We're officially past the halfway point of the OUA football season, and I for one cannot WAIT to see how the remaining four games affect the playoff horizon.
So, with another four agonizing days until teams across the province hit the gridiron again, what better way to pass the time then to try and predict the future. It would only be the logical choice considering how predictably the season has developed thus far (note the sarcasm).
Nonetheless, here it is; the cold hard facts. Having listed the teams in order of their current standing, I give you the second half outlook:
Western: 4-0 (combined record of remaining teams: 6-10 York, Guelph, Toronto and Queen’s)
After surviving their toughest challenge this season this past Saturday on the road at Laurier, Western's remaining schedule is tied for the most favourable in the 10 team OUA. With how Queen's have turned their season around the last two games though, one would figure that any chance of Western racking up a loss would occur on the road against the Gaels.
Windsor: 3-1 (combined record of remaining teams: 7-9 Guelph, Queen’s, Ottawa, York)
This season's cinderella team thus far, the Lancers - under rookie head coach Joe D'Amore - still have something left to prove as they look to hold onto their current position as the number two team in the OUA. While they scored a huge upset against Laurier and nearly completed a comeback at home against Mac, they undoubtedly have the dates of Oct 8th and 15th circled on their calendar as they'll be hosting Queen's and then travel to Ottawa to face the Gee Gee's. A win in at least one of those games will be necessary to hold onto a sweeter playoff seeding.
Ottawa: 3-1 (combined record of remaining teams: 8-8 Laurier, York, Windsor, Mac)
To say that Ottawa has some tough road games ahead would be an understatement. As the opponents to the Golden Hawks for Laurier's Homecoming this weekend and having to travel to Hamilton to face the abuse of the Marauder faithful, the Gee Gee's definitely can't afford to look further ahead than the immediate game at hand - as they also have the aforementioned match-up against fellow 3-1 team Windsor to worry about.
McMaster: 3-1 (combined record of remaining teams: 6-10 Waterloo, Toronto, Laurier, Ottawa)
With three of their last four games at home, Mac is the team tied with Western as having the most favourable remaining schedule at the OUA midway point. Having been dealt a major blow with the suspension of star quarterback Kyle Quinlan, as a result of laid charges stemming from a bar fight, the Marauders have rallied around incumbent Marshall Ferguson. It's also helped that Ferguson has hit the ground well, er, throwing, in his two starts thus far. Five passing TD's in his two starts will make Head Coach Stef Ptaszek's decision a little tougher - but I would suspect the fifth-year Quinlan will take over the reins again upon his possible return against Toronto. Whichever way they go, Mac will still be racking up some wins in the near future.
Queen’s: 2-2 (combined record of remaining teams: 9-7 Toronto, Windsor, Western, Waterloo)
This is one scenario in which the opponents' record is a little skewed. Full credit to the Blues for starting off the season at .500, but I don't foresee that being maintained the rest of the way. The upstart Lancers certainly won't be a lame duck for the Gaels, but with how the Queen's offence is firing right now, I'm confident that they'll be coming home after their current three-game road trip holding a 4-2 record and getting at LEAST a split at home to wrap the season better than they started it.
Toronto: 2-2 (combined record of remaining teams: 9-7 Queen’s, Mac, Western, Waterloo)
I really hope that the Varsity Blues enjoyed the feel good campaign while it lasted, because things are going to be a lot more painful the rest of the way. With Toronto only tallying 39 points in its first four games and now facing three teams in a row that have scored a combined 443 this season, UT will be blue the rest of the way - but for all of the wrong reasons.
Laurier: 1-3 (combined record of remaining teams: 7-9 Ottawa, Waterloo, Mac, Guelph)
One of two shockers - for all the wrong reasons - has been the Laurier Golden Hawks. Having allowed their last three opponents to rack up a combined 133 points, the traditionally strong defensive squad has been anything but. Despite a third straight loss this past Saturday to hated rival Western, Laurier looked as good as they have all season - and that should provide some hope for the WLU faithful. Adding a high level of pressure to perform and get wins over quality opponents in Ottawa and Mac (who will have Kyle Quinlan back by that time), getting those crucial victories will be a tall task.
