Ticats.ca looks at what players and coaches from Hamilton and Saskatchewan have had to say this week leading up to tonight’s match-up at Ivor Wynne…
“It definitely matters at least a little bit. It’s the next game but everybody’s a little more fired up because it’s also the first game. It’s important to start the season with a win and get the ball rolling. But at the same time, we have to treat it like just one more game. Right now we’re trying to focus on getting the game plan right and executing the plays as well as we can.”
– Sam Giguere on the importance of a positive start in the home opener, Ticats.ca
“I don’t feel that way. I think what happened in Calgary was the organization trying to do something for its future. The bottom line is I’m going to get back to playing the kind of football the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, their fans and even the media know I can play. Now, it’s about me going out and doing it and that’s what I’m looking forward to.’
– Henry Burris on the idea that he is looking for redemption this season, Canadian Press
“This is the fastest receiving corps I’ve ever played with, hands down. We have so much speed from boundary to field and so many different combinations of guys and even guys coming off the bench, they all have great speed.”
– Burris on the strength of his receivers, Canadian Press
“There’s no doubt that there’s a big difference between playing a real game and a preseason game, and there’s a big difference between playing a playoff game and a regular season game. Yes, there’s a different level of anticipation from the players, a different level in practice. That’s what everybody gets excited about.”
– Ticats’ Head Coach George Cortez on entering the regular season, Ticats.ca
“Oh I’m definitely excited. I’ve been waiting to play, worked hard all through the off-season and it’s time to play this season now. Preseason is the warmup, these things count now. To do well, we need to stay focused on our jobs. If we make sure that we do our jobs on the field, then everything’s going to be fine.”
– Ticat defensive back Bo Smith on his priority entering regular play, Ticats.ca
“I’m very excited. Playing in the preseason, I made a few plays but the goal is to make more than that. I just want to be a part of this great receiving crew. Hank (Henry Burris) is going to get everybody the ball and the guys are just going to start here in practice so that by the time the game comes around, it’s all second nature.”
– Rookie receiver Onrea Jones on his upcoming debut, Ticats.ca
“Since Coach Creehan got here, he told us that no matter whether we knew what we were doing or not, he wanted us to be physical. Physical first, and running to the ball. That’s what he really cares about, and we’re going to make that identity. Any team who comes to play us is in for a 12-round fight. We might make some mistakes, but we’re going to hit, and it’s not going to be easy to score points against us.”
– Ticat linebacker Renauld Williams on the defence’s approach heading into the season, Ticats.ca
“Every game is a statement game. You’ve got to be good at home. You’ve got to be good on the road too, and we’re going to focus this year on being a better road team. But you’ve definitely got to be good at home and win games there. We only get 18 of these things in, and every game does count because you’re playing to get that bye or home field in the playoffs. So every game is important.”
– Williams on treating the home opener as just another game, Ticats.ca
“It’s just that we don’t really like to talk about guys who aren’t here. He was here. He decided to move on. I wish him the best of luck, but right now we’re just focused on the guys in this locker-room and getting better as a team.’’ — “It’s definitely a little different, but in this business things change overnight. Sometimes you have to go against good friends.’’ —“But he’s the enemy now. We’re just looking forward to seeing our guys push him around a little bit.’’
– Darian Durant on facing his former teammate Andy Fantuz, Riderville.ca,
“Last year our team was inconsistent and our record showed that. We want to correct the inconsistencies and be more critical of ourselves.”
– Jamall Johnson on improving on last season, CFL.ca
“We have to treat the road games like home games. Once the whistle is blown it’s just a football field with lines, a game that can be played in any park. If we’re playing in Hamilton, London or Vancouver, it’s just another football game.”
-Marwan Hage on treating the home opener as another game, CFL.ca
“The bottom line is I’m going to get back to playing the kind of football the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, their fans and even the media know I can play. Now, it’s about me going out and doing it and that’s what I’m looking forward to.’
– Burris on playing to his potential during the upcoming season, Yahoo.com
“My family, friends and my group are really excited about my move. They supported me either way and I had a lot of advice both ways. My immediate family couldn’t tell me to stay or leave. At the end of the day, it came down to a personal move to be here and to