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Arts

Oy Vey: A Political Statement

The sins of a son and daughter are visited time and time again, torturing their father in Michael Tregebov’s semi-comedic but thoroughly mediocre new novel, The Briss.
When his son Teddy turns up on CNN defending Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority and worse, announcing his engagement to a Palestinian woman he’s impregnated, hapless Jewish retiree Sammy Ostrove is on the verge of a breakdown. With his wife despondent, himself ostracized, and his daughter under fire for scandals of her own (Divorce! Cheating! Anal sex!), the poor father seems destined for an early grave.
Jumping back and forth in time and perspective, the novel tracks the reverberations of Teddy’s political realignment, a move tantamount to treason in the insular world of Jewish Winnipeg, within his family and community.
Sammy, who fought in the Israeli War of Independence in 1948, and his wife Anna, who opposed Vietnam and identifies herself as a Marxist, are unable to rectify their Canadian progressive self-images with their deep-seeded fear and mistrust of all things Arab, ‘the enemy.’
If it sounds didactic, that’s because it is.
Tregebov, for all of his deeply-felt political beliefs, is unable to bring them to life on the page. Rather than setting up the parameters of his arguments and letting them play out in the readers’ minds, he feeds them to us pre-chewed, undercutting any chance for intellectual exploration with jokes and boorish behaviour.
Take this exchange: “‘It’s true! There are hundreds of Israelis in jail who refuse to go into the army,’ [said Teddy.] ‘It’s not true!’ Shouted Anna, ‘we’ve never seen that on TV.'”
That groaner response, underlining just how foolish the dissenter can be, reveals far more about Tregebov’s moral grandstanding, and his need to spell everything out to in big bold letters. Such plodding didacticism takes readers out of the narrative instead of drawing them in.
The author himself seems to realize this and such scenes of earnest moralizing are bracketed by what is supposed to be comic relief, but what amounts to a page of vaudevillian-affected dialogue, peppered with enough one-liners and Yiddishisms to make even Mel Brooks blush.
Of course, the book is not a total wash. There are, in fact, intermittent passages of some promise throughout this freshman novel. A wonderful scene early on finds Sammy dropping off a lifelong friend off at the hospital. This friend, in frail health already, is going in for intensive heart surgery and it’s clear to both men that this might be the last time they ever see each other. The author’s agenda here is neither comedic nor political, but simply in evoking the reality of a heartbreaking moment, and he succeeds admirably.
Frankly, that scene works so well because it is wholly about the characters, not the author. If Tregebov can have a little more faith in his readers, and cease the perpetual mentions of his Semitic roots, he may yet write a great book.

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News

Pictures from the Week

The mood remained festive, in spite of the rain, at Montreal’s seventh Car Free Day last Tuesday.
Live concerts, tai chi lessons, street hockey and other activities were greeted enthusiastically by most who attended. “It’s a cool event,” said Fran

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Opinions

Horoscopes

Aries – March 21 to April 20

Don’t be afraid to make a controversial decision. Your judgment has been getting better, that trend will continue this week. A tenured official will make you an offer you can’t refuse, but not in the bad way.

Taurus – April 21 to May 21

We’ve seen one season melt into another. The greater population tends to engage the world on a fair weather basis, but not Taurus. Maybe this week, you could consider going for some walks in the great outdoors on foul weather days, like old times. Use the opportunity to build on friendships that have been developing over the years.

Gemini – May 22 to June 21

Don’t let an issue steep too long. Tea tastes better when the water is poured over the bag, not the other way around. Get back into a craft you’ve been avoiding, pick up that instrument, that brush, that pen. You wont regret it.

Cancer – June 22 to July 23

Feeling crabby? Hahaha. Sorry for the pun, but seriously, you’ve been being crabby lately, literally. Substance abuse is only looked down in certain circles, in others it’s actually a prerequisite. Now you just have to decide whether or not you want to hang with the cool kids or not, and which kids are the cool ones. Tough.

