First things first. The Hair.
I grew my hair out during the summer of 2011 to look like Tom Brady. There I said it.
A note to those considering growing your hair out. The start is good, the end is GREAT. The 6 month period in between leaves you looking like Will Ferrell’s space dad in Disney Pixar’s Megamind.
While writing this piece I quickly realized I could write a 200 page book on this season alone. I apologize for its length, but when a story like this happens in real life it’s tough to omit facts.
Where am I and why can’t I hear myself think?
In the preseason that year we travelled to a strange place called Laval. Quebec City is and has always been gorgeous. I visited years earlier with a public school class to appreciate Canadian history. But Laval? I had heard of this place this institution and it did not seem like a place worth visiting for the faint of heart.
The image of Peps Stadium had been painted in my mind by years of experience and storytelling from my elders like a pre-electricity civilization where the exploits of Julius Ceaser recreate their own greatness through replication and exaggeration travelling by word of mouth. There was no need to exaggerate about the Rouge Et Or though. The big red army lived inside a fortress built of concrete, vuvuzelas and anger. They pretended to welcome us with open arms. We were deceived.
We practiced Saturday afternoon with them and on Sunday we scrimmaged live. During warmups for the scrimmage I was loosening up my cannon of a right leg (sarcasm) in case I was required to punt which I was off an on throughout the year. I was rather proud of my new role as emergency utility man and I felt great on this day so I continued to test my leg. I backed up further and further from the returners while warming up. Eventually I reached near mid-field. With several Laval players and coaches taking note of the backup QB guy with the stupid hair and big leg I tried to crush one to really send a message. In that moment a gust of wind blew the ball sideways and away from my foot. I swung through, making contact with only oxygen and carbon dioxide. I missed the ball and slammed to the turf as if I was a prop on Monday night raw who was finished off by means of an invisible DDT. Needless to say not my most flattering or athletic moment.
I’ll never forget how calm Kyle was as we took the long walk into the lions den at Laval from the away dressing room. On the walk we slow jammed a manly duet version of opening to “The Time” by the Black Eyed Peas. Give it a listen you should be able to imagine us singing the opening. It was this weirdo connection and fun loving nature that allowed Kyle and I to get along so well as we do to this day.
The day started well. Kyle led us on some long drives and we weathered the crowd for the entire first half.
WE WERE COMPETING WITH THE BIG RED MACHINE.
Late in the second quarter when I entered the game rain began to steadily fall. To this day Kyle and I refer to this as the backup rule. If a backup QB starts to warmup in anticipation of taking live snaps rain isn’t far behind. This was not just a sprinkle though. It was the remaining fury of tropical storm Irene. I went 7-14 for 64 yards. We lost 24-10, but we stayed relevant and surrendered 10 of those 24 points on conceded safeties because our punter sucked.. cough cough.
The OU Eh?
In week one we played, you guessed it. Queens. Nothing spectacular about this game aside from being home. I remember seeing Adam Archibald play at Richardson Stadium in one of his last seasons when I was in public school. The idea that a young kid could be watching me on that sideline and dream of becoming a CIS QB as I did while watching Arch was a full circle moment which Oprah herself would be proud of.
Once again the support from my blood relatives and FSS family was incredible. We won the game on a Ben D’aguilar pick six and a bomb from KQ to Jared Jones. 1-0 again and another early season date with Western.
Tim and The Score crew made their way to the hammer for this one. Western had come off a week one demolition of Waterloo 86-22 behind the Mustang running attack which put up 500 yards on 48 rushing attempts. Part of that vaunted attack was rookie Tyler Varga. The human highlight ree.. the alien highlight reel went for 80 yards and 3 TD’s in his debut.
Thats fine. Waterloo didn’t have anywhere close to our defensive front 7 or cover men on the back end. We’ll be fine we said. We can do this we said.
Two Losses, One Day
149-yard rushing yards, four Varga touchdowns and a 48-21 decision later we were embarrassed on national TV by Western for the third time in a year. Varga would transfer to Yale following the season. Thank god for higher education.
That night the team looked to unwind and take off some stress from a lengthy training camp, bus to and from Quebec City, opener on the road and short week to prepare for Western at home.
