Frank McCrystal preparing to retire from football

Frank McCrystal knows the end is near, but he's hoping to delay it by at least one more weekend.

The University of Regina Rams football head coach announced in August the 2014 season would be his last.

This weekend, the Rams travel to Calgary to play in the CIS West semi-final.  A win and the Rams would play in the final. A loss would mean the end of McCrystal's coaching career.

He was not just a coach but a father-figure and friend.- Saskatchewan Roughrider Neal Hughes commenting on his old university coach, Frank McCrystal

McCrystal, a former high school teacher in Regina, has coached the Rams for the past 31 seasons. Add in his time spent with the program as a player and assistant coach, and McCrystal has spent more than 40 years with the football program.

Players remember McCrystal's unique style

Many players who have graduated from the Rams program have gone onto have successful football careers.  Jon Ryan and Akiem Hicks have become stars in the NFL, and the CFL is littered with Rams graduates.  

Veteran Roughriders Chris Getzlaf and Neal Hughes remember their days with the Rams fondly. Getzlaf says McCrystal did a great job preparing players for life after school.

"When I came into University he was holding guys accountable for going to class and keeping up their grades. It's hard to make it as a professional athlete. The majority of the guys are there for an education and Frank did an unbelievable job at that."

Hughes, who hopes to one day become a coach, appreciated how McCrystal's door was always open to his players.

"I may have been having a rough day or rough week and I would go to his office and we would have heart to heart talks. He was not just a coach but a father-figure and friend."