[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/cupsandbowls.jpg” caption=”The McMaster community celebrated the Marauders’ first Vanier Cup win Wednesday with a celebration at Burridge Gym. Photo by JD Howell. “]The journey may be over, but the legacy has only just begun.

Fresh off their historic Vanier Cup win in Vancouver, the Marauders football squad
treated students, staff, alumni and honoured guests to a special trophy presentation at
the David Braley Athletic Centre on Wednesday afternoon.

“The University is immensely proud of the Marauders,” said President Patrick Deane,
addressing hundreds of fans packed into Sport Hall.

Deane spoke of an experience he'll “never forget” – watching from the sidelines as the
Marauders bested Laval 41-38 on a nail-biting field goal in double overtime.

OUA All-Star quarterback Kyle Quinlan received a standing ovation from his teammates,
before speaking to those in attendance.

“This is what happens when you throw your support around a good cause,” said
Quinlan, who threw for 482 yards and two touchdowns in the most important game of
his collegiate career. The McMaster pivot also captured the Ted Morris memorial trophy
as the game's offensive MVP.

Wide receiver Matthew Peressini and linebacker Ryan Chmielewski also took the stage
on behalf of the team, and spoke of an up-and-down season that taught the entire
squad to triumph over adversity.

Ironically, a preseason road loss to Laval set everything in motion.

“We saw that we could compete with them,” said Chmielewski, reflecting on McMaster's
quest to unseat the country's defending champs. “It was a season to remember. We
never really peaked.”

Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina – a longtime football fan and former play-by-play
announcer for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats – said the entire city was “humbled” by
McMaster's achievements.

“You've not only brought glory to yourselves, but to all of those who came before you,”
said Bratina. The Vanier Cup was McMaster's first national football championship, and
only their second trip to the big show since 1967.

Peressini, who spent five years in the McMaster program under head coach Stefan
Ptaszek, said he watched the club's bench boss, “build a championship team from the
ground up.”

The Vanier title was Ptaszek's third overall, including past wins as both a player and
assistant coach with the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks. The emotional coach touched on
the character and grit of his team's top players.

“I'm more proud of the road we've taken than the distance traveled,” said Ptaszek. “We
have each other's backs forever.”

“They're better people than they are football players,” he said, gesturing to the team.

Chancellor Lynton “Red” Wilson, former McMaster President Peter George, stadium
benefactor Ron Joyce and Chancellor Emeritus Mel Hawkrigg were among the dignitaries
seated front-and-centre for the presentation, which also featured the Yates Cup and
Uteck Bowl on display.

McMaster's Vanier Cup banner was unfurled to massive cheers, and will hang from the
rafters of the DBAC Sport Hall.