directed the Toreros to a 9-2 record and the PFL

[lw789]

MONTREAL - Playing in their home city will be a boost to the University of Montreal Carabins, but experience will be on the McMaster Marauders side in the Vanier Cup game.More than 20,000 tickets had been sold by the time the teams coaches ad a few players from each side gathered for a news conference on Wednesday ahead of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport championship football game.A sellout of 23,500, most of the wearing Carabins blue and white, is expected for Saturday afternoons game at Percival Molson Stadium, the Montreal Alouettes home field on the McGill University campus downtown.Were playing on a bigger stage, for sure, but were not feeling any more pressure, said Carabins quarterback Gabriel Cousineau, whose team downed the Manitoba Bisons in the Uteck Bowl at their 5,100-seat CEPSUM Stadium last Saturday. Its an opportunity to play in our city in front of our fans and we hope well give them a good show.The Carabins are in their first Vanier Cup after finally downing the powerhouse Laval Rouge et Or, who had won 11 straight conference titles.The Marauders will be in their third Vanier Cup in four years. They beat Laval in 2011 in Vancouver and lost to the Rouge et Or in 2012 in Toronto.Now they are headed onto their opponents turf to try for a second title.Were excited to be on the national stage and play our best football in front of what know will be an exciting environment and a very blue crowd, said Marauders quarterback Marshall Ferguson, who will be playing his last CIS game. The crowd noise plays into making it more difficult to achieve that goal.Playing far away from home, it should make a difference, but once the balls kicked off, aside from the noise, its all just football. We need to look at the micro and not the macro. Make sure we eliminate errors, turnovers and things like that because thats what wins football games.Coach Stefan Ptaszek said Vanier Cup experience will come in handy. There are 12 players left from their last trips to the final, and the victory in 2011 was perhaps their biggest moment.We were naive, said Ptaszek. We hadnt been to the game in 44 years and that ignorance was bliss.We just let it all hang out and played. Now, being more educated on how good the (Quebec conference) can be and how they can be beastly and overwhelming at times, that knowledge isnt a bad thing. This team doesnt sneak up on us. Were very aware of what were getting into. We cant be overly freaked out by the great film were seeing of Montreal.Some consider Laval and Montreal as the two best teams in the country, but the Carabins needed to lean on their defence to beat Manitoba. The Bisons marched to the Montreal 12 on their final drive, but a fumble recovery by star linebacker Byron Archambault ended the threat.After the game, coach Danny Maciocia stressed the need for better preparation for the Vanier Cup game. Last week, a snowstorm forced his team to abandon its normal practice routine and move to an indoor facility.Maciocia, the former Edmonton Eskimos coach and general manager, called it a learning experience for a group not used to playing this far into the season.I dont think we were as organized as we should have been, said Maciocia. We were able to pull it off and win, so we met again and were much better prepared the second time around.We had a very good practice (Tuesday), which we didnt do last week. But there are a lot of firsts here, for me too. Its not a Grey Cup week. Its student athletes. There are academics. But the fact that we experienced it last week will help this week.A priority will be limiting distractions as Canadian university football gets more attention in one week than it gets all season.We dont have a template of what a Vanier Cup should look like, they do, said Maciocia. Theyve experienced it three times in four years. So this is new to us. Theres a lot of work for us to do on that end of it. If we can manage it, well be OK on Saturday.Ptaszek said many of his players were excited because they have never been to Montreal before, but the coaching staff and the veterans will try to keep them focused on the game.I have 12 student athletes who have been through this, he said. This hype and hoopla and celebration of football is fantastic.A beast of a football team is going to try to kill you on Saturday afternoon. I have 12 young men that know that the toughest game theyll ever play awaits them. So all this stuff is great, enjoy it, but not at the expense of being prepared to play your best game.The Marauders downed Mount Allison 24-12 in the Mitchell Bowl last Saturday led by running back Wayne Moore, who replaced the injured Chris Pezzetta early on and put up 146 rushing yards. Moore is to start in the Vanier Cup.They know theyre in for a tougher test against Montreals aggressive defence, while the Carabins are aware of McMasters solid defence as well. Manitoba had nine interceptions in three playoff games heading into the Uteck Bowl. The Marauders have picked off seven in three playoff games so far.The way the Montreal team plays is very similar, said Ptaszek. They held Laval to no touchdowns in eight quarters of football, and if they need to open it up on offence, they can. They seem to have a similar philosophy to us on game management. Wayne Simmonds Jersey . "That was a great lift for the staff," Padres manager Bud Black said. Yonder Alonso and Yasmani Grandal homered, and Chase Headley drove in three runs, as the Padres beat the Chicago Cubs 11-1 on Friday night. Steve Mason Jersey . LeBron James believes hes a major reason for their early failures. http://www.nhlflyersproauthentic.com/sh ... ey-jersey/. -- Challenged for the first time under Major League Baseballs expanded replay system, umpires got it right. Radko Gudas Jersey . Speaking on TSN Radio 1050s TSN Drive with Dave Naylor on Monday, Colangelo said he had no intention of tanking the shortened 2011-12 season, but definitely wanted a high pick in the draft. "I wish that word wasnt used for headline reasons," said Colangelo, "but the story behind it was: how can we fix the system? How can we tweak the system to make it less likely that teams are rewarded for losing records? "I do believe that if youre as transparent as we were at the time - with our season seat holders, our fans, the market place and the media - everybody knew what the plan was and what we were going through. Bernie Parent Jersey . -- David Freese is starting to pick up his run production, which is something the Los Angeles Angels have been waiting half a season to see.Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - A virtual Whos Who of great FCS coaches over the last three decades have captured the Eddie Robinson Award, and this years national coach of the year will take his place next to them. Voting for the Eddie Robinson Award began on Monday with 21 finalists from across the FCS. Morgan States Lee Hull was named as the final addition to the list. Each of the 13 FCS conferences has at least one finalist. Eleven of the coaches have led their teams to either a shared or outright conference title and 13 will be coaching in the FCS playoffs. Past winners of the esteemed Eddie Robinson Award include Mark Duffner, Erk Russell, Chris Ault, Jim Tressel, Houston Nutt, Andy Talley, Paul Johnson, Joe Glenn, Jerry Kill, Jerry Moore, and the only two-time winners, Mickey Matthews and Craig Bohl. A national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries select the Robinson Award, now in its 28th year and selected only on regular-season merits. The winner will be announced Dec. 15 at The Sports Network FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation. The Sports Network FCS Awards package is located at http://tinyurl.com/n5ysh8x. The 2014 Eddie Robinson Award finalists: Beau Baldwin, Eastern Washington (Big Sky Conference) Has led Eagles to a third straight conference title, a 10-2 record, a No. 4 ranking in the final regular-season poll and into the FCS playoffs Rod Broadway, North Carolina A&T (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) The Aggies won a share of the conference title for the first time since 2003 and posted their highest win total (nine) since that same season, while climbing into the Top 25 for the first time in over 10 years. Clint Conque, Stephen F. Austin (Southland Conference) While improving a 3-9 record last year to 8-4 in Conques first season, the Lumberjacks have defeated two Top 10 opponents and qualified for the FCS playoffs. Marty Fine, Bryant (Northeast Conference) The Bulldogs appeared in the Top 25 for the first time ever and won eight games - the most since their program moved into the FCS ranks in 2008. Broderick Fobbs, Grambling State (Southwestern Athletic Conference) In his first season at his alma mater, Fobbs has turned around a 1-11 squad with a seven-win season and a chance to reach the SWAC championship game. John Grass, Jacksonville State (Ohio Valley Conference) Has led the Gamecocks to a perfect conference record in his first season as well as the No. 3 national ranking and a 10-game winning streak heading into the FCS playoffs. Dean Hood, Eastern Kentucky (Ohio Valley Conference) Has guided the Colonels to nine wins - the most in his seven seasons - second place in the OVC and into the FCS playoffs. Russ Huesman, Chattanoooga (Southern Conference) With a perfect record in conference play, the champion Mocs are 9-3 and headed to the FCS playoffs for the first time since 1984.dddddddddddd Lee Hull, Morgan State (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) The Bears were picked ninth in the MEAC under their first-year coach but have gone 7-5 with a share of their first conference title in 35 years, advancing to the FCS playoffs for the first time. Chris Klieman, North Dakota State (Missouri Valley Football Conference) After a 9-0 start that was the best by a first-year coach in Missouri Valley history, the Bison are 11-1 and No. 2-ranked entering the FCS playoffs. Mike Kramer, Idaho State (Big Sky Conference) An 8-4 season represented the Bengals combined win total over the previous five seasons, and they have moved into the Top 25 for the first time since 2005. Dale Lindsey, San Diego (Pioneer Football League) Has directed the Toreros to a 9-2 record and the PFL championship as well as a berth in the FCS playoffs for the first time. Sean McDonnell, New Hampshire (CAA Football) The Wildcats are No. 1 ranked and the No. 1 seed in the FCS playoffs after posting a 10-1 record, including a perfect season in CAA Football. Joe Moglia, Coastal Carolina (Big South Conference) Led the Chanticleers to the No. 2 ranking and the first 11-0 start in Big South history while earning a share of the conference title and an FCS playoff berth. Tim Murphy, Harvard (Ivy League) Led the Crimson to the league title for an eighth time and a 10-0 record for the only unbeaten finish in the regular season among all FCS programs. Tony Reno, Yale (Ivy League) Early season victory over FBS member Army helped push the Bulldogs to an 8-2 record - their highest win total since 2007. Mike Sanford, Indiana State (Missouri Valley Football Conference) In his second season, Sanford has turned around a 1-11 team with a seven-win campaign and the Sycamores first FCS playoff bid since 1984. Brock Spack, Illinois State (Missouri Valley Football Conference) The Redbirds have earned a share of the conference title, doubling their 2013 win total with a 10-1 record and earning a bid to the FCS playoffs. Mark Speir, Western Carolina (Southern Conference) A 7-5 record marked the Catamounts first winning season since 2001 and they shared second place for their best finish in the conference since 1992. Joe Susan, Bucknell (Patriot League) With an 8-3 record, the Bison reached that win level for only the fifth time in their 129-year history, and finished second in the league standings. Everett Withers, James Madison (CAA Football) A seven-game winning streak to end the regular season has pushed the Dukes and their first-year coach to a 9-3 record and into the FCS playoffs. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '