CIS Preview: Western can’t wait for the season to start

In a continuing series of 2012 season previews, we move to London, Ontario and the University of Western Ontario Mustangs. Tradition runs deep there and five Yates Cup appearances in five seasons is a major accomplishment for any OUA program. Head Coach Greg Marshall and his players are using memories of last season’s Yates Cup as motivation for this year’s run at a championship.

“We’re eager to get back at it,” said Marshall in a recent phone interview. “When you lose your last game the way we lost our last game (a 41-19 loss to eventual Vanier Cup champ McMaster), you can’t wait for the next game. Coming off a loss you can’t wait for it to start up again.”

Spring camp for the Mustangs starts April 30[SUP]th[/SUP], but the coaches have been busy all off-season on the recruiting trail. It was a bumper crop at linebacker for coach Marshall, especially picking up the trio of 6’3”, 215-pound John Biewald from Ottawa, Jake Karroum (6’2’, 203) from Toronto, and Nikita Starchenko (6’4”, 215) from Whitby. All three were highly recruited out of high school and could compete for playing time this season. Another highly-touted high school recruit to sign with Western was Will Finch, a quarterback from Nelson High School in Burlington. Finch piloted Team World to a win over the U.S. in the International Bowl last February. Marshall was his coach there, but not the only CIS coach interested in the 6’3”, 218-pound QB.

“He’s one of the top players that I’ve seen coming out of high school as a quarterback. He was recruited by everyone in the country. He’s a very, very skilled player and we’re expecting some good things from Will,” says Marshall, who doubles as Western’s offensive coordinator.

Recruiting athletes is a priority for Western, who may lose five players to the CFL this season. All-Canadian offensive lineman Brendan Dunn has been invited back to camp with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (who drafted him 17[SUP]th[/SUP] overall in 2011) and coach Marshall is, “hoping he doesn’t come back to us.” Joining Dunn at CFL camps this summer could be fellow lineman and All-Canadian Matt Norman, defensive linemen David Lee and Mike Van Praet, as well as running back Nathan Riva, who are all eligible for the CFL Draft May 3[SUP]rd[/SUP].

Marshall proudly points out that all four performed well at the CFL Combine and have been working hard with strength and conditioning coach Jeff Watson all winter.

“We’re trying to win football games,” said Marshall, “but at the same time we’re trying to prepare our student-athletes for other opportunities, be it med school, or law school, or teaching, or playing in the CFL.”

Also impressing this off-season with their workouts have been defensive linemen Daryl Waud and Brent Wheeler. They’re both expected to be disruptive forces on the line this fall. Returning linebackers Pawel Kruba, Jerod McCrory, and Sean Blake have also stepped up for defensive front coach, Dennis McPhee. McPhee will handle most coordinating duties for the front seven and work with coach Paul Gleason, who will manage the backfield. The defence overall is much more settled this season and should be a strength for the Mustangs.

On the other side of the ball, Marshall hopes for balance. If Riva doesn’t return, Western still has CIS top rookie Tyler Varga in the backfield, and speedster Garret Sandivo is expected to get more touches in 2012, regardless.

At quarterback, Donnie Marshall comes back from his ankle injury to compete for the starting nod. Whoever wins the QB battle will determine the style of offence the Mustangs play.

“We’ll make use of what we have. Finch’s style is to throw a little bit more. Donnie’s style is to run a little bit more,” said the head coach.

The Mustangs expect to continue their recent run of success and compete every week. The work began immediately following the Yates Cup loss and Marshall hopes it will continue until November 10[SUP]th [/SUP]this year at the Vanier Cup.

“We’re going to win football games by how we prepare. How we prepare in the off-season, how we prepare this summer, and how we prepare for each and every game. We’ll be ready to compete and we’ll work hard.”