By: Justin Boone
jboone@ticats.ca
“That’s Danny McManus!” exclaimed a surprised fan perched in the stands at Ticats training camp.
Danny Mac had all eyes on him when he came to the Tiger-Cats ten years ago, and in 2008 he’s still one of the most recognizable faces on the field at Ron V. Joyce Stadium, except now he’s bringing his wealth of quarterbacking knowledge in a new role, as a guest coach.
Having the spotlight on you is something he accepted as a player and something he’s trying to educate his five new passing pupils about. His job as a coach encompasses everything from giving pointers on the specific skills, to spending time with the guys showing them how to carry themselves off the field.
“As a quarterback, everyone is watching you. You may not see them looking at you, but they’re watching,” explained McManus. “How you handle yourself not only on the field but in the locker room and in the meeting room. When there is free time or when you have a day off, what are you doing?”
The Ticats current roster of QBs have an average age of just over 25 years old, meaning D-Mac has plenty of experiences to pass on to these young guns.
“It’s the whole quarterback persona. The Player and the Leader. Danny obviously has that. It’s part of what he’s been and who he is, so he’s a great example for them,” said offensive coordinator Marcel Bellefeuille.
“He’s got 50,000 plus yards of knowledge. You can feel his presence because he’s been through it and he understands it, so for us it’s just nice to be on the field with him and learn,” expressed QB Casey Printers. “I just hope he’s around during the season, so I can still bounce things off of him.”
“It’s a good group of quarterbacks that I’m getting a chance to work with here,” said a very jovial McManus. “Marcel’s offence is outstanding. I really wish I had a shot to play in it because in this offence, the big plays are there, you just have to find them, you don’t have to create them. I’ve stressed to the guys to stay within the offence, go through your reads and just make the throws. From what I’ve seen, all these guys can make every throw that’s needed in this playbook.”
Danny is able to relate to the players on a very personal level, especially since he’s no stranger to living in residence with the guys.
“I’m in the new residence now at Les Prince Hall, where you have your own washroom. It’s not like Hedden Hall where we stayed. There the doors would lock when you went to the bathroom, and if you didn’t bring your key you were out of luck.”
“I think it was going back 25 years ago the last time I was in residence at school, but it’s nice and the facilities here are first class. McMaster is very lucky to have this field and we’re very lucky to be the first ones on it.”
We can add to that the fact that the Ticats are very lucky to have Danny Mac back in Black and Gold gear, even if he has traded his helmet and shoulder pads in for a coach’s tracksuit.
