Three-Point Conversion with Marshall Ferguson: East-West Bowl Day 1

Marshall Ferguson

Marshall Ferguson is a graduate of McMaster University where he spent five years as Quarterback of the Marauders. He now hosts and produces OUA Today, a daily sports talk radio show covering all things OUA and CIS while working towards a career in broadcasting.

Follow him on Twitter @Marsh2Fergs

 Live from Percival Molson Stadium throughout the week, CIS Insider Marshall Ferguson brings you his three thoughts after every practice leading up to the 13th annual CIS East-West Bowl Saturday May 9th from McGill.

DAY 1: PRACTICE

1. Special Teams Focus

Anyone who has watched an all star football game at any level understands the challenges of slapping together a team in 10 hours of practice that can effectively execute a playbook. Offence and defence are one story while special teams is its own goliath challenge. So much of special teams relies on trusting the guy beside you to do his job in order to work as a unit and complete the task at hand.

On Wednesday afternoons first practice there was a definite emphasis on basic special teams schemes. Install took place for nearly half an hour after practice began for the East squad who were led by Bishop Gaiters Head Coach Kevin Mackey. Punt and punt return were the themes of the day. It is unlikely to see the coaches work much kickoff at higher than 50% pace in order to save the athletes legs during this training camp-esque experience.

2. Fracas Coming Out Party?

Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks Quarterback James Fracas is a two time CIS Academic All-Canadian and established leader of the Hawks offence, but he has lived in an offence that made their money handing the ball off to OUA Football MVP Dillon Campbell. Campbell is not involved this week and Laurier Head Coach Michael Faulds is the West team Quarterbacks coach (a role he has played several times in his young coaching career).

With his head coach helping to call the shots Saturday afternoon and surrounded by a plethora of talent at all receiver positions (Western’s George Johnson, Calgary’s Brett Blaszko and his favourite Golden Hawk teammate Greg Nyhof) Fracas is poised to excel in Windsor Head Coach and Team West offensive coordinator Joe D’Amore’s run and shoot offence.

3. A Case of Mistaken Identity

One of the quirky features to the CIS East-West bowl tradition involves competing in a combine against athletes you have heard of but never really seen with their helmet off, and aren't sure exactly who you are competing with to best in testing. This combine is always the first event of the week (again saving the legs for game day) which means before teammates can begin to understand their competition they are already making judgements on those around them. For Regina Rams and Team West defensive back Joey Dwyer this led to some confusion.

Early in the Day Wednesday McMaster RB/FB/SB Declan Cross (who will be playing primarily full back this week) put up several excellent athletic testing numbers at the combine including bench press where Declan pushed 225lbs thirteen times. This led Mr. Dwyer to question Declan’s position group assignment for the week.

During inside run after Cross blocked Dwyer the two came together with Dwyer shockingly yelling “YOU’RE A RUNNING BACK?!? I saw you this morning and thought for sure you were with us (defence) on the line”. While many players at the CIS East-West bowl are versatile this case of mistaken identity will not soon be forgotten by all around around the West offensive huddle that got a laugh from Dwyer’s surprise.

Follow him on Twitter @Marsh2Fergs