September 24, 2008
GREG MARSHALL ON THE FAN 590
LONDON, Ont. - Western Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall was on The Bullpen with Mike Toth and Mike Hogan on Wednesday Sept. 24 and shared his thoughts on the upcoming game against Queen's, the recent passing of his former colleague Ron Lancaster, the current state of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the CIS football scene in general.
Of most importance on Marshall's mind is the Queen's Gaels.
"I know it's going to be an exciting weekend," Marshall told The Fan 590 on Sept. 24. "When I saw the Queen's game on the schedule, I had just hoped we'd been playing well going in.
Well, the Mustangs and Gaels are the only 4-0 teams entering the weekend in the province. The winner of this game could lock up home field advantage for the playoffs and will have a realistic shot at going undefeated - although Western plays Guelph in Week 8 and Queen's will play Ottawa on Thanksgiving weekend.
"We're really excited to be going to Kingston this weekend and playing at homecoming there," Marshall said.
Coming off a 71-0 drubbing of York, the Mustangs have received some criticism in the CIS football fan circle for allegedly running up the score. Marshall discounts that notion.
"It is frustrating (to hear)," Marshall said of the criticism. "It's difficult from our standpoint to manage the score in the game."
"We pulled our starting players and here's starting quarterback Michael Faulds in a competition to lead the OUA in scoring and passing," Marshall said. "We pulled him after the first series in the third quarter. You have to let them play."
"And in fairness to York, they need to see where they need to get to," Marshall added.
When he first arrived at McMaster in the 1990s, Marshall took his share of lopsided losses. He said it only makes you stronger as a team and benefits in the long term.
"When I first got to Mac, I had coaches come and apologize for blowing us out and I told them you don't need to," Marshall said. "It's part of the process and the ebb and flow of CIS football."
Western will need to be ready against a talented Queen's squad. Marshall knows it will be a battle.
"I think we played enough close games against Ottawa and Laurier, so hopefully our players will be able to rebound... we need to play at our best," Marshall said. "We showed our guys the film of Queen's and their ability. They're a very, very well coached team."
"You need to beat them with sound fundamentals," Marshall said.
Western, beat up after a tough start to the season with tight wins over Ottawa and Wilfrid Laurier, was able to rest some players and help them recover from injury.
"One thing we got in the York game is that we got to start some players and then rest them, and actually sit out some players who may have had to normally go in and play," Marshall said.
Western will need to be at 100% against the Gaels - no longer Golden after dropping the colourful distinction early this month - and will have to manage their strong offensive line.
It's the Mustangs offensive and defensive lines which have been strong and changed the tide for Western this season.
"They (Queen's) are really good on both lines," Marshall said. "It's not surprising, they were very similar last year. Fortunately, in the playoff game (OUA quarterfinal against Queen's) in Kingston, the field was in bad shape, really muddy. It had rained all that day, and it had played into our hands. It neutralized their front four."
And with the front four out of the picture, star running back Mike Giffin, who was named the OUA athlete of the week after a win over Toronto on Sept. 20, was limited.
"Having watched them on film their last couple of games, we know what they're capable of," Marshall said. "They have a great front four, they're tenacious. It will be a challenge for our front line."
The game can be seen live on The Score (Channel 54 in London) or heard live on CHRW Radio (94.9 FM in London) or online at www.chrwradio.com/listen/.
Marshall is familiar with the hostile territory in Kingston for visiting teams. It's a great rivalry, one he was part of as a player with the Mustangs.
"We played them in the Yates Cup - then the national semi-final in 1979," Marshall said. "And because (Larry) Haylor and (Darwin) Semotuik had good relationships with Queen's (coaches), we had exhibition games with them in 1980 and 81."
"And in 1979 we beat them to advance to the Vanier Cup, then the College Bowl."
"It will be a great atmosphere. We have a great rivalry with Queen's," Marshall said. "There is mutual respect from both schools, and both teams really want to play well and do well."
When asked about attaining his 50th career regular season win in the CIS last Saturday, Marshall said he was happy to reach the mark.