What happened that night many people like to act as though they fully understand. Only one person does and he has long since moved on.
This will forever go down as one of the strangest and most confusing nights of my life. While dancing the night away with my closest friends and teammates senior Jared jones grabbed me by the collar and said “get out of here”.
“Hahah good one J, the night is young. Hey wanna go grab a drink”?
JJ turned around and screamed “seriously everyone go home”. We realized the seriousness in his voice and left immediately to the confusion of everyone involved.
What followed changed both my football life and personal life forever.
On Wednesday of that week Athletic Director Jeff Giles entered the locker room to inform the team that Kyle was suspended by the university for breaking the student athlete code of conduct for reportedly getting into a scuffle at the campus pub.
Picture for me if you could a 6’2 180lb second year quarterback standing at the back of the room hearing these words and immediately seeing somewhere between 140-160 eyes turn and stare at you. It was as if the entire room collectively said, “My god, he has to play”.
To the credit of that locker room from about 5 seconds after those eyes found mine there was not one doubt about my ability to lead that team.
Everyone Calm Down
I was young, dumb and full of.. focus. My mom was a wreck at the idea of her boy starting a game against men. I know this not from personal experience but from pictures of her crying in the car on the ride to Windsor as perfectly captured by my sister.
Once the tears subsided and the warmup concluded it was just a football game. I went 25-33 for 284 yards and three touchdowns. At one point I completed 11 straight passes as we won 21-19 on the road. I was unconscious to the situation and ignored how I SHOULD be playing. It was one of the proudest moments of my CIS career, right up there with the Vanier Cups.
After the game Mr. Giles sprinted at me and came in for the real thing. A hug from the boss. Not often do you get that. Giles likely felt the need to recognize me in this unusual manner as much from relief of avoiding the persecution of Marauder fans everywhere as from the thrill of victory.
After the game Coach Ptaszek was quoted as saying, “On two days of first-team practice, you cannot play any better than that, (Under the circumstances) his effort ranks among the top QB performances I have seen.”
Under the circumstances?? You mean surrounded by incredible talent, even better friendships, a sure fire 1st round CFL left tackle, a knowledgeable and understanding coaching staff that would do anything to accommodate my skill set and a fan base which threw their collective support directly at me?
It really wasn’t that hard, and it really wasn’t about me. That night showed the resolve from week 2 of 2010 against Laurier and the payoff of an entire 47 man rosters offseason conditioning. It’s incredible what humans can achieve when they believe in and support each other. Not to mention the special moment that my starting Quarterback and I had after the game.
1-0
Cool Jerseys Guys..
The following week we travelled to Guelph for their homecoming. They were debuting their home all black look. Sizzle, sizzle sizzle. No steak. Not the most welcoming environment for a young quarterback to lead a veteran group in. I threw two BAD interceptions in the first half before battling back to finish 19-29 plus 236 yards and two touchdowns. We sent the crazy crowd home VERY EARLY. I wish I would have appreciated that moment a little bit better as its enormity would not dawn on me until years later.
That day we had the best non-playoff road crowd i’ve experienced as a Marauder. They were incredible and I was forever thankful.
2-0
I Get What??
As I was going through the handshake line Glenn Schiller (Then of The Score, now a TSN Sportscentre anchor) pulled me aside and said “hey we need you for a second”. Sure why not I don’t mind doing media. Just before we went live on air he handed me two tickets anywhere Porter airlines flies.
“Really?” I asked. “You guys do know I just threw two interceptions and my completion percentage was lower than my season average right?”
Glenn laughed and shook his head, “yah yah but we need a storyline”. My first experience with the business.
The underrated rookie with solid stats and amazing perseverance that was overlooked that day: Chris Pezzeta.
As we finished the interview I walked off the field with a Porter towel around my shoulder. I thought I had accidentally just stole their prop so I turned around and asked if they needed it. Nope it’s yours some random PR guy told me. I smiled jubilantly.
A TOWEL!! A FRESH CLEAN WHITE TOWEL. I was pumped.
At that moment another random person approached me with a Bulova watch and said “here this is yours”. Price tag still attached, it read $375. That’s when the camera cut back to me walking towards the Maroon faithful to say thank you for their support. I just started laughing.
