By Andrew Papadopoulos

The Windsor Lancer football team is getting set to kick off their 2023 OUA regular season this Saturday August 26th at 7:00pm in Hamilton where they will go head-to-head against the McMaster Marauders at Ron Joyce Stadium. 
 
The Lancers are coming off a strong 2022 campaign that saw the blue and gold qualify for the post season for the first time since 2014 after finishing the year with a 4-4 regular season record before travelling to the nation's capital to take on the third-ranked Ottawa Gee-Gees in the OUA quarter-final.
 
The upcoming season appears promising for the blue and gold who look to piggyback off their progress made last year which created a buzz around the program.
 
Head coach Jean-Paul Circelli and his coaching staff are excited and optimistic about the outlook of the Lancers who will be taking to the turf for their upcoming season. 
 
"We are looking forward to seeing these guys compete this year. Circelli jubilantly stated who is heading into his fifth season of leading the football program at the University of Windsor.
 
"There is a lot of excitement in the room and on the field.  The team is finally primed after battling the ripple effects of the pandemic which plagued everyone, and the squad is now nicely balanced by being well-coordinated offensively and defensively going into the season this fall."
 
Some key returners that the Lancers will look to this season with last season's progress under their belts are sophomore running back Joey Zorn who was named rookie of the year last season, third year linebacker Devin Veresuk, third year quarterback Danny Skelton and fourth year outside linebacker George Una.
 
With the notable departure of veterans Zach Benson (OL), Andrew Beatty (DB) and Callin Bethune (WR), the blue and gold have added significantly to their roster, including recruits Nick Dimovski (QB), Ahmad Taylor (DL), and Jason Skoczlyas (DB).  With the new additions they are looking forward to seeing all of them suit up for their first year with the team this season.
 
Some of Coach Circelli's additional honourable mentions for being pegged to play a big part of the team's potential success this year will include the services provided from American import defensive linebacker Demir Tagani and poised veteran hometown hero defensive linebacker Breton MacDougall who is also slated to have a big year ahead for the blue and gold.
 
"This is a special group we have which includes a lot of guys who back from last year's run and includes a mix of lots of local and brought in out-of-town talent." Circelli remarked with confidence when asked about the lineup they will be boasting this season and their capability of being able to carry out their anticipated high expectations this season.
 
"Last year our goal as a team was to make the playoffs and we were successful in doing so for the first time in eight years. With that mission accomplished and with our group this year, which is full of anticipated high expectations on ourselves this season, we feel that we can carry them out and are looking forward to the task of trying to contend this season and hopefully go on a deep run this post-season for our fans and community to enjoy which boasts great pride notoriously year-after-year."
 
Coach Circelli made it a point of emphasis in ensuring that he let the record show that the Windsor faithful have captured he and the team's hearts since joining the program in 2019 to be the fifth head coach in the Lancer football program's history.
 
"Last season I believe that we had the third largest home game attendance in the league, so we are looking forward to showcasing our local guys to our loyal fanbase who continue to support us unconditionally in a way I have not seen in all my years even while with other programs." Circelli said with reverence when reflecting on what it's been like witnessing the Lancer loyal show up and to support one another each year since taking the reins at the helm and becoming the blue and gold's head coach.
 
"The community aspect that Windsor sports possesses is truly unmatched in my eyes, and it's just like the city's welcome signs say when you enter town, 'Windsor: The place to be', we are really trying to foster and reflect that motto here within our UWindsor community and Lancer football program here now and for years to come."
 
They hope to go far this year to implement those beliefs and to continue to put Canada's southernmost city on the map again during another season of OUA athletics.
 
Fans looking to catch the Lancers in action can tune into OUA.tv this Saturday when they are on the road taking on the McMaster Marauders in their season opener from Hamilton, Ontario.  Kick-off is set for 7:00pm.
 
Windsor will play their home opener on Sunday September 3rd when they host the Guelph Gryphons at Alumni Stadium. Season, and individual game tickets are still available at goLancers.ca/tickets.