Guelph: 1-3 (combined record of remaining teams: 9-7 Windsor, Western, York, Laurier)
The second of the aforementioned shockers this season has been the team setting up camp a short ride down Highway 7 - the Guelph Gryphons. Their defence was initially touted as the most experienced and possibly even one of the best in the OUA heading into 2011. Instead, the team has given up the fourth most points in the league and have a long way to climb as they look to salvage their season. With a match-up almost a four-hour drive down away in Windsor against the Lancers plus having to head into the 'lions den' at Western, the Gryphons have a tough task ahead to guarantee they will not be on the outside looking in come the end of the regular season.
York: 1-3 (combined record of remaining teams: 11-5 Western, Ottawa, Guelph, Windsor)
The up-and-coming Lions have had some highlights this season: holding their own against Laurier for three quarters in the season opener and defeating Waterloo in front of a big crowd on the road. Hopefully there will be some shining moments to remember, because - based on the strength of their upcoming opponents - there won't be too many wins.
Waterloo: 0-4 (combined record of remaining teams: 8-8 Mac, Laurier, Queen’s, Toronto)
Much like the Lions, the rest of the season will find the Warriors' football program finding its feet after a year's hiatus from OUA football action. To their credit, they've competed hard in their four losses - and are no doubt looking forward to re-booting the Battle of Waterloo with their university neighbours Laurier just before the Thanksgiving long weekend.
So there you have it. It would seem like everything's figured out. But I think that's already been said once or twice before this year - hasn't it?
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
A cold splash of reality
Much like the unofficial Homecoming event dubbed 'Faux-coming' taking place at Queen's this past Saturday, there seemed to be something very fake about the whole ordeal as I ventured up for the game in Kingston.
It all started off when I found out the news about Laurier's highly-touted receiver Shamawd Chambers. Cordial as ever as he walked around during pre-game warm-ups, his ankle didn't seem to be any worse for wear. But who am I to argue with a trainer? Chambers would be sitting this one out after getting clipped late in the game against Windsor.
As I tried to recall the last time Chambers had actually missed any playing time due to injury, I was told by a few people that this game would be as close to a sell-out the team would experience this season.
My gaze was drawn to the large grandstand opposite that of the seats where staff, alumni and the less-inebriated usually watch the home team. Looking at the structure with faded blue, yellow and red paint and unkept foliage sprouting around it - and mostly void of any student supporters whatsoever nearing kick-off - I thought, 'Yeah, right.'
'Nobody would actually WATCH a game from there - would they?!'
Then, as the stands began to fill in a little here and there, the Queen's offence was scoring their first touchdown of the season in this, their third game of the 2011 campaign ... just over two minutes into the game.
Um, excuse me?
More students file in as Queen's quarterback Billy McPhee runs it in himself for another touchdown about ten minutes later.
The band decides to strike it up, which propels the Gaels to their third TD of the quarter.
The once rickety-looking student section has become the life of the party off the field. On it, the home side is having a pretty good time of their own; on their way to a potential season-saving 58-35 win over the Golden Hawks - with the help of Gionvanni Aprile's future OUA Player of the Week performance. Hauling in seven catches for 177 yards and three scores, Aprile also added 191 kick return yards (including a 90 yard run back) to his tally.
As surreal as the whole experience may have seemed to the entire Laurier squad, supporters and fans alike, one thing stood out the most: the whole spectacle was based all too much on reality.
The reality is that neither squad is who they were perceived to be - but there's clearly one rising from the ashes and one on a more treacherous parth. It seemed almost inconceivable that Queen's would start the season not being able to score any points.
That has clearly been dispelled.
Laurier, on the other hand, weren't expected to give this many up.
Both teams are still legitimate playoff contenders at 1-2. Each has the ability to put points on the board - but have to figure out how to stop those going against them. That much is evident.