Leo – July 24 to August 23

Who are you? WHO? Is it who you think you are, or who others think of you? Indeed! Tears are a noble outlet, and so are smiles. Is it possible to cry and smile at the same time? Give it a shot, maybe you’ll be an emotional pioneer.

Virgo – August 24 to September 23

Two plus two doesn’t equal five because it does, its because big brother says so. Remember that next time you write a test or have to answer a skill-testing question. Don’t leave your valuables unattended, give them to a friend instead.

Libra – September 24 to October 23

That special someone has been barking up your tree. How does that make you feel? Make sure yours is the only three they’ve been barking up. Avoid stressful situations, but don’t run from them. Play a prank on someone you live with, they wont appreciate it, but it will be good for a laugh.

Scorpio – October 24 to November 23

Put down the remote, turn off the radio. In fact, the stars advise you to throw away all of your multimedia devices, all technology. From now on, according to the stars you’re only allowed to use pencils and paper. You can read books, but only ones printed before 1950 without any pictures. Failure to comply could mean certain doom.

Sagittarius – November 24 to December 21

Bank robber D.B. Cooper jumped out of a plain with $1 million and disappeared into the woods forever there after. His story became part of the great American narrative, a national mystery, but in all likelihood, he died a painful death and never got to spend any of his money. That’s a metaphor for you.

Capricorn – December 22 to January 20

Go back to that special island in your mind. Eat only processed food. Try to kiss a local, but refuse a kiss from a foreigner. The foreigner could look local and the local could look foreign, so like, ask to see their papers, just to be sure. Wouldn’t want to upset the powers that be.

Aquarius – January 21 to February 19

The prostitute you’ve fallen in love with will let you put it “up there” because she likes you more than her other Johns. Though it might be tempting, this is really a signal that its time to move on. Find a trick that’s less clingy, you shouldn’t mix business and pleasure.

Pisces – February 20 to March 20

The heavens are showering gifts on Pices this week. One fish, two fish, ill fish, you fish. Get excited, because a blizzard of contentment awaits. I bet you don’t even know what that means, but seriously, its work getting worked up over!

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Uncategorized

Ticking Away

Is there anything out there?
Something to extract the void
Felt so deep inside, crying for
Acceptance and belonging.

A promise to be something
Vanishing with each passing
Tick on the hung wooden clock.
The weight of time creeping
In with every heartbeat.

A wanting to be more than
I am but prisoner to my own
Body, shackled in chains on
The sidewalks of life.

Passersby’s care and so with
A little hope I reach out hoping
To feel the texture of the palm
Of light, only to feel the space between
Of what should have been there.

Categories
News

More Students Crowd Classrooms

Preliminary estimates suggest enrolment at Concordia has gone up by over 1,400 students since last year.
But the increase hasn’t yet been met with more funding from the province.
Judith Woodsworth, president of Concordia University, said the school has to “be cautious” in terms of granting acceptances because other universities in Quebec have also been attracting more students.
If enrolment at all universities in Quebec goes up, Concordia might not see any increase in funding, Woodsworth said at a board of governors meeting last week.
Enrolment at Concordia in fall semesters has been steadily increasing since 2006.
Whether this trend results in more government funding depends, in part, on other universities’ enrolment figures.
“If everybody’s goes up, we’ll get the same piece of the pie from the government,” Woodsworth said.
Beyond funding, the university has to consider what to do with more students filling up classrooms.
Leah Del Vecchio, a student representative on the board of governors, raised concerns about the possibility of quality of education being compromised due to the higher enrolment figures.
Provost and Vice-President Academic Affairs David Graham acknowledged the university doesn’t currently have the funding to match the extra students. But he assured the university is taking measures to accommodate the new students without negatively affecting the quality of education.
“There are a number of variables we can manipulate,” he said. Eliminating low-enrolling classes, increasing capacity in others and moving some courses to the web were some examples he cited.
The spike in enrolment was accompanied by an increase in applications, according to the president ad vice-chancellor’s report to the university’s board of governors.
University spokesperson Chris Mota said standards for accepting students at Concordia haven’t changed.
An increase in enrolment at post-secondary institutions is not unusual during a recession, she said. “It’s a sign of the economic times,” she added, noting that workers who have been – or fear being – laid off go back to school for re-training.

