Morning rounds ...

There will be more by morning. There always is!

FOOTBALL

• For those who have not picked up the Internet meme that next year will be too late for Western, Mr. Morris Dalla Costa has some bon mots from coach Greg Marshall and QB Mike Faulds:
  

  Faulds: "Now anything less than a Vanier Cup is a little bit of a disappointment. I put that pressure on myself, not just the team, the community, the media, I put that on myself I want to win the Vanier."
  
  Marshall: "We got close" — at McMaster in 2003 — "with a freshman, Adam Archibald. But it’s tough to win with a freshman."

  For those who like trends, since 2001 is 3-0 when it hosts national semi-finals in even-numbered years and 1-3 when it goes on the road in odd-numbered seasons. The one win was only by four points, too. (London Free Press)
  
  
• Laval's Hec Crighton Trophy-winning QB, Benoit Groulx, is aware of his 0-2 record in national semi-finals outside Quebec. He's enjoying fatherhood and home ownership (congratulations are in order!). (Le Soleil)
  
  
• Les Carabins are looking sharp in practice. (Allez Les Bleus!)
  
  
• Windsor QB Sam Malian is vowing to be a more intermediate-range passer in his second season after falling in love a bit with the home run ball as a rookie. (Windsor Star)
  
  
• Long-time Mac defensive back coaches has some talented young athletes to help develop. The emphasis might be more on "young." (Hamilton Spectator)
  
  
• The Vancouver Province's Howard Tsumura has hot audio — a Q&A with Simon Fraser coach Dave Johnson — and a look at the Clan's second-year speedmeister, tailback Gabe Ephard. (Little Man on Campus)
  
  
• More from Mr. Tsumura — UBC Thunderbirds QB Billy Greene and receiver Spencer Betts are best buddies who go back a long, long way (and have some long, long touchdowns in their future). (Little Man on Campus)
  

(How about a pre-season story which is not about a team's quarterback? The Western Canada papers and the outlets in the Kingston and London market seem to realize a football team is 45 finely meshed gears, and the quarterback, quoth Jonathan Moxon in the cinematic classic Varsity Blues, is "only one man ... only one man.")

BASKETBALL

• Carleton alumnus Aaron Doornekamp's stat line from Canada's 55-point whomping of Mexico at the FIBA Americas: Three points on 1-of-4 shooting, five assists, four rebounds. There might have been some shenanigans on the part of the stat crew: Canada was credited with 30 assists on 35 baskets (maybe they were giving two on some plays, like in hockey.)
  
  Canada plays the U.S. Virgin Islands on Friday (4 p.m. ET, The Score).
  
  
• Some exhibition women's hoops action: Ottawa beat Fairleigh Dickinson 66-57. It is the Gee-Gees' first win over a NCAA D-1 team; fifth-year point guard Allison Forbes had 20 points. (Sun Media)
  

HOCKEY

• Amey Doyle will serve as interim coach of the two-time national champion McGill Martlets (pains a Queen'sman to type those six words) while Peter Smith, goalie Charline Labonté and defender Catherine Ward are with the Canadian Olympic team.
  
  Former McGill captain Shauna Denis has come aboard as an assistant coach. Denis captained the '08 Martlets. (press release)
  

Friend of the blog Greg Layson has curtailed operations with Big Man on Campus. Our Sager-sense says he will not be a stranger.

Toronto's FAN 590's University Sports Report, hosted by Star sportswriter David Grossman, returns to the air Sunday at 9 a.m. ET. All three ADs from the three CIS schools in Toronto will appear.