MONTREAL -- Dan Hawkins is set to begin his adventure in Canadian football. The 52-year-old starts his first camp as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes on Sunday without any previous experience in the 12-man game. Then again, his predecessor Marc Trestman had never coached in the CFL and had never been a head coach at the pro level when he took over in 2008. That didnt stop him from winning two Grey Cups. "Its football in the States and its football here," Hawkins says. "But its a whole different brand of football." General manager Jim Popp and owner Bob Wetenhall took a risk when they opted for Hawkins, who spent the last two seasons as a college football analyst at ESPN after a long career as a head coach at the university level in the United States. The folksy, enthusiastic Hawkins is the polar opposite of the soft-spoken, cerebral Trestman, who left in February to become head coach of the NFLs Chicago Bears. His coaching style promises to be a big change as well. While Trestman also co-ordinated the offence and left the defence and special teams to others, Popp likens Hawkins to Don Matthews, who coached the Alouettes from 2002 to 2006, winning one Cup. Matthews tended to leave the nuts and bolts to his co-ordinators and assistants while overseeing the operation from above. "Marc was a quiet guy, very reserved," said Popp. "Dans very energetic. "He has that rah-rah college side to him." Hawkins last coaching experience was not a resounding success. His record in five seasons at the University of Colorado, where he reportedly earned more than US$1 million per season, was 19-39. Before that, however, he was 53-11 at Boise State and his career record is a solid 112-61-1. He looks to be supported by a strong, almost completely new coaching staff, which includes experienced Doug Berry as senior adviser to the head coach. There are solid co-ordinators with Mike Miller on offence and Noel Thorpe on defence. A major change is they now have one man looking after special teams, co-ordinator Ray Rychelski. The kicking game had some awful moments last season, when special teams was one of several responsibilities for the departed Andy Bischoff. Thorpe was hired even before Hawkins, and Popp hopes he sticks around. The team had changed defensive co-ordinators in each of the previous four years. Popp said each had his own style, and wanted player changes to fit their game plan, causing confusion and a lot of turnover in personnel. Defensive players were prominent on the teams off-season shopping list, including linebacker Ejiro Kuale and cornerbacks Geoff Tisdale and Byron Parker. On offence, they picked up Canadian running back Jerome Messam, veteran slotback Arland Bruce and quarterback Quinton Porter, giving 40-year-old Anthony Calvillo an experienced backup. The camp at Bishops University in Sherbrooke, Que., will also be spiced up by the presence of some former NFL talent, including long-time Indianapolis Colts running back Domenic Rhodes, as well as receivers David Clowny and Wallace Wright. The Alouettes already have an impressive receiving corps with Jamel Richardson, S.J. Green and Brandon London. Popp said hes anxious to see how his two first-round draft picks work out, linebacker Mike Edem and running back Steven Lumbala, selected third and fifth overall respectively from the Calgary Dinos. "Edems really made an impression," he said. He also has high hopes that Kuale will fit well into Thorpes defence. "I like aggressive, physical players and he brings that to the table," said Popp. The Alouettes had nightmares at running back in 2012 after starter Brandon Whitakers season ended in midseason with a knee injury. Vic Anderson filled in nicely until he got hurt, then Chris Jennings took over. Whitaker re-signed with the Alouettes on Thursday. Another running back is Noel Devine, a prime candidate to take over kick returning duties from the released Trent Guy. "Can he have a breakout year?" Popp asked about the speedy Devine. Hes also anxious to see how veteran defensive end John Bowman does with Thorpe going back to a four-man line after the teamed used a 3-4 setup last season. "Well have a guy like Bowman in a system that benefits him more," said Popp. "Well see if he has his best year." Of course, the Alouettes fortunes sit mainly on Calvillos shoulders. The CFLs all-time passing leader will turn 41 on Aug. 23. He is coming off surgery on a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder, and wont take as many snaps as usual in camp. Thats why it was important to sign Porter from Hamilton. Last years back-up Adrian McPherson is gone, while third-stringer Josh Neiswander is back. One area that never seems to change in Montreal is a solid, experienced offensive line of centre Luc Brodeur-Jourdain between guards Scott Flory and Andrew Woodruff and tackles Josh Bourke and Jeff Perrett. The Alouettes did not make it to the Grey Cup game the past two seasons despite posting winning regular season records. They were 11-7 in 2012, but were beaten at home by eventual champion Toronto in the East Division final. "We all felt we were good enough to win those games," said Popp. "We had a lot of injuries, but we also turned the ball over four times in one half and thats not how you get there. "Now coach Trestman is gone and theyll have the embrace Dan, but they still know theyre a special team with a chance to win a championship." Jean-Gabriel Pageau Senators Jersey . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. 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"I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. Colin White Senators Jersey .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward James Neal on injured reserve Tuesday. AUSTIN, Texas -- Freshman Joyner Holmes arrived at Texas with a big reputation. After a slow start on Wednesday, Holmes showed why.The forward scored 20 of her 22 points during the final three quarters to lead No. 8 Texas past Houston Baptist 98-46.Among the top recruits in the country, the 6-foot-3 Holmes went 8 of 17 from the field with nine rebounds and three blocks in 22 minutes.Holmes could have scored more, but she missed several shots early from close range.Im going get in the gym and start making layups, said Holmes, of Cedar Hill, Texas.Brooke McCarty had 16 points and Ariel Atkins and Jada Underwood each scored 11 for Texas (1-1).Lauren Calver led Houston Baptist (0-2) with 11 points, followed by Amanda Johnson with 10.Texas led 19-3 and forced five turnovers in the first four minutes. The Huskies finished the first quarter with eight turnovers -- which Texas turned into 16 points -- but trailed by only 11 after making four 3-pointers.Texas led 57-21 at halftime. Houston Baptist finished with 25 turnovers.Texas encountered a reality check on Monday night on national television, losing 71-59 at No. 11 Stanford. Holmes finished with just three points and three rebounds in 17 minutes against the Cardinal, and other Texas players struggled as well.Holmes is among four new Longhorns who played in the first two games.We do have some things we have to dramatically improve on, Texas coach Karen Aston said. You cant discount jitters in the way we played at Stanford. Some of them need to pay more attention in practice, and they need to pay more attention to detail. Some of them had a little of that `this is my first game look.BIG PICTTUREHouston Baptist: Coach Donna Finnie has a young team with five freshmen and four sophomores.dddddddddddd Theyve already faced top-10 teams in their first two games -- the Huskies lost by 75 points at No. 2 Baylor on Friday. Houston Baptist will move back to its own weight class for most of the remaining non-conference season and in the Southland Conference.People must think were crazy, Finnie said of her tough schedule. I want to test the team early on.Texas: After reaching the NCAA Sweet 16 and Elite 8 the past two seasons, the Longhorns goal is the Final Four in Dallas. The next real test comes Sunday at No. 10 Mississippi State. ... McCarty, a junior, has shifted from shooting guard to point guard after the graduation of Celina Rodrigo. McCarty is averaging 18 points through two games and has converted 6 of 10 3-pointers.MAKE SOME NOISEThe Houston Baptist game was an opportunity for Texas to gain young fans with its annual weekday game. Free tickets were provided to about 5,000 kids from more than 40 elementary schools. Total announced attendance was 6,378.Its always a lot of fun to play this game, Aston said. When you walk out there and you hear those screaming kids, its really exciting. Its community involvement and that is something our players and our program take seriously. Hoping we can get them interested in womens basketball in particular and basketball is a great thing.UP NEXTHouston Baptist: The Huskies host Rice on Saturday.Texas: The Longhorns travel to No. 10 Mississippi State on Sunday. ' ' '