Number of Enrollments

Fall 2009: 33,328*
Fall 2008: 31,875
Fall 2007: 31,640
Fall 2006: 31,313
Fall 2005: 31,527

*Preliminary number

Categories
Arts

Author tries To Start discussion

“A friend of mine, a cartoonist, told me that the essence of comedy is that you’re going in one direction, and then suddenly you stop and go in a different direction,” said Michael Tregebov, author of The Briss. It sounds like he truly took that advice to heart with his first novel.
The Briss opens with one of the most controversial things a Jewish child could ever do, in the eyes of their parents. “The first idea that came to me was a Jewish kid becoming a human shield [in Palestinian territory] and then it just struck me that it had to go a bit farther. And he had to fall in love with a Palestinian girl.”
Teddy, the protagonist, goes on a Birthright trip to Israel to settle down and meet a nice Jewish girl. But Tregebov, following his friend’s advice on comedy, sends Teddy off to the aid of the Palestinian resistance to Israel. Teddy and his sister Marilyn cause their parents, Anna and Sammy, a lot of grief. Tregebov, having set the stage, sketches the fallout from their behavior on their family and community.
He certainly has enough experience to draw on. Tregebov, a translator, has only visited Israel once in the seventies. He grew up in a tight-knit Jewish community in Winnipeg, where the story is set, though he’s called Barcelona, Spain home for years now.
The Briss is more than a dark, Hebraic family comedy, it’s Tregebov’s last attempt to reason with the community he grew up in on the subject of Israel. “I’ve been arguing with Jewish people about the plight of the Palestinians for many, many years and I haven’t been able to convince one single person. Either with documents, maps or any sort of rational, historical, political arguments; I haven’t been able to convince a single soul.”
It’s a topic that Tregebov finds taboo for most Jews. He himself isn’t allowed to discuss it at home. His wife, who is not Jewish, has banned the topic of Palestinians in Israel because of the consternation it causes. Tregebov explains that in a world where assimilation has become the norm for many Jews in the Diaspora, ties to the homeland of Israel have become an identifying bond for the community. With the memories of the Holocaust and the threat of extinction still fresh, questioning the existence of the state of Israel, or any of its acts, is avoided.
Tregebov believes his novel will always be “timely.” The ups and downs of the peace process, and the increasingly vocal opposition to Israel and the situation of the Palestinian people, amongst both international observers and Jews, have insured that Israel and Palestine remain in the headlines.
If going in a different direction is the essence of comedy, let’s just imagine that Tregebov would want the front-row seat to a pair of people adverse to discussing Israel and Palestine picking up his book, and starting a conversation about it.

