August 20, 2012
OUA's University Rush returns to theScore for 11th season
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) football returns to theScore Television Network on Saturday, September 8, marking the 11th season of University Rush coverage. theScore will broadcast six regular season and four playoff games, all leading up to the 105th Yates Cup presented by Pioneer Energy on November 10, featuring the belairdirect halftime show.
The University Rush season kicks off under the lights as the Queen’s Gaels travel to Waterloo to take on the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks on Saturday, September 8 at 8 p.m. The second week clash marks the first University Rush game since 2008 to be played at night. In the 2011 quarter-final the Gaels were responsible for ending the Golden Hawks season in a low scoring affair that was decided on a fourth-quarter rushing touchdown. The 14-10 decision sent Coach Sheahan and his tri-coloured squad into the Yates Cup semifinal against eventual Vanier Cup winner McMaster.
Queen’s returns to the schedule the following Saturday when they host the Western Mustangs at Richardson Stadium. The Gaels shut out the Mustangs 37-0 last season in week eight, a game that was essentially meaningless for the guaranteed first place ‘Stangs. The lopsided victory marked the first time since 1973 that Western University football had been held scoreless. But when they meet on September 15, the game will be anything but insignificant and University Rush fans should expect an exciting tilt showcasing one of the oldest rivalries in the league.
The first of three University Rush Homecoming games featured on theScore has Toronto visiting Guelph in the new and improved Alumni Stadium on Saturday, September 22. The following week McMaster travels to London to take on the Western Mustangs in a rematch of the 104th Yates Cup final. Following a break for Thanksgiving, the Marauders return to theScore and play host to 2011 upstart Windsor on Saturday, October 13.
Toronto managed a surprise 21-12 victory over the visiting Guelph Gryphons last season at Varsity Stadium, but this year the tables will be turned. The Varsity Blues will travel into the belly of the beast, taking on the Gryphons in front of a hostile Homecoming crowd.
OUA football fans should mark September 29th on their calendars as the most highly anticipated matchup of 2012 comes live to University Rush on theScore. Pioneer Energy Male Athlete of the Year Kyle Quinlan (South Woodslee, Ont.) and the McMaster Marauders are coming off a Cinderella season in 2011 that saw them capture the first national title in school history. With limited key losses on the roster, McMaster is looking for a repeat performance. The Mustangs and Marauders split results in 2011. The Mustangs muscled their way to a 48-21 win in week two before the Marauders came away with a 41-19 win in the 104th Yates Cup.
Following the Thanksgiving break, 2011 OUA Coach of the Year Joe D’Amore and the Windsor Lancers will travel to Hamilton to take on McMaster in front of a packed Homecoming crowd. Though the Lancers didn’t win a Vanier Cup like their maroon opponents, 2011 was a banner year for the program. The Lancers posted a 5-3 record and had two post season appearances, which was their most successful season since 2006. Windsor gave McMaster trouble the last time these two teams met and the Marauders were lucky to come away with a two point win. Fans should tune in live to see the two best quarterbacks OUA has to offer as Windsor’s Austin Kennedy (Windsor, Ont.) goes up against Quinlan.
The OUA regular season concludes on Saturday, October 20 with five games that will no doubt have playoff implications. Week eight will feature a key game for post-season positioning, and will be announced at a later date.
OUA alum Donnovan Bennett returns to the booth for his second season, and this year he’ll be joined by a new face as theScore’s Simon Bennett takes over the play-by play calls.
“I am very excited and honoured to be the new voice of University Rush,” said Bennett. “theScore was the first to show guys like Jesse Lumsden and Andy Fantuz before they became big-time pros. When you look at how quickly a kid like Shamawd Chambers made an impact in the CFL, you really see how top notch the talent is. I have already seen first-hand that there many good people involved with OUA football and I can’t wait to tell their stories to the rest of Canada.”
theScore’s Laura Diakun and Andy Baechler will kick off and wrap up each game from the studio. The pair will cover the upcoming matchup, and discuss OUA and CIS football action across the country.
Paul Brothers will complete the on air theScore crew on the sidelines in his first season as University Rush host.
2012 University Rush Schedule
Saturday, September 8 Queen's @ Laurier 8 p.m.
Saturday, September 15 Western @ Queen's 1 p.m.
Saturday, September 22 Toronto @ Guelph 1 p.m.
Saturday, September 29 McMaster @ Western 1 p.m.
Saturday, October 13 Windsor @ McMaster 1 p.m.
Saturday, October 20 TBA 1p.m.
Saturday, October 27 OUA quarter-final 1 p.m.