Add to that the increased pressure trying to record victories now that we reach the mid-point of the OUA football season on Saturday and we'll begin to see how this most recent reality check plays out.
It all started off when I found out the news about Laurier's highly-touted receiver Shamawd Chambers. Cordial as ever as he walked around during pre-game warm-ups, his ankle didn't seem to be any worse for wear. But who am I to argue with a trainer? Chambers would be sitting this one out after getting clipped late in the game against Windsor.
As I tried to recall the last time Chambers had actually missed any playing time due to injury, I was told by a few people that this game would be as close to a sell-out the team would experience this season.
My gaze was drawn to the large grandstand opposite that of the seats where staff, alumni and the less-inebriated usually watch the home team. Looking at the structure with faded blue, yellow and red paint and unkept foliage sprouting around it - and mostly void of any student supporters whatsoever nearing kick-off - I thought, 'Yeah, right.'
'Nobody would actually WATCH a game from there - would they?!'
Then, as the stands began to fill in a little here and there, the Queen's offence was scoring their first touchdown of the season in this, their third game of the 2011 campaign ... just over two minutes into the game.
Um, excuse me?
More students file in as Queen's quarterback Billy McPhee runs it in himself for another touchdown about ten minutes later.
The band decides to strike it up, which propels the Gaels to their third TD of the quarter.
The once rickety-looking student section has become the life of the party off the field. On it, the home side is having a pretty good time of their own; on their way to a potential season-saving 58-35 win over the Golden Hawks - with the help of Gionvanni Aprile's future OUA Player of the Week performance. Hauling in seven catches for 177 yards and three scores, Aprile also added 191 kick return yards (including a 90 yard run back) to his tally.
As surreal as the whole experience may have seemed to the entire Laurier squad, supporters and fans alike, one thing stood out the most: the whole spectacle was based all too much on reality.
The reality is that neither squad is who they were perceived to be - but there's clearly one rising from the ashes and one on a more treacherous parth. It seemed almost inconceivable that Queen's would start the season not being able to score any points.
That has clearly been dispelled.
Laurier, on the other hand, weren't expected to give this many up.
Both teams are still legitimate playoff contenders at 1-2. Each has the ability to put points on the board - but have to figure out how to stop those going against them. That much is evident.
Add to that the increased pressure trying to record victories now that we reach the mid-point of the OUA football season on Saturday and we'll begin to see how this most recent reality check plays out.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Knockout punch
With news coming out of Hamilton Thursday afternoon that star quarterback (and early Hec Crighton favourite) Kyle Quinlan had not only been charged with three counts of assault stemming from an incident this past Saturday, but would be suspended immediately, the best I could do was channel Ray Romano's dad from the show 'Everybody Loves Raymond' in uttering two words.
"HOLY CRAP!"
Details seem to be limited at best, but early reports from The Hamilton Spectator indicate that Quinlan was part of a scuffle at the campus pub TwelveEighty this past Saturday night and has been subsequently charged with one count of assault and two counts of assault of a police officer. While the quarterback was released from custoday that same evening, he now has a scheduled court appearance for October 6.
Happy Thanksgiving weekend.
With respect to the suspension, Director of Athletics & Recreation at Mac, Jeff Giles, commented that it will remain in place 'until the completion of an internal review'.
Taking a glance at the school's Athletic Code myself - being the document to which Giles pointed as being the basis for his decision - it's pretty clear cut that Quinlan has a tough road ahead.
It states that, at all times, McMaster varsity athletes are to be 'committed to behaviour that will enhance the image of McMaster University and [their] teammates' as well as 'treat others with the utmost respect and dignity'.
As good as Quinlan's pass completion percentage was on the field, he's swinging an ugly oh-fer on the behavioural front off of it.
With that all being said, it had been a bad start of the week already; a home-opener loss to hated rival Western compounded by having to rebound this coming Saturday against a newly ranked Windsor Lancer squad coming off a huge upset win over Laurier.