I’ve theoretically tried to sell the watch several times to pay rent or get something oh I don’t know.. THAT I’LL ACTUALLY USE. Each time my mom has vetoed my efforts telling me it’s a part of my history. I have a feeling i’ll appreciate her artifact protection years from now.
Homecoming
In week five we hosted Waterloo. My last start before the return of the king. Pinball Clemons visited the team the night before our game as he was also in town to be the keynote speaker at the McMaster Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony. He left us with a slogan that we lived by all year.
Every Man.
Every Play.
Every Down.
All Day.
It stuck with us and we played with those words fresh in memory when we won 46-20 that Saturday.
3-0. Mission accomplished. The train did not come off the rails during Quinlan’s absence.
Return Of The Mac
In week 6 Kyle Quinlan returned. He was pissed, and it showed. 23-32, 455 yards and 5 TDs in only three quarters of work in a 50-14 defeat of the Toronto Varsity Blues. Good luck following that up… oh don’t get me wrong I tried. 2-6, 21 yards, 0 TDs.
We rolled into the playoffs from there with a very focused team and a very determined Kyle Quinlan. Result: 7-1, a first round bye and a home playoff game against who? Queens.
It was around this time that ‘The Bandits’ were formed. A rogue gang of second string football players who took the greatest of pride in their ability to fill in at a moments notice with no drop off in effort or performance while finding unique ways to contribute to the team.
The Bandits were comprised of the following,
– WR and kick/punt returner #23 Gary Spero.
– SB and special teamer ace #6 Dahlin Brooks.
– RB and occasional Quinlan lead blocker when Kyle decided 30 tailback draw should actually be 10 QB draw (he did this with incredible consistency) #22 Jimmy Hill
– SB and dancer extraordinaire #86 Tyler Loveday.
– SB and special teams wrecking ball now Saskatchewan Roughrider #88 Spencer Moore.
– WR and blocking in space expert #11 Ben O’Connor.
– QB/P and rambling author #2 Marshall Ferguson.
We all found ways to contribute and I learned in short order after being a starting QB for three weeks and returning to the bench that I would become a full time playoff punter.
I don’t remember exactly when I found out but at some point that week I learned I would be punting for the team effective immediately in the playoffs as our kicker Tyler Crapigna had mono. A guy who had never played soccer, or kicked a single ball in high school, or done more than boot a ball while messing around at summer throws was not called upon to flip field position in the OUA playoffs for a championship caliber team *throat tightens, swallows saliva*.
Another victory over Queens. Another afternoon with nothing to contribute to my football memories, aside from a fake punt completed against my hometown team.
1-1, 12 yards.
In the 104th Yates Cup we would face the Western Mustangs in their house.
KQ’s Kingdom
Tyler Varga, Donnie Marshall, Beau Landry, Pawel Kruba, that damn horse. It was all in the way of our goal. In the previous three match ups we had been outscored 132-68. Western had not lost a home game since October 3rd, 2009. Oddly enough against the pre-Marshall Ferguson Marauders in Quinlan’s coming out party when he ran for 72 yards and three touchdowns and was 17/22 for 272 yards and another three touchdowns in the win *FREAK*
We slumped through the first half. I battled to punt the ball from our own end into the wind twice in the opening minutes trying my best to put our defence in a good position. A strange thing happened. Every time I touched the ball with my foot it spiralled It went far, it went high, it went outside the numbers where my coverage team needed it to be. The guy who didn’t know how to punt and had never been asked to in a game before that season held the Mustang return game to -8 yards including a 55 yard punt in the 2nd quarter and another successful fake punt completed to native hamiltonian Steve Ventresca. Life is funny.
2-2, 28 yards.
Our defence had the best goal line stand i’ve ever seen considering the opponent and stakes while keeping Varga to 154 yards on 30 carries.
Quinlan tore up the second half going 16-24 for 4 TDs including a 102-yard strike to Michael DiCroce while also running 10 times for 103 yards *FREAK*.
We had an awesome moment on the bench after Kyle absolutely trucked Beau Landry. Kyle sat down next to me on the bench scratched, bleeding, exhausted, eye black sporadically spread across his face and plainly stated “damn i’m tired”.