Saturday, November 3 OUA semifinal 1 p.m.
Saturday, November 3 OUA semifinal 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 10 105th Yates Cup 1 p.m.
The University Rush season kicks off under the lights as the Queen’s Gaels travel to Waterloo to take on the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks on Saturday, September 8 at 8 p.m. The second week clash marks the first University Rush game since 2008 to be played at night. In the 2011 quarter-final the Gaels were responsible for ending the Golden Hawks season in a low scoring affair that was decided on a fourth-quarter rushing touchdown. The 14-10 decision sent Coach Sheahan and his tri-coloured squad into the Yates Cup semifinal against eventual Vanier Cup winner McMaster.
Queen’s returns to the schedule the following Saturday when they host the Western Mustangs at Richardson Stadium. The Gaels shut out the Mustangs 37-0 last season in week eight, a game that was essentially meaningless for the guaranteed first place ‘Stangs. The lopsided victory marked the first time since 1973 that Western University football had been held scoreless. But when they meet on September 15, the game will be anything but insignificant and University Rush fans should expect an exciting tilt showcasing one of the oldest rivalries in the league.
The first of three University Rush Homecoming games featured on theScore has Toronto visiting Guelph in the new and improved Alumni Stadium on Saturday, September 22. The following week McMaster travels to London to take on the Western Mustangs in a rematch of the 104th Yates Cup final. Following a break for Thanksgiving, the Marauders return to theScore and play host to 2011 upstart Windsor on Saturday, October 13.
Toronto managed a surprise 21-12 victory over the visiting Guelph Gryphons last season at Varsity Stadium, but this year the tables will be turned. The Varsity Blues will travel into the belly of the beast, taking on the Gryphons in front of a hostile Homecoming crowd.
OUA football fans should mark September 29th on their calendars as the most highly anticipated matchup of 2012 comes live to University Rush on theScore. Pioneer Energy Male Athlete of the Year Kyle Quinlan (South Woodslee, Ont.) and the McMaster Marauders are coming off a Cinderella season in 2011 that saw them capture the first national title in school history. With limited key losses on the roster, McMaster is looking for a repeat performance. The Mustangs and Marauders split results in 2011. The Mustangs muscled their way to a 48-21 win in week two before the Marauders came away with a 41-19 win in the 104th Yates Cup.
Following the Thanksgiving break, 2011 OUA Coach of the Year Joe D’Amore and the Windsor Lancers will travel to Hamilton to take on McMaster in front of a packed Homecoming crowd. Though the Lancers didn’t win a Vanier Cup like their maroon opponents, 2011 was a banner year for the program. The Lancers posted a 5-3 record and had two post season appearances, which was their most successful season since 2006. Windsor gave McMaster trouble the last time these two teams met and the Marauders were lucky to come away with a two point win. Fans should tune in live to see the two best quarterbacks OUA has to offer as Windsor’s Austin Kennedy (Windsor, Ont.) goes up against Quinlan.
The OUA regular season concludes on Saturday, October 20 with five games that will no doubt have playoff implications. Week eight will feature a key game for post-season positioning, and will be announced at a later date.
OUA alum Donnovan Bennett returns to the booth for his second season, and this year he’ll be joined by a new face as theScore’s Simon Bennett takes over the play-by play calls.
“I am very excited and honoured to be the new voice of University Rush,” said Bennett. “theScore was the first to show guys like Jesse Lumsden and Andy Fantuz before they became big-time pros. When you look at how quickly a kid like Shamawd Chambers made an impact in the CFL, you really see how top notch the talent is. I have already seen first-hand that there many good people involved with OUA football and I can’t wait to tell their stories to the rest of Canada.”
theScore’s Laura Diakun and Andy Baechler will kick off and wrap up each game from the studio. The pair will cover the upcoming matchup, and discuss OUA and CIS football action across the country.
Paul Brothers will complete the on air theScore crew on the sidelines in his first season as University Rush host.
2012 University Rush Schedule
Saturday, September 8 Queen's @ Laurier 8 p.m.
Saturday, September 15 Western @ Queen's 1 p.m.
Saturday, September 22 Toronto @ Guelph 1 p.m.
Saturday, September 29 McMaster @ Western 1 p.m.
Saturday, October 13 Windsor @ McMaster 1 p.m.
Saturday, October 20 TBA 1p.m.
Saturday, October 27 OUA quarter-final 1 p.m.
Saturday, November 3 OUA semifinal 1 p.m.
Saturday, November 3 OUA semifinal 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 10 105th Yates Cup 1 p.m.
