We caught up with one of the oldest programs in Scottish University American Football in the lead up to their first game of the season.
Last season was a struggle as they went 3-4 to finish in 4th place in the Scottish Division. They achieved two wins over 5th place Heriot-Watt and another against bottom of the pack Aberdeen. Stout defensive play kept Glasgow afloat at times, but a ball-control offense lacked the star power to overcome the top 3 teams. Quarterback David Duffin proved to be a sparkplug on an otherwise stale attack for the Tigers, as a lack of consistency in the passing game kept them one-dimensional.
In a bid to turn the offense around this year, the Tigers have promoted Special Teams Coordinator Mikey Reynolds to Offensive Coordinator. Reynolds brings a wealth of experience from local senior teams including Glasgow and East Kilbride.
Q: The Tigers are known for consistency in the Scottish division. No doubt you want to step out from the middle of the pack this year and challenge for the title. What is different about the 2025 Tigers compared to previous seasons?
A: “Going into this season, we’ve got a lot of returning players who were rookies or still developing last year who are now ready to step up and take a bigger role in the team. University football always goes in cycles and after winning the division title in 2023, we really came to the end of a cycle with a close-knit, talented team as they graduated and moved on. We feel like we’re at the start of a new cycle and we’re really excited to see who emerges as leaders from the newest batch of Tigers that have joined over the last year or two.”
Q: There are plenty of rivalries to look forward to in the Scottish Division this year. Which team do you have circled on the calendar?
A: “Over the last few years, we’ve enjoyed a good, back-and-forth rivalry with the University of Edinburgh and I’m looking forward to another close and competitive set of games with the Mavericks. I’m also really looking forward to our games against Stirling and Napier – they were the class of the division last season, and that’s a good benchmark for us to understand how this team is progressing and developing.”
Q: Glasgow is a city rich with football teams, with the Glasgow Tigers and EKP both on your doorstep. How have you built connections with the local clubs to strengthen your own program?
A: “We’ve been working hard to build up those connections – historically, we’ve always been very close with the senior Tigers but this year I’ve joined the East Kilbride Pirates as the Offensive Coordinator for their U19 side and that’s been really beneficial for us to rebuild that relationship. It benefits us from having a wider pool of coaches to draw from, but also sets our players up for success if they want to keep playing after university by having good relationships and links with those clubs.”
Q: You have a strong core of returning players, as well as rookies joining the ranks. Who are your top players to watch, or candidates to break out?
A: “I’ve mentioned some of those rookies that joined us last year and we’re looking to see how they develop – on offense and special teams, Benson Murray made a real impact as a rookie so I’m really keen to see what he can do in his second year, and on defense Vinny Peteranna had a great season and really grew into his role within the linebacker corps as things went on. I’m excited to see both of those players in year two, to see what kind of step they take.”
Q: Looking ahead to the season, what is the next big thing to look forward to from the Tigers?
A: “I don’t want to make any bold proclamations that might come back to haunt us, but really for me the next big thing is seeing this group of players continue to gel and grow. It’s been an exciting offseason and with a few new recruits I think we’re poised to have a good season with a lot of growth and development, and some good performances along the way.”
The Tigers kick off the season this Sunday against Heriot-Watt University. They hope to continue their win streak against the Wolverines as the latter make the short trip across the M8.