We laughed and laughed due to the comedic nature of such an honest statement. Dry humour I believe its defined as.
Out of sympathy I offered to go in as the short relief, closer from the bullpen. We were up twenty points with five minutes to play and Kyle needed a break. I purposed the idea to Offensive co-ordinator Jon Behie who laughed, walked over to Kyle and told him he earned the right to finish this amazing performance so he would do it.
We were headed East to Moncton after a 41-19 slaying of the ultimate dragon. The McMaster Marauders, your 2011 Yates Cup champions. Unreal.
Coach Ptaszek has often referenced this picture and how honest and pure our smiles and excitement are. I couldn’t agree more.
East Coast Livin’
We left school for the Atlantic coast on a chilly Tuesday morning. We drove through the gates of Hamilton airport and pulled up next to our chartered team flight.
Wow wow a wee wow. King in the castle king in the cattle I have a chair. We were living large.
We were in Moncton for a couple of days preparing for the big game. Moncton was the perfect place for us to get away from it all. We were secluded in a hotel in a relatively quiet town with nothing to entertain us but each other.
As it turns out we became the funniest team around. Whether it was Senior Defensive End Scott Caterine stealing my camera and taking gangster selfies in a hotel washroom
or the o-line and I going ‘tarps off’ in the bus for a laugh, we grew as a group on that trip more than I ever imagined we would.
Not to mention my hair got the national recognition it deserved.
We were plain the Acadia Axemen. An AUS conference champion that we respected but didn’t think could last 10 rounds with our athletes.
My awkward aerial punting style also invaded the East coast for another week of hilarity with far less success than the Yates Cup triumph. Kickers, such inconsistent individuals.
Six minutes in we were down 14-0…
Cue the resolve, character, fight, scrap and claw attitude developed through two years of battles behind our fearless leader and the game ended with a McMaster victory. Make the final (Vic Rauter voice) 45-21.
We touched the Atlantic the day of that game. Played the game and boarded a plane home knowing we would touch the Pacific Ocean in a few days with a chance to create history by taking on the big red machine we visited months earlier. Laval.
The Big Show
Where to begin.
The turf at BC Place was amazing. It left a subtle orange tint on your cleats from the uniquely coloured turf pebbles. The orange hue of that residue was the equivalent of gold when we returned home because seeing those marked up cleats brought back a flood of positive emotions each time. This turf detail may seem small and insignificant but it is the small details and memories that made the Vancouver experience so unique.
Throughout the week we had an incredible balance of focus and looseness about us. I think it spoke to the character of our veteran leadership morn than anything else. We visited local landmarks,
played Jeopardy in someones room every night at 730 (430 Pacific) on TV and ignored all the hype surrounding the game. As a second year I had no idea the significance of this trip. I was just living in the moment enjoying the experience, something which I learned to do more often in the years that would follow.
Before the game I played keep up wit a soccer ball for about an hour with Kyle. This was our stress relief it took us back to being kids in a school yard free to have fun.
As we prepared to enter the field from the tunnel I heard Birds Flying High for the first time ever. It has become the symbolic anthem of our era at McMaster and gives me chills every time I hear it now.
We were armed with 99th Grey Cup mini footballs to do as we pleased once we entered the field. As I ran onto the field with no clue what to do with my ball I saw the boys and girls club of Vancouver lining the field as our human tunnel. The thought hit me I wonder how cool it would be for a small kid to have a football player take a second in the biggest moment of his life to acknowledge the kid and make them feel special. So I stopped for five seconds as my team sprinted past to midfield and found the smallest child I could in the line. In those five seconds I found out his name was Mark he was from near UBC and he was happy to be there. I gave him the ball told him to have fun and ran along on my way. I sometimes wonder if Mark got as much of a kid out of that as I did.
Fun side note: Former McMaster Free Safety now Hamilton Ti-Cats special teamer Mike Daly launched his ball into the crowd as hard as he could towards the upper deck. His grandpa caught it and Mike still has the ball in his room. Vanier Magic.
