Murray McCormick, The Leader-Post
Published: Monday, October 15, 2007

Jordan Sisco wears his inspiration on his arm.

The University of Regina Rams wide receiver has "Nannie" tattooed on the inside of his left arm in honour of his grandmother, Marisa Ranalli, who died Nov. 18, 2006. She was 76.

"She's why I'm out there practising every night and getting better,'' Sisco said Saturday after the Rams clinched a playoff berth with 35-16 victory over Alberta Golden Bears at Mosaic Stadium. "She's my motivation.''

Sisco looked highly motivated in Saturday's victory. He had nine receptions for a Rams-record 238 yards and a touchdown. Sisco, 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, broke the receiving mark of 218 yards that was set by Chris Bauman on Sept. 23, 2006. Bauman scored two touchdowns on six receptions as the Rams beat the Simon Fraser Clan 46-2.

Sisco connected with quarterback Teale Orban on a 16-yard touchdown reception. Sisco also comes in on short-yardage situations as a quarterback and scored two touchdowns on Saturday.

"He's a great athlete,'' Regina head coach Frank McCrystal said after the Rams improved to 5-1. "He's also tough, which means he plays with that edge. He has great speed and great hands. When you combine that, you get a great player.''

Sisco has filled a receiving void that was created when Bauman and Chris Getzlaf, the Rams' leading receivers in 2006, were selected in the CFL's Canadian college draft. Bauman was the first player taken in the 2007 draft by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Getzlaf was drafted in the fifth round by the Tiger-Cats and was traded to his home-town Saskatchewan Roughriders on Aug. 19.

Rams quarterback Teale Orban, who is second in the Canada-West Conference with 62 career touchdowns, said it's a matter of different players stepping up at different points of the season. Saturday was Sisco's turn.

"It's huge for a guy in his second year to step up,'' said Orban, whose 87-yard first-quarter connection with Sisco set the offensive tone for the two players. "It's also nice to have that because he's going to be around for a while. He's a gamer and he's nice to have around.''

Orban has also picked up the edge that Sisco brings to the field.

"He has receiver skills with a defensive-line mindset,'' Orban said. "He wants to succeed and he wants those extra yards. That kind of thing will help you get 228 yards as a receiver. He does have an edge but it's a welcome edge.''

Jerry Friesen, Alberta's head coach, said that receivers like Sisco develop in the Rams program because Regina throws the ball a great deal.

"If you want to catch the ball, this is the place to be,'' Friesen said. "Jordan does that and he had a couple of long receptions. Those catches also changed the game for them.''

Sisco has 31 receptions for 556 yards and four touchdowns this season. He is aware of the tradition of solid and strong receivers that the Rams have nurtured over the years. Sisco isn't letting thoughts of a possible professional career get in his way at this time.

"I'm not too worried about that,'' Sisco said. "I'm just going to focus on this year. If (the CFL) is the case in two years, it would be awesome.


© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007


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