Dare to Dream: Peterson Powers Resurgent Golden Bears

Article by Brian Swane, special to CW

When Matthew Peterson arrived at the University of Alberta in 2019, the Golden Bears football team was coming off its ninth straight season with more losses than wins. It had missed the playoffs seven of the previous eight years. It hadn't won a championship in nearly four decades.

Thoughts of the Golden Bears sitting atop the standings might have seemed far-fetched for even those old enough to remember the program's glory days, let alone this teenage recruit who was preschool age when the Bears last finished with a winning record.

But Peterson dared to dream that Alberta football would again be a force to reckon with. And now, in the running back's fourth year, that day has arrived: At 4-1, Alberta is tied for first place in Canada West alongside the UBC Thunderbirds and the two-time defending Hardy Cup champion Saskatchewan Huskies.

"I've visualized it ever since I thought about coming to the U of A," says Peterson, a native of Brooks, Alta. "I wanted to create a legacy, so I had to envision it, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to put my best foot forward. You have to envision something in the future if you're going to get there."

Thanks in no small part to Peterson, who leads U SPORTS with 807 rushing yards, the Golden Bears are off to their best start through five games since 2005. They're one victory away from finishing above .500 for the first time in 18 years and have already surpassed their win total from each of the last two seasons.

"One of the things that we struggled with the past few years is everyone being cohesive," says Peterson. "And on this team everyone is cohesive, everyone has the same objective in mind. They play for each other. And that's one of the things that's different with this team. Everyone does everything for each other. This team is selfless."

With over 15 touches per game, Peterson sets the tempo for an explosive Alberta offense that features quarterback Eli Hetlinger slinging the ball to Kolby Hurford, Carter Kettyle, and Jonathan Rosery, all who are averaging more than 50 yards in receptions per game.

"Being a running back, you're expected to break the defence, open up the passing game, and I feel like that's where I'm making my impact," says Peterson, who has rushed for over 150 yards in each of the last four weeks. "If they can't stop the run game, they can't stop the pass game."

Alberta's success has been years in the making for revered Golden Bears coach Chris Morris and veteran players like Peterson, who was an early commit in 2018, picking the U of A from many schools just prior to his Grade 12 year at Brooks Composite High School.

"I loved Morris as a coach, we have a similar mentality," says Peterson. "I always heard about all the doubt surrounding the U of A and I was like, I've been doubted during my lifetime, so what better than to come here, not to just put my name to something, but to build up the U of A and create a legacy that makes people want to come, people want to play."

Peterson is on pace for nearly 1,300 yards this season, which would be the fifth most in Canada West history, and rank second all-time among Golden Bears players.

Alberta is looking to win the Hardy Cup, which would be its first Canada West title since 1981, and keep playing until the last Saturday of November in Kingston, Ont., where a national champion will be decided at the Vanier Cup.

"Honestly, I just take it day by day. At the end of the day, it's a team sport. Individually, I would say I'm doing a great job, but I know that the job's not done," Peterson says.

"I don't celebrate my accomplishments until I know the job is done. And right now, I know the job's not done until Nov. 25."

 Cover photo by Don Voaklander/University of Alberta Golden Bears & Pandas. Second photo by Electric Umbrella.