Marshall's Misery

Prior to Saturday night's battle of the bottom feeders, it was said that one team was going to at least begin to turn its season around by the end of the game. If that's true then the Bombers are on turn around watch, while the Ti Cats may be on suicide watch.

For Hamilton fans it was another long night as the Blue Bombers thumped the Steeltown lads 44-14. Hamilton never seemed to get things in gear at Canad Inn stadium, as Marcus Brady started but could not finish, let alone stem the tide of Bomber scoring.

Brady's day was cut short by an ankle injury late in the first half, Head Coach Greg Marshall, inserted newly arrived Khari Jones into the game with hopes of Ti Cat revival. Jones who is still working on his timing and learning the Ti Cat playbook returned to the scene of many of his past glories, but on this night history would not be repeating itself.

Saturday was all Blue, as Charles Roberts and Keith Stokes accounted for the bulk of the Blue Bomber scoring. Roberts rushing for 99 yards and three touchdowns, while Stokes hauled in five Kevin Glenn passes, for 139 yards and one touchdown. Stokes yardage increased with 256 all purpose yards amassed by the time the final gun had gone off.

Jim Daley was a looking a little more relaxed as the Bombers dominated the game from start to finish and seemed to shake off some of the unfortunate mistakes from past games. The win improves their record to 2-6 which is still a fair ways short of the third place Calgary Stampeders and Saskatchewan Roughriders, but it's at least an indication that all is not quite lost this year.

Over at the Hamilton dressing room one wonders what must be going through the mind of Greg Marshall, last years coach of the year is suffering a team meltdown of epic proportions. Considered a favourite to contend with Montreal and Toronto this year, the Cats have been frustrated all season long, with nary a win for the season thus far, the playoffs may be but a rumour by Labour Day. Indeed it's very much almost next year country for the Cats who have seen some changes in the front office in the last week, many a player must be wondering if there will be more changes on the field as well.

The Cats are staying in Winnipeg to prepare for next weeks match up in Vancouver against the Lions. Two teams going in completely different directions the Leos are undefeated, the Cats winless. One suspects that if a wager was to be made on the outcome of the next game, the Lions will still be perfect where the Cats will be petrified. Greg Marshall's annus horribilis is about to get even more discouraging.