As I ran to midfield I was greeted by Laval Defensive End Arnaud Gascon-Nadon or AGN as we called him for the two years we had to deal with him. AGN was screaming at and threatening to hurt anything that looked at him along with the rest of the Laval sideline. An RSEQ special welcome that never gets old.
As for the game I could tell 1000 stories and likely will in the book I write about this game should anyone be interested, but for now let’s assume that you’re reading this because you’ve either seen the game or lived it and understand the events and their order of importance.
I will share one in game story. When Tyler Crapigna attempted to finish the game in regulation KQ and I were linked in arms with the rest of the bench genuinely praying to finish this adventure NOW. Two Try Ty as the team happily nicknamed Crappy T of course missed that kick.
When Tyler lined up for the 2OT winner Kyle refused to watch. I chased him down the bench screaming “Kyle! You did this! You need to see it with your own eyes! Kyle! Cmon man get back here!”
For the sake of the man and the defeat of the evils he had faced that season be they legal, prejudice, rampant rumours, injury speculation and constant doubting of his ability to win the big one I felt Kyle needed to see this moment with his own eyes.
After chasing him down the sideline for the entirety of the play clock I realized my efforts were useless and I pulled a 180 just as the ball was snapped in time to see the ball split the uprights and Maroon explode onto the field from behind me. I was no longer running that 5.7 second 40 yard dash from 2006 when Frontenac Head Coach Mike Doyle asked if I was injured. In that moment I felt as though I could have beat Donovan Bailey in a race while wagging my finger at him as if to teach a lesson.
What an incredible high. To complete the greatest task of all in a fairytale finish with your best friends in the world is an emotion I wasn’t sure I would ever feel again.
What followed was a blur of hugs, handshakes, tears of joy and waving to family in the stands. I am especially thankful that my Grandma Simkins (Moms Mom) was able to be there. She always supported everything I did and would later pass in Spring 2013. Knowing that I gave her a consistent source of joy and excitement in her final years continues to fill me with pride.
Following the victory I did the family visits before we waited on Coach Ptaszek to finish his media engagements and lead us in our victory song. That moment created one of my favourite pictures ever.
Kyle and I laughed about the way I chased him down the bench after the game and took a picture to remember the moment. Another one of my favourites. The star QB and his utility man backup one with golden locks the other with the golden touch.
We ventured back to the bus where we eagerly awaited departure to go celebrate with our friends and family but were forced to wait. Why? Slotback Robert ‘don’t call me Bobby’ Babic had just tied a Vanier Cup record with 12 catches and was subsequently being tested for awesomeness by the CCES. How did we discover Babs was with CCES. In the social media age we live in it was of course, Twitter.
“Rob Babic @rbabs83 . 26 Nov 2011
Sitting in a room with a laval player waiting to get dope tested… #awkward”
AMAZING.
We returned to the team hotel where I decided to audition for the role of the old man in UP 2.
I took the sweetest drink of beer in my life.
Then I realized my phone was about to die. I ran back up to my room to grab my charger popped open the door and found my roommate Kyle laying in bed, alone with a glass of water at his side, on the night he had nearly singlehandedly captured the biggest football win in McMaster University history.
KQ was not permitted nor interested in the bar scene due to his week 2 brush up at that time. This remains one of the saddest memories of my career.
I left Kyle alone in bed beat up and exhausted as his highlights ran on loop as the lead on Sportscentre.
We Are Going Where?
The next morning was mayhem. I awoke to Kyle scrambling around getting ready. I nervously looked at my phone. Late the night before mid celebration I was told we had to be in the lobby for 9 am in order to represent our school in the Grey Cup parade as Vanier Cup Champions.
8:52
I ran around the room. Showered, shaved the playoff beard down to a fine tooth combed must ache to celebrate Movember and headed for the lobby. Upon arrival I noticed there were only about five of us waiting. Oh no did I miss the bus downtown?! Nobody really answered this question Coach Ptaszek just funnelled us into a cab in front of the hotel and we were off.
I was rather impressed with my ability to make the Grey Cup Parade on such short notice. We laughed in the car about the little things from last night as we hit parade traffic in the downtown core. I’ll admit during this drive my decision making and comprehension may have been skewed based on both the quantity and quality of beverage consumed following the game, but I was excited to have fun with my teammates at this parade.
