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.
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