon Fraser |
| CFL draft | 1997: 4th round, 25th overall pick |
| Career history | |
| 1997–2009 | BC Lions |
| Awards and highlights | |
Bret Anderson (born April 23, 1975) is a Canadian former professional football placekicker and slotback who played his entire career for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL).[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]
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]