Now, positional experience would seem to dictate that second-year quarterback Marshall Ferguson will have to try to fill the void at the pivot spot. At 6'2, 200 lbs, the Kingston, ON native has only two passing touchdowns and just under 300 passing yards in the OUA to his credit.
I'm curious as to whether head coach Stefan Ptaszek is a praying man ...
It'll be how the remaining talent around the incoming passer perform that should be truly on the minds of OUA football fans, for we'll see whether this team was truly worth considering to be a championship contender - or a one trick, football-throwing pony.
From the pressbox:
- 2010 Yates Cup rematch: This time around, the #9 Gee-Gees travel south to London to face #2 Western, but this time around it'll be Aaron Colbon replacing Brad Sinopli as Donnie Marshall's opponent at quarterback. As good as Ottawa has looked so far, the Marshall experience factor, Mustangs running game already being in mid-season mode and the regularly large home crowd give the Mustangs the edge.
- Queen's is back at home facing the hard-luck Laurier Golden Hawks, who obviously want to remain within striking distance of the two-spot in the league. The Gaels are still looking for their first win and want to make sure 2011 won't be a lost season. Their front four on defence is something the Hawks O-line will have to contend with, but the large pool of talent on offence, plus the need for redemption on defence, will get the Hawks the needed road win.
- In one hand, we have quarterback Austin Kennedy making headlines for his amazing effort last week and has his Windsor team flying high, back home as a nationally-ranked team and wanting to prove that they're no fluke. On the other, you have a Mac squad simply looking for someone to throw the ball. Windsor in another upset.
- Guelph got the redemption win they were looking for against the Waterloo Warriors and figure to have another winnable game against the University of Toronto. The real question is, which Gryphons team will show up? My belief is that it'll be the one we saw in Week #2. Guelph goes to 2-1.
- It might be closer than games past this season - but York still pulls out the 'W'.
"HOLY CRAP!"
Details seem to be limited at best, but early reports from The Hamilton Spectator indicate that Quinlan was part of a scuffle at the campus pub TwelveEighty this past Saturday night and has been subsequently charged with one count of assault and two counts of assault of a police officer. While the quarterback was released from custoday that same evening, he now has a scheduled court appearance for October 6.
Happy Thanksgiving weekend.
With respect to the suspension, Director of Athletics & Recreation at Mac, Jeff Giles, commented that it will remain in place 'until the completion of an internal review'.
Taking a glance at the school's Athletic Code myself - being the document to which Giles pointed as being the basis for his decision - it's pretty clear cut that Quinlan has a tough road ahead.
It states that, at all times, McMaster varsity athletes are to be 'committed to behaviour that will enhance the image of McMaster University and [their] teammates' as well as 'treat others with the utmost respect and dignity'.
As good as Quinlan's pass completion percentage was on the field, he's swinging an ugly oh-fer on the behavioural front off of it.
With that all being said, it had been a bad start of the week already; a home-opener loss to hated rival Western compounded by having to rebound this coming Saturday against a newly ranked Windsor Lancer squad coming off a huge upset win over Laurier.
Now, positional experience would seem to dictate that second-year quarterback Marshall Ferguson will have to try to fill the void at the pivot spot. At 6'2, 200 lbs, the Kingston, ON native has only two passing touchdowns and just under 300 passing yards in the OUA to his credit.
I'm curious as to whether head coach Stefan Ptaszek is a praying man ...
It'll be how the remaining talent around the incoming passer perform that should be truly on the minds of OUA football fans, for we'll see whether this team was truly worth considering to be a championship contender - or a one trick, football-throwing pony.
From the pressbox:
- 2010 Yates Cup rematch: This time around, the #9 Gee-Gees travel south to London to face #2 Western, but this time around it'll be Aaron Colbon replacing Brad Sinopli as Donnie Marshall's opponent at quarterback. As good as Ottawa has looked so far, the Marshall experience factor, Mustangs running game already being in mid-season mode and the regularly large home crowd give the Mustangs the edge.
