LONDON, Ont. - Steeped in Marauders history as, likely, their best-ever football coach, Greg Marshall is to McMaster football as much as Greg Marshall is to Western.
Today, Saturday Oct. 3, Marshall will see many old friends across the field on the McMaster sideline, as many of the Marauders assistant coaches are some of Marshall's best friends. But as soon as the opening whistle sounds, the only thing Marshall will be concered about is beating Mac.
A former Hec Crighton winner while playing with the Mustangs, though, Marshall bleeds purple. Today it will be clear - his allegiances at kickoff will be with the Western squad and thousands of pro-Mustangs fans at TD Waterhouse Stadium.
The 2-2 Marauders think they can play spoiler to Western's Homecoming. The 4-0 Mustangs got a scare last Saturday when they needed a last-second, 16-yard Darryl Wheeler field goal to defeat the Guelph Gryphons. It's the third straight Homecoming Western will play in, today, and just the second home game this season.
Defensive back Josh Foster plays against his former team in the 51st meeting between the schools - Western holds a 36-13-1 advantage all-time. The University of Western Ontario's Director of Sports and Recreation, Therese Quigley sees her current employer and alma mater Mustangs face her employer of 18 years at McMaster, where she also served as athletic director. Marshall sees many of his best friends and supporters of Marauders football, along with players he coached on two championship teams being honoured pre-game.
But Western is focussed on the on-field task at hand and blocking out the off-field distractions - Homecoming, seeing old friends, the pressure of being the favourite. It's all about football today.
"Absolutely there (are strong times)," Marshall said. "It is special (but) most of the players Stefan has on the team now I didn't coach. I did know very well the coaching staff on McMaster. Some of my closest friends are on the coaching staff. It doesn't matter what uniform you wear, those things don't change."
"But come 2 p.m. we'll battle it out."
McMaster plays a nationally ranked team for the second straight week.
"I think midway throught the season they are the most deep and balanced offence," said McMaster head coach Stefan Ptaszek. "We have to keep them off the field, that's the only way to slow them down."
"It's going to be a good challenge."
Ptaszek said he knows this will be a measuring stick for his program.
"We have yet to prove we can beat a top-ranked team in Ontario. It's a step we plan to take this weekend," Ptaszek said. "We're clearly playing a playoff team and probably a favourite for the Yates Cup. This is a good weekend for us. I think we match up OK and we're hopeful that the kids get the feedback that they can compete with anyone all the time."
After McMaster, Western hosts winless York - which host Toronto Oct. 3 - on Thursday Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. at TD Waterhouse Stadium. The final Mustangs home game goes Saturday Oct. 24 against the struggling Toronto Varsity Blues.
Limited general admission tickets are still available. Order yours in person at TD Waterhouse Stadium today. Kickoff at 2 p.m.
Faulds approaching 10,000 yards for career
Western Mustangs quarterback Michael Faulds is just under 900 yards away from becoming part of the 10,000-yard club. With 9.137 yards to date, Faulds has had a banner year in the first four weeks, going 90/144 for 1,359 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has already become the all-time leading passer for yards in Western history and now chases other milestones.
Foster, Quigley and Marshall experience test against former team, program
For three Western Mustangs today, defensive back Josh Foster, athletic director Therese Quigley and head coach Greg Marshall, there will be a special emotional feeling with their former team in McMaster coming to town. Marshall coached the Marauders to four Yates Cups, Foster played there for two seasons and Quigley was the athletic director at McMaster for 18 years.