Categories
Sports

Stingers’ 0-4 record puts playoffs almost out of reach

The Concordia Stingers saw their playoff hopes slowly fade away as they dropped their fourth game in a row, losing the battle against St. Francis Xavier during the annual Homecoming game at Loyola Stadium.
Wide receiver Arian Francois managed ten receptions, while running back Cedric Ferdinand and quarterback Rob Mackay each scored one touchdown, but it was hardly enough for a comeback in what was a close 19-17 win for the X-Men.
Even worse was the news coming from the out of town scorecard: McGill won its game against Mount Allison on Saturday. The Stingers must now win all four of their remaining games if they want even the slimmest chance of playing during the post-season.
It may seem impossible, but if there is one team that can come back from a four-game slump, it’s the Stingers. Concordia showed perseverance even when they were down by 16 points going into the second half.
“We didn’t have any hustle during the first half, but the second half we played harder. Our defence stood up, we just have to figure out how to finish the games,” said hatchback Kyle Smith, who led his team with eight solo tackles. Finishing games will no doubt be the order of the week for McGrath and his team, who have managed to give their opposition no more than a scare during their last three games.
The Stingers were slow to get into the game during the first quarter. The X-Men managed to get on the board with a field goal and touchdown. With a fumble and two interceptions by Mackay, the momentum was totally on St. Francis Xavier’s side.
Despite getting on the board with a 32 yard field goal by kicker Rene Paredes, the Stingers simply couldn’t capitalize on three X-Men fumbles. The opposition took advantage of a disorganized Concordia defense and added one more touchdown with 1:09 to play in the first half.
While some teams might have buried their heads in the turf, the Stingers returned to play the second half with more energy than they had at kickoff. Concordia gained some rejuvenation after an X-Men field goal was partially blocked and hit the upright post, giving the Stingers possession. The play led to four consecutive first downs and an eventual touchdown by Cedric Ferdinand. Concordia’s defense applied some much-needed pressure on Xavier’s quarterback and offense and both teams went into the final quarter nine points apart.
With the Stingers needing only a field goal and a touchdown for the win, coach McGrath made a questionable decision from the bench that may have cost his team dearly. The X-Men received an offside penalty on a successful 21 yard field goal by Paredes. Instead of declining, Concordia decided to go for the third down conversion but could not complete the play, losing three precious points.
Despite the poor decision from the bench, the Stingers attempted to complete their rally with only 1:22 remaining in the game, when Mackay completed a two yard run for his team’s second touchdown. But it was too little, too late, and the X-Men opted to run down the clock and ran away with the win.
The Stingers now find themselves in an extremely deep hole as their record slipped to 0-4.
“If we win every game from here on in, we can make the playoffs. But it’s going to be a fight,” said Smith.

The Stingers will face off against the Vert et Or for the second time this season at Loyola Stadium this Saturday. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

Categories
Student Life

Local Barista headed for national competition in Vancouver

Anthony Benda exudes calm as he takes his time carving an intricate leaf shape into an extra foamy latté. This is surprising considering there is a line-up of mostly university students anxiously waiting for him to hand them their daily caffeine fix.
A self-proclaimed coffee addict, Benda is the chief barista and co-owner of Café Myriad. It was less than a year ago that he and his business partner, and author of “The Professional Barista’s Handbook,” Scott Rao, opened the popular café located in the heart of the Concordia Ghetto on Mackay St. between St. Catherine St., and de Maisonneuve Blvd.
Always full of customers, Café Myriad has proved it can stand out amidst its high profile neighbours: Starbucks, Second Cup and Tim Hortons. Perhaps this is because Myriad serves direct trade coffee and is the only café in Canada to use the prestigious Mirage coffee machine. Or maybe it’s because clients have the option of having their java brewed using a siphon pot, cafesolo or French press, which pull out different flavours from the beans. Another guess is the inviting atmosphere created by the friendly staff and small space with red brick walls and dark wood furniture.
However, their success most likely stems from the fact these guys, unlike the unpleasant and bored looking employees at the nearby coffee chains, really seem to know – and love – coffee.
In fact, the passion and confidence they have for their art is taking Benda, and fellow Myriad barista, Alex Scott, to the National Barista Championships in Vancouver this October. It will be Benda’s third trip to Nationals – last year he placed sixth in the finals after tying for first place in the preliminary round. The year before he came in third. Not bad for a Concordia Creative Writing alumni.
“Competing for me is a chance to see peers I don’t often get to spend time with like café owners and baristas in other cities who care deeply for their craft,” said Benda. “It’s also a chance to sharpen my technical approach and maybe learn something new.”
This year, he will be representing both Café Myriad, and Myriad’s coffee supplier, 49th Parallel. The competition entails presenting numerous high-quality espresso beverages within a short time frame. There’s also an artistic component where the barista must create his or her own drink with espresso as the focal point.
Competition aside, Benda shares some of Myriad’s business strategies.
“Our philosophy is to first and foremost welcome people as guests and to make sure they enjoy themselves in the café.” For him and Rao, this means offering not only top-notch service, but providing premium coffee. 49th Parallel purchases their beans directly from coffee farmers. This approach, called direct trade, cuts out the middle man giving more money to the growers.
“No money is wasted on intermediaries, and the best coffee is rewarded appropriately,” said Benda.
The partners have invested both time and money ensuring the technology they work with is up to par, employees are given intensive training and the few products shipped from the outside (beans from 49th Parallel, chocolate from Soma in Toronto) are top of the line.
“All baristas are subject to spot-quizzes about the temperature of the drinks they’re about to serve, the length of time their espresso shot is extracted for and the peak temperature of that extraction,” said Benda. “It’s not an easy job, and everyone who works with me is more committed than most people realize. I owe a lot to them.”
Despite their almost obsessive adherence to quality and the direct-trade affiliations they have, a coffee from Cafe Myriad costs only a few cents more than a medium size Grande Paradiso from the Starbucks around the corner. According to Benda, coffee is currently the “foodie bargain of the world,” particularly on this continent (for some reason, a $3 latté in North America would cost you roughly 4.50 Euros in France; the equivalent of about $7). Who knows for how long, but right now, at least, you can enjoy a cup of coffee at Myriad for just $2.
After all, if it were much more, Brenda and his group wouldn’t have chosen to set up shop in the Concordia community. It also helps that Benda loves his alma mater.
“There’s an amazing cross-section of personalities at the university,” he said. “The Guy-Concordia area is blossoming with new culinary offerings that have significantly raised the standard of fare since I graduated, and I’m grateful to feel a part of that.”
On this unusually warm September afternoon, hordes of Concordia students have dropped their stone-faced classroom demeanours and gather on Myriad’s terrace to indulge their caffeine cravings before the next class. Seemingly unaffected by the crowds, Benda carefully checks each drink to confirm it’s measured to the perfect temperature and topped with the signature heart or leaf shape design.
“We refuse to serve anybody what we wouldn’t be pleased with ourselves, and that effort is rare to find in coffeehouses in Montreal, I think.”