- Queen's is back at home facing the hard-luck Laurier Golden Hawks, who obviously want to remain within striking distance of the two-spot in the league. The Gaels are still looking for their first win and want to make sure 2011 won't be a lost season. Their front four on defence is something the Hawks O-line will have to contend with, but the large pool of talent on offence, plus the need for redemption on defence, will get the Hawks the needed road win.
- In one hand, we have quarterback Austin Kennedy making headlines for his amazing effort last week and has his Windsor team flying high, back home as a nationally-ranked team and wanting to prove that they're no fluke. On the other, you have a Mac squad simply looking for someone to throw the ball. Windsor in another upset.
- Guelph got the redemption win they were looking for against the Waterloo Warriors and figure to have another winnable game against the University of Toronto. The real question is, which Gryphons team will show up? My belief is that it'll be the one we saw in Week #2. Guelph goes to 2-1.
- It might be closer than games past this season - but York still pulls out the 'W'.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
OUA star to shine brighter in NFL
From Negril (Jamaica) to London (Ontario) and finally 'settled' in San Diego (California), former Western Mustang defensive lineman Vaughan Martin – and current San Diego Charger - has travelled a career path that few could have predicted would end with a job in the NFL.
To all those skeptics, Martin has officially MADE IT.
With news coming out of the Chargers’ camp that starting defensive end Luis Castillo’s broken leg (suffered in the season opener) will keep him out until at least Week 8, Martin has been handed the starting role on the team’s defensive line.
Drafted in the fourth round of the 2009 draft by San Diego, the team’s 13th pick that season has played 10 games in each of his first two years. Not only will he see himself taking regular snaps as the new starter, he will be thrust into the role against one of the league’s best teams this week in the New England Patriots – and asked to put pressure against Tom Brady. Also consider that Brady opened up his season last week against Miami by setting a team-record with 517 passing yards. So much for easing into the new role!
In an interview with ESPN’s Len Pasquarelli back when he was drafted in 2009, Martin commented how he knew that there would be “alot to learn” - but if the powers that be had some patience with him, he would “pick up things pretty fast." The Chargers are now being repayed for their diligence.
Rating the effectiveness of the 6’4”, 308 pound Martin playing every down for the Charger's 'D' will obviously be up for debate come the Monday morning after. But for one weekend at least, Western fans and haters alike should put their hands together and applaud the man who’s not only representing the OUA, but Canada as well.
(If you’re still up in the air about this guy, you will have a new found respect watching this feature profile done by The Score a couple of years ago.)
From the pressbox: For those who may have missed it, Windsor Lancer starting quarterback Sam Malian was taken off the field on a stretcher in the first quarter of Saturday’s game at Laurier. According to the Waterloo Region Record, he was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital to address a dislocated elbow.
To all those skeptics, Martin has officially MADE IT.
With news coming out of the Chargers’ camp that starting defensive end Luis Castillo’s broken leg (suffered in the season opener) will keep him out until at least Week 8, Martin has been handed the starting role on the team’s defensive line.
Drafted in the fourth round of the 2009 draft by San Diego, the team’s 13th pick that season has played 10 games in each of his first two years. Not only will he see himself taking regular snaps as the new starter, he will be thrust into the role against one of the league’s best teams this week in the New England Patriots – and asked to put pressure against Tom Brady. Also consider that Brady opened up his season last week against Miami by setting a team-record with 517 passing yards. So much for easing into the new role!
In an interview with ESPN’s Len Pasquarelli back when he was drafted in 2009, Martin commented how he knew that there would be “alot to learn” - but if the powers that be had some patience with him, he would “pick up things pretty fast." The Chargers are now being repayed for their diligence.
Rating the effectiveness of the 6’4”, 308 pound Martin playing every down for the Charger's 'D' will obviously be up for debate come the Monday morning after. But for one weekend at least, Western fans and haters alike should put their hands together and applaud the man who’s not only representing the OUA, but Canada as well.
(If you’re still up in the air about this guy, you will have a new found respect watching this feature profile done by The Score a couple of years ago.)
