For Laurier coach Michael Faulds, Vanier Cup title would be career-crowning achievement

When the first note of O Canada hits at Richardson Stadium in Kingston, Ont., ahead of the Vanier Cup on Saturday, Michael Faulds — like he does every other week — will close his eyes.

For the duration of the national anthem, the Laurier head coach plans to pause.

He may reflect on the week of preparation for the title game, or the undefeated season that led his Golden Hawks to this field at Queen's University.

Faulds may think back to the Yates Cup two weeks ago — a triumph over Western. He may look back at his last appearance in the Vanier Cup when he played quarterback for a Mustangs team that fell to Laval, which just so happens to be Laurier's opponent this week.

Perhaps, Faulds' mind at that moment will flash back to lining up for his first touch football team in Guelph, Ont., and instantly recognizing that he was destined to devote his life to the sport.

"For those 60 to 90 seconds, I'm going to soak it in and realize, 'we're here and we deserve to be here,' take a deep breath and go get it for three hours," Faulds said.

Faulds' Golden Hawks will meet the Laval Rouge et Or in the Vanier Cup — U Sports' national football title game — on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. Live coverage will be available on CBC-TV, CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem. The Golden Hawks advanced with a convincing 48-24 victory over the Bishop's Gaiters in the Uteck Bowl last Saturday.   

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Laurier, second in the season-ending U Sports rankings, won all 10 of its games in 2024, including a pair against Western. Laval finished third in the rankings at 7-1, with its lone loss against No. 1 Montreal — the defending national champion it proceeded beat in the Dunsmore Cup.

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