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Uncategorized

Student Corner Needs your Submissions!

If you would like to submit a story or poem, please e-mail online@theconcordian.com.

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News

McGill to ‘self-fund’ MBA program

Tuition for the Master of Business Administration program at McGill University will increase to $29,500 for all students, starting next fall.
Annual tuition for the MBA program at McGill’s Desautels Faculty of Management was just over $3,400 per year for Quebec residents, just over $6,300 for Canadians from out of province and $21,600 for international students.
The increase will not apply to students currently in the program. The move will make the program entirely “self-funding,” meaning that students will be paying the entire cost of their education, and the program will no longer receive any funding from the provincial government.
The plan has received criticism from Quebec Education Minister Michelle Courchesne. At the National Assembly on Tuesday, Courchesne said the increase was unreasonable and that she had not given her approval. It is unclear whether she will take any action to stop the move.
Concordia University recently received a letter from the ministry asking for a report on any so-called privatized programs, according to administration.
McGill University said the increase was necessary because provincial funding doesn’t cover the cost of the program. According to McGill, it costs $22,000 per student, each year, while the school only receives $12,000 annually, per student, in tuition and provincial funding.
According to Ron Duerksen, director of marketing and communications for the Desautels Faculty of Management, the difference between the cost of education and the extra tuition will be used to increase the average scholarship for the program from $400 to $4,000 per student.
Allison Aab, President of the MBA Student Association at McGill, said she supports the increase.
“The fact that they’ve been able to put this together with the funding model that they have is remarkable, but to maintain this and to take it any further, to improve anything, it’s just not possible with the government model,” she said.
While the jump may seem large in relation to other Quebec schools, Duerksen said that it still remains competitive when compared with schools outside of the province.
“Most other MBA schools across Canada already charge a self-funded tuition model, so our new tuition is actually still going to be below what’s charged by some of the other top schools in Canada,” said Duerksen.
Aab agrees. “Even at the increased price it’s still a great bargain, in my opinion. Especially when you compare it to comparable programs in the States, $29,500 is a good deal.”
She said that higher tuition might also increase the perceived value of the degree.
“It’s hard for people to understand that you can be getting a world-class MBA education when you’re paying $1,600 for a semester,” she said.
Other universities in Quebec will be watching the move.
“We will observe the situation at McGill and assess its impact but at this point we are not considering an increase in fees,” said Chris Mota, Director of Media Relations at Concordia University. “Interest in our MBA program has been growing steadily because of the reputation of the JMSB. The new building will likely create even more interest. The new fees at McGill may result in an increase in applications as well.”

