By: Justin Boone
Q: There’s was some talk in the media of you coming to the Ticats for about a week before it happened, so let’s get the inside story on how you ended up as a member of the Black and Gold.
Greg: Well, basically Marcel [Bellfeuille] gave me a call after the season ended in Winnipeg and we talked on and off during the month of December. During the course of our conversations we came to a realization that it would be a good fit and that’s pretty much how it came about.
Q: Did you have a relationship with Marcel prior to the talks that brought you to Hamilton?
Greg: I’ve known Marcel for a number of years. I actually coached Marcel way back when. He played for me for a team called the Ottawa Bootleggers for one season. He had just finished up university and was coming back from New York I believe, where he played for a little while. He came back to Ottawa and was trying to figure out which way he was going with his life, so he decided to play football for a semi-pro team for a season.
Q: Was he memorable enough to remember what kind of player he was?
Greg: (Laughs) Let’s just say I remember him and we’ll live it at that (laughs).
Q: What do you know about Marcel’s team coming in? Having coached in the East I imagine you must be pretty familiar with the Cats.
Greg: I’m familiar with the Ticats situation. I know things have been a bit of a struggle the last few years, but I want to come in and be part of the solution with the direction Obie [Bob O’Billovich] and Marcel are trying to take things.
Q: Hamilton is a team that takes pride in its blue collared approach, starting with a hardnosed defence. Is that something you think about when you take the helm of this defence?
Greg: Having been involved in the CFL since 1980, I’m well aware of the history of the Ticats as far as being a hardnosed group who has pride in being a tough team to play. I want to come in and help them get back to that stage. Hopefully we can develop the next Grover Covington, Mike Walker, Joe Montford, or Ben Zambiasi. Uncover those guys and help them become mainstays in the CFL like the Ticats used to have with those types of players.
Q: I’m sure fans are curious as to how things are going to be different with Greg Marshall running the defence in TigerTown, especially after the success you’ve had in your career.
Greg: We hope we’re different in terms of production. I know there’s been some struggles there the past couple years. We’re going to come in and put our basic structure in place, identify who the playmakers are for the team, and put them in the best position possible to make some plays. That makes the defence more successful and therefore contributes to the overall team success.
Q: Do you have a wish list on defence as far as players you think could come in and help improve the defence, or is that something you totally leave to Obie?
Greg: That’s part of the reason I’m looking at the tape from last year right now. I want to make an evaluation of where the strengths and weaknesses are and where we need help the most. Then I’ll be able to sit down and talk with Obie and Marcel and compare thoughts. We’ve kind of done that already in a preliminary stage, but we haven’t got into the in-depth until I’m able to complete my evaluations, then we’ll go from there. If you’re looking for a generalized wish list,we need to have some impact players in our front. Whether that’s linebackers or defensive linemen, we need some guys who can get after the quarterback and put pressure on the quarterback on a consistent basis, so that you can help out the guys in the secondary because it’s a pretty thankless job back there if you aren’t getting any help up front.
Q: What do you think the adjustment will be for yourself in Hamilton?
Greg: Obviously the biggest adjustment is for the players to become familiar with what your expectations are and how you conduct things and how you go about your daily business. Then from a coaching standpoint, getting to know the players on the team, what they are capable of football-wise, but also what their personalities are like so you can blend and mesh all those things together and come up with a successful, cohesive unit.
Q: Marcel is big on the family atmosphere around the team and he seems to be a bit more fiery than coaches that have been here in the past. How would you describe your temperament as a coach, are we going to hear you yelling in practice?
Greg: You may (laughs). My basic philosophy as far as coaching goes is that I’m going to treat the players the way I liked to be treated when I played. I know sometimes a guy deserves a pat on the back, sometimes he needs a friendly reminder, and if I have to raise my voice to do that then certainly that will be done. But it’s always going to be done in a respectful manner, because like I said I try to treat people the way I like to be treated.
Q: You’ve been in the east for a while now, give us your analysis of how the East looks outside of Hamilton, our opponents in Montreal, the rival Argos and your old club Winnipeg.
Greg: We’ve got the greatest amount of work to do coming out of the gate, because we have the most ground to make up, but I think the Ticats did some good things in the latter part of the season last year. They took some steps in the right directions and now coming out of camp next year we’ll be able to take a few more and hopefully bigger steps so by the time the end of the season rolls around we’ll be in the playoff hunt and people are taking about the Tiger-Cats chances in the post-season instead of the off-season.
Q: Your bio is up on the website, so fans can read all about Greg Marshall the coach and the former player, but how about
a little bit about Greg the father, the husband and the man outside of football.
Greg: I’m 52 years old. I’ve been married for just about 28 years. I have four kids, the youngest of whom started her first year at Wilfred Laurier this year, so everybody is getting to that stage, so there’s a little bit of a change going on for my wife and I. Our family is very important to us and we’ve always emphasized our family, I think that comes from the way we were both brought up. We’ve always done whatever it takes for the family, whether it’s taking a job, turning down a job or making a decision on a vacation, it’s always been in line with the family being first. That’s where my emphasis is.
Q: Well it’s nice to have you as a part of the family here now.
Greg: I’m looking forward to it. As you mentioned I’ve been in several situations where I had to come in and help rebuild and I’ve had some success doing it in the past, so I look forward to the challenge in Hamilton and I think with the direction Obie and Marcel are taking things, and how they are doing it, I’m excited about the possibilities.