"It (happened) pretty quick," Marshall said with a laugh. "But it seems like a long time."
Source: Mustangs Athletics
Of most importance on Marshall's mind is the Queen's Gaels.
"I know it's going to be an exciting weekend," Marshall told The Fan 590 on Sept. 24. "When I saw the Queen's game on the schedule, I had just hoped we'd been playing well going in.
Well, the Mustangs and Gaels are the only 4-0 teams entering the weekend in the province. The winner of this game could lock up home field advantage for the playoffs and will have a realistic shot at going undefeated - although Western plays Guelph in Week 8 and Queen's will play Ottawa on Thanksgiving weekend.
"We're really excited to be going to Kingston this weekend and playing at homecoming there," Marshall said.
Coming off a 71-0 drubbing of York, the Mustangs have received some criticism in the CIS football fan circle for allegedly running up the score. Marshall discounts that notion.
"It is frustrating (to hear)," Marshall said of the criticism. "It's difficult from our standpoint to manage the score in the game."
"We pulled our starting players and here's starting quarterback Michael Faulds in a competition to lead the OUA in scoring and passing," Marshall said. "We pulled him after the first series in the third quarter. You have to let them play."
"And in fairness to York, they need to see where they need to get to," Marshall added.
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When he first arrived at McMaster in the 1990s, Marshall took his share of lopsided losses. He said it only makes you stronger as a team and benefits in the long term.
"When I first got to Mac, I had coaches come and apologize for blowing us out and I told them you don't need to," Marshall said. "It's part of the process and the ebb and flow of CIS football."
Western will need to be ready against a talented Queen's squad. Marshall knows it will be a battle.
"I think we played enough close games against Ottawa and Laurier, so hopefully our players will be able to rebound... we need to play at our best," Marshall said. "We showed our guys the film of Queen's and their ability. They're a very, very well coached team."
"You need to beat them with sound fundamentals," Marshall said.
Western, beat up after a tough start to the season with tight wins over Ottawa and Wilfrid Laurier, was able to rest some players and help them recover from injury.
"One thing we got in the York game is that we got to start some players and then rest them, and actually sit out some players who may have had to normally go in and play," Marshall said.
Western will need to be at 100% against the Gaels - no longer Golden after dropping the colourful distinction early this month - and will have to manage their strong offensive line.
It's the Mustangs offensive and defensive lines which have been strong and changed the tide for Western this season.
"They (Queen's) are really good on both lines," Marshall said. "It's not surprising, they were very similar last year. Fortunately, in the playoff game (OUA quarterfinal against Queen's) in Kingston, the field was in bad shape, really muddy. It had rained all that day, and it had played into our hands. It neutralized their front four."
And with the front four out of the picture, star running back Mike Giffin, who was named the OUA athlete of the week after a win over Toronto on Sept. 20, was limited.
"Having watched them on film their last couple of games, we know what they're capable of," Marshall said. "They have a great front four, they're tenacious. It will be a challenge for our front line."
The game can be seen live on The Score (Channel 54 in London) or heard live on CHRW Radio (94.9 FM in London) or online at www.chrwradio.com/listen/.
Marshall is familiar with the hostile territory in Kingston for visiting teams. It's a great rivalry, one he was part of as a player with the Mustangs.
"We played them in the Yates Cup - then the national semi-final in 1979," Marshall said. "And because (Larry) Haylor and (Darwin) Semotuik had good relationships with Queen's (coaches), we had exhibition games with them in 1980 and 81."
"And in 1979 we beat them to advance to the Vanier Cup, then the College Bowl."
"It will be a great atmosphere. We have a great rivalry with Queen's," Marshall said. "There is mutual respect from both schools, and both teams really want to play well and do well."
When asked about attaining his 50th career regular season win in the CIS last Saturday, Marshall said he was happy to reach the mark.
"It (happened) pretty quick," Marshall said with a laugh. "But it seems like a long time."
Source: Mustangs Athletics