2009-10 MBA tuition across Canada
(for Canadian residents):

Ryerson University
(Ted Rogers School of Management) one-year degree: $12,247

Simon Fraser University
one-year degree: $27,000

University of Western Ontario
(Richard Ivey School of Business) one-year degree: $64,000

University of Toronto (Rotman School of Business) two-year degree: $34,012 first year, $35,372 second year

York University
(Schulich School of Business) two-year degree: $24,600 /
year

University of Ottawa
(Telfer School of Management) one-year degree: $18,335

University of Manitoba
(Asper School of Business) one-year degree:
$22,500

University of British Columbia
(Sauder School of Business) 15-month degree: $39,746

University of Montreal (HEC)
one-year degree: $3,738 (Quebec resident), $10,450 (out of province)

Queens University
one-year degree: $62,500

Concordia University
(John Molson School of Business) one-year degree: $3,283.31 (Quebec resident), $6,816.11 (out of province)

Sources: University websites.
Note: Fees may or may not include books and/or auxiliary and other fees.

Categories
Arts

Art POP! bursts onto the scene

This isn’t your grandmother’s art exhibit.
With edible displays and a technologically adventurous exhibits; Art POP! will display off-the-wall Montreal art that is completely unparallelled.
“We are independent art show, so we have no restraints,” said festival coordinator Julien Ceccaldi. “We are not forced to work with established professional artists so we can choose people we like . . . it is a free-spirited art festival.”
Running from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4, the theme of the fourth annual Art POP! festival is interactive art. Organizers decided to go interactive after a mishap at the previous year’s festival. During a live drawing event at a punk showcase, someone accidentally hit the projector which displayed the live computer drawings. With the projector aimed partially at the audience, artists began digitally drawing the audience’s clothing, uniting both the concert and the art. “The artists were outlining [the crowd] and drawing horns on their clothing,” Ceccaldi said. “The crowd got a kick out of it and the artists too”
One of the more ambitious interactive projects at Art POP! is a giant theremin room created by engineer and artist twosome, David Beaulieu and Christian Pelletier. Making eerie noises usually reserved for vintage horror films, a theremin is an electronic musical instrument that works based on oscillations of the players hands near, but never touching, the antennas. Viewers will be able to make noises just by moving their bodies in the theremin room, which consists of a runway with two rows of eight antennas.
The edible portion of Art POP! comes in two separate displays, the piñata room (see Piñata Paridise next page) and the untitled Lalie Douglas display. The latter displays small chocolate cakes in the shape of houses and birds. Viewers are encouraged to eat Douglas’ art, as long as they don’t mind being filmed. “[The art] goes in people’s tummies but the recordings will be shown at the Place Reunion during the exhibition,” said Ceccaldi. Douglas’ edible art will be available in a kiosk that moves around the festival.
This year’s festival is organized by two Concordia film animation alumni, who in turn are exhibiting the works of six alumni, two current students and one Concordia teacher. “We have a crazy amount of Concordia students and alumni,” said Ceccaldi. The aforementioned teacher, Adrian Norvid, returns to the festival with hilarious play on words drawings; like his bread loaf sketch entitled “Half Baked.”
Art POP! houses it’s main art in two locations this year during its five day run: the Notman House ( 51 Sherbrooke West) and La Place Ubisoft: Espace Réunion (6600 Rue Hutchison), the latter being a flour factory cum art exhibit. Art POP! also comprises of ten special projects and co-productions that will exhibit art throughout October.
Besides for the theremin, another tech-friendly Art POP! exhibition is Dominique Sirois’ “atelier cum-nightclub.” Located just above the piñata room in the Notman House, Sirois’ room is covered in mirrors and neon motion sensors. “Once you enter you trigger stroboscopes and buzzing noses,” said Ceccaldi, creating “a sort of a noisy nightclub [that] wont be melodic at all.”
The Art POP! festival is entirely free, despite not receiving any government funding. “We didn’t get funded . . . but we fundraised our asses off,” said Ceccaldi. The question that lingers, however, is will people show up?
“I’m assuming it will be [successful],” chuckled Ceccaldi. “The artists are exciting and the venues will be full of people [because POP Montreal] artists hang out at the Notman house and people have to register for POP Montreal there, so [it will always be full].”
Art POP! is sure to be the hippest art show in town. Even you grandmother would agree.