I even brought it up in the van cab saying how nice a day it was for a parade. That was when I found out. The dialogue was as follows,
Coach P: “We aren’t going to the parade Marshall we had to cancel”
MF: “Then why am I in the car”
Coach P: “I’m Not sure”
MF: “Where are we going”
Coach P: “TSN”
TSN?!? How did nobody tell me? How did I not know?
It’s okay I will take pictures of you guys when we get there when you’re on stage!
That was the plan.
Until we got there and Coach Ptaszek pulled me up on stage.
All of a sudden I was holding a microphone on national TV with a freshly minted mustachio on two hours sleep trying to explain to Rod Black and Dutchy how I was able to convert on my fake punt opportunity with the nerves of stepping into the game fresh from the sideline. My answer?
“It wasn’t so much nerves, I never let coach P tell me if I’m faking it, it doesn’t give me enough head time to get freaked out about it so I let him just throw me in last second. Its just the same as playing quarterback you’re throwing the ball and often its easier than playing QB because there are less guys flying around trying to get after it so yah it was fun”
Ugh… head time? really?
In that moment somewhere far far away, an angel of awful media training got their wings. It turns out one good soul did actually make it to the parade. Linebaker Aram Eisho made the trip despite being up later than most.
We spent the remainder of the day travelling Vancouver visiting beavers,
Wizards, (Benny)
and buying fake moustaches. Oh yes the moustaches. The signature images of the post Vanier victory glow. On a whim I spent $10 on them thinking I might get a cheap laugh from trying to cover up my pathetic month long attempt at raising awareness for men’s cancers. What I created were some of the purest, happiest moments of the greatest team I have ever played on.
JJ even tried to get through Vancouver airport security with the “Charlie Chaplin” on. They were not amused.
On the flight home we PASSED OUT. Myself included we were spent and rightfully so.
I awoke from a dream where I was running through fields of wild berry’s with the taste of fruit and natural sugar on the tip of my tongue. Did someone spike my drink last night at the hotel I wondered? Maybe it was just the hyper sensitive side effects of the winners high. Nope it turns out while I was asleep my teammates were placing Skittles on my tongue and watching them both balance and dissolve in my mouth while I slept. What a team.
The Celebration
Months later I would fall into a strange and unique opportunity. My roommate Ben O’Connor was taking the Vanier Cup home to Kingston to share with family and friends. He needed to go get lunch quickly before his dad showed up though so he left the prized jewel of Canadian University sport in my care for 15 minutes.
Sensing the need to seize the opportunity but not sure what to do I naturally took pictures of the inside of the Vanier with all it’s storied history in tow.
That wasn’t enough though I needed to find some way to permanently remember this trophy and my contribution to achieving it. The only logical thing to do was to pop out the screen and window frame of my second floor student house bedroom and take some pictures of the cup on the roof which became that much funner when Ben returned. Why this seemed like a good idea I will never understand but it made for some hilarious self timer photos. To have these ridiculous pictures with the guy I had worked so hard with through high school to win championships and trophies like and now to do it with the Vanier was surreal.
Over the following months we were warmly received by many different parts of the McMaster and Hamilton community including a stop in the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs locker room.
The support and excitement surrounding our efforts were and continue to be incredible. We as players truly love to represent the city of Hamilton. The citizens and community are unlike any other. A true football town.
In late April 2012 the team was awarded our 2011 Vanier Cup Rings. An incredible sight to hold and just remember what was. The bandits took some pictures.
Benny and I lived it up.
My hair again looked like space dad from Megamind and all was perfect.
The question then became, when you have reached the summit of your competitive life, where the hell do you go from there?
* Marshall Ferguson is a current Marauder student athlete originally from Kingston, Ontario attending McMaster University studying Political Science and Communications. While being an active member of the Marauder football program, Marshall also hosts and produces a weekly McMaster varsity sports radio show @Marauder_Radio while serving as Sports Director at 93.3 CFMU radio and appearing as a contributor to both AM900 CHML’s The Scott Radley Show and Cable 14’s local football coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @Marsh2Fergs
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