From the pressbox: For those who may have missed it, Windsor Lancer starting quarterback Sam Malian was taken off the field on a stretcher in the first quarter of Saturday’s game at Laurier. According to the Waterloo Region Record, he was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital to address a dislocated elbow.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Sit back and relax!
So, I'm going to forego the standard 'introductory blog' submission and just get right down to it. We don't have much time after all - the OUA season is already a week in!
Saturday already seems to promise an outstanding match-up between two of the league's best, with Western travelling east to take on McMaster. It's being broadcast nationally and is being touted as the game that could potentially determine home field advantage for the Yates Cup.
While that could very well turn out to be good and true, can we not take the foot off the gas pedal a little bit and get a better perspective of what's out there first?
First off, Ottawa looked surprisingly excellent in shredding the experienced Guelph defence for over 600 yards in total offence. If they pick up another win on home turf against Queen's this week, they might very well have to something to say who gets to play in the OUA final. Even as bad as Guelph looked giving up 186 yards rushing to Gee-Gees running back Brendan Gillanders, the motivation they will carry with them will only add to emotion that will be encompassing Warrior Field - as UW takes to the field in front of their own supporters for the first time in almost two years.
The Laurier Golden Hawks took a little longer in producing the lopsided victory everyone expected over York, but what they showed by producing 31 fourth-quarter points is that, when their offence is clicking, it's just plain scary. One would expect their match-up against the fellow 1-0 Windsor Lancers, led by talented running back Shomari Grant, to be a cake-walk for the Hawks. Led by first-year head coach Joe D'Amore though, the Lancers of the last few years this team ain't.
Finally, how many outside of the GTA actually knew that the OUA had its own bowl game? It's the 42nd annual Red and Blue Bowl between York and U of T tomorrow afternoon! The Blues currently hold the advantage in the series (25-16) since it started in 1970 (highlights from the 2010). Granted, both teams were eventually beat pretty good last week. But you know what happens when the only chance at victory for either squad is by pitting them against each other? It could turn out to be the shoot-out at the OK-Corral!
So, with as much parity in the league as there is, let's make sure we all take a deep breath and let the leaves change colour first before we start looking too far ahead on what's bound to be a great OUA season!
Saturday already seems to promise an outstanding match-up between two of the league's best, with Western travelling east to take on McMaster. It's being broadcast nationally and is being touted as the game that could potentially determine home field advantage for the Yates Cup.
While that could very well turn out to be good and true, can we not take the foot off the gas pedal a little bit and get a better perspective of what's out there first?
First off, Ottawa looked surprisingly excellent in shredding the experienced Guelph defence for over 600 yards in total offence. If they pick up another win on home turf against Queen's this week, they might very well have to something to say who gets to play in the OUA final. Even as bad as Guelph looked giving up 186 yards rushing to Gee-Gees running back Brendan Gillanders, the motivation they will carry with them will only add to emotion that will be encompassing Warrior Field - as UW takes to the field in front of their own supporters for the first time in almost two years.
The Laurier Golden Hawks took a little longer in producing the lopsided victory everyone expected over York, but what they showed by producing 31 fourth-quarter points is that, when their offence is clicking, it's just plain scary. One would expect their match-up against the fellow 1-0 Windsor Lancers, led by talented running back Shomari Grant, to be a cake-walk for the Hawks. Led by first-year head coach Joe D'Amore though, the Lancers of the last few years this team ain't.
Finally, how many outside of the GTA actually knew that the OUA had its own bowl game? It's the 42nd annual Red and Blue Bowl between York and U of T tomorrow afternoon! The Blues currently hold the advantage in the series (25-16) since it started in 1970 (highlights from the 2010). Granted, both teams were eventually beat pretty good last week. But you know what happens when the only chance at victory for either squad is by pitting them against each other? It could turn out to be the shoot-out at the OK-Corral!
So, with as much parity in the league as there is, let's make sure we all take a deep breath and let the leaves change colour first before we start looking too far ahead on what's bound to be a great OUA season!
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