Calendar

Day Event Time

Sept. 30 Opening Party @ Espace 8:30 pm
Reunion(6600 Hutchison)

Sep. 30- Theremin room: make noise 11 am-
Oct. 4 by just walking through it 7 pm
@ Espace Reunion

Sep. 30- Piñata room can be destroyed 11 am-
Oct. 4 by visitors, get candy @ 7 pm
Notman House

Sep. 30- The Happiness Project: 2 pm-
Oct. 4 apartment exhibition based 8 pm
on Charles Spearin’s songs,
each room has its own song
@ 5202 Hutchison

Oct. 2 Free BBQ @ Notman house 1 pm
(51 Sherbrooke W.)

Oct. 4 En Mass Vernissage, 5 pm
black-and-white murals
created by 6 pro – artists
and 12 students they mentored
@ Red Bird gallery(135 Van Horne)

Categories
Sports

Mid-season report signals failing grade for stingers

With their playoff hopes slowly trickling through their fingers, Concordia’s football players have to be wondering why a team that finished 5-3 last year finds itself at the bottom of the Quebec standings with four games left to play in the season.
There are so many answers to that question, but I suppose the first would have to be injuries. The Stingers are currently functioning without the likes of running back Michael Donnelly, linebacker Bryan Charleau and slotback Eric Throop, just to name a few. Injuries have been especially felt on the Stingers defense, so much so that Devon Mitchell Jr., whose usual position is fullback, was forced to start as a defensive end against St. Francois Xavier.
With so many players out of position week after week, Concordia’s defense has struggled. Coverage has been mediocre and the oppositions’ quarterbacks are having little to no trouble finding open men on their offensive lines. That isn’t to say that there aren’t any bright spots on the defensive line. Cory Greenwood, who was recently named a top prospect for the 2010 CFL draft, leads his team with 31 solo tackles. Greenwood is once again having a stellar year after being named to the Quebec University all-star team last October. His performance this season still hasn’t prevented the Stingers from giving up 135 points this year.
Concordia’s offensive line hasn’t fared much better. By this time last year, the Stingers had scored a total 101 points. Although not great, it still bests the 49 points they have put on the board so far this season. If Concordia hopes to win its last four games, players like Cory Watson, Liam Mahoney and Corey Greenaway have to step up their game. Only five players have scored touchdowns this year, one of them being quarterback Rob Mackay, and in order to keep their playoff hopes alive, the entire offensive line has to pitch in. The good news is that Mackay, who showed rust in the opening game of the season, is making the big plays his team needs. The problem is, some of the risks he’s taken have cost his team the ball. Mackay will also have to work on the force of his passes, which have often gone too long and out of reach for his players.
If one thing has sunk Concordia into a 0-4 record, it is orange flags flying left and right. Selfish and game-changing penalties have cost the team a total of 393 yards and more often than not, the Stingers have been forced to move back in do-or-die situations. If the team continues to take useless holding and false start penalties, it can kiss its dream of avenging a Dunsmore Cup final loss goodbye.

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