Nathan Riva, Your Team Needs You

09/24/2010

Nathan Riva, Your Team Needs You

For Greg Marshall, the question is a simple one — and I think we all know the answer.

Is Nathan Riva hurt or is he injured?

Because if he's hurt, he can and should play Saturday against the Gryphons.

His team needs him. Badly.

It's up to Marshall whether he wants to run the risk of finding out Guelph is actually for real without fielding the best possible team you can. But why chance it.

Riva's an all-star running back on a team that's in dire need of an all-star running back, if only to relieve its starting quarterback of the duties. Quarterback Donnie Marshall is the OUA's second-leading rusher with 339 yards. Seriously.

Western's convincingly beat Laurier and McMaster. And it gave Ottawa a real game in the Nation's Capital. Now the Mustangs need to assert themselves; leave no mistake that they are the second-best team in Ontario.

But, by not playing Riva, they run the risk of being upset — if like many you believe Guelph, its defence in particular, is to be reckoned with.

According to Western Gazetter sports editor, The Score Blogger and advid Tweeter Arden Zwelling, Riva's ready and Marshall knows it.

Zwelling tweeted the following, in succession Thursday:

- Mustangs RB Nathan Riva is taking part in a full equipment practice tonight for the first time since the preseason.

- Riva said he was running at 100% at last night's practice -- wants to play this weekend if coach Marshall lets him.

- Marshall says Riva will be a game time decision but he's leaning towards giving him an extra week of rest.

- Marshall said the turf at Guelph is a concern -- doesn't want Riva to hit a divet and re-injure his hamstring.

- Marshall: Riva is "chomping at the bit" to play.

Then I say let him. He's your horse. Ride him. It's not like this hamstring injury puts his livelihood at risk, the way a concussion could.

And, it's not like Western hasn't ridden an injured horse in big games before. See: Faulds, Michael; 2009 stretch run.

Faulds looks like he’s being held together with medical tape. He went out on the first series in the game hurting and already injured knee and while he came back and played the rest of the game, his limp was noticeable. — Morris Dalla Costa, London Free Press, November 2009.

Marshall has said more than once this week that Riva is "a game-time decision."

Marshall told Rob Massey of the Guelph Mercury:

“It’s easy to say you’ll dress him and play him in certain situations or only if you need him,” Western head coach Greg Marshall said. “But I think if you dress him, you’re going to play him. It’ll be a game time situation.”

No one is silly enough to think that's true, are they?

The decision has been made already. It has to have been. Marshall's just using gamesmanship to keep the Gryphons on their collective toes; forcing them to prepare for two different looks.

Saturday, we learn what exactly Marshall and Riva have decided. Let's hope the decision is to finally let him play.

- Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TheBMoC

24 Sep 2010 13:41:14 | Sports

9 Comments

Riva will be unveiled in London next week at the Queen's/Western Homecoming game. Gaels' smartly kept Danny Branagan out of their lineup last year after he ran upfield instead of into touch at the Mac game near the end of first half. I remember the Mac defender, after that game, explaining to Larry Moko of the Hamilton Spectator, how Branagan drove his head right into him to cause the injury. Natural turf at Guelph the difference.

Western poor offensive showing to date(save Donnie Marshall planned and unplanned runs) more about shoddy offensive line, fair only running back performance on first downs(stunning red zone conversion however) and below average passing game. This will likely be addressed on Saturday against with a tightly executed offense that has been mercilessly hounded by Marshall.

Defense by Western is what has kept them competitive to date, and Rosetti will have Mustang linemen in his face all day. FitzGibbon will be freelancing as holes plugged by Western linebackers.

Western by at least 14 points with game out of reach by 3rd quarter. Coming from a Western alumni that has been cranky and disappointed about them all season.

Posted by: bob from burlington | 09/25/2010 at 12:58 AM

Post game- the only thing I got right on this one was that Riva would not play. Awful 2nd quarter by Donnie M, throwing ill called pass in redzone(shades of Homecoming 2008 at Richardson in Kingston for 94 yard return just before half)lofting it into double coverage. Further compounded by 25 yard loss on next possession with out of pocket ad lib scrambling. Can't blame it all on Donnie as there is a line, receivers, and coaches calling the plays.

Excellent conversion of possible bobbled FG attempt(looked like planned fake at game in real time) by Guelph and full marks for Guelph nearly winning this game.Hard to believe that nearly 25 min of this game had virtually little or no scoring

Posted by: bob from burlington | 09/25/2010 at 09:45 PM

estion is a simple one — and I think we all know the answer.Is Nathan Riva hurt or is he injured?Because if hes hurt, he can and should play Saturday against the Gryphons.His team needs him. Badly.Its up to Marshall whether he wants to run the risk of finding

Posted by: body detox | 10/30/2010 at 08:27 PM

le one — and I think we all know the answer.Is Nathan Riva hurt or is he injured?Because if hes hurt, he can and should play Saturday against the Gryphons.His team needs him. Badly.Its up to Marshall whether he wants to run the risk of finding out Guelph is actu

Posted by: body detox | 10/31/2010 at 05:09 PM

s a simple one — and I think we all know the answer.Is Nathan Riva hurt or is he injured?Because if hes hurt, he can and should play Saturday against the Gryphons.His team needs him. Badly.Its up to Marshall whether he wants to run the risk of finding out Gue

Posted by: body detox | 11/01/2010 at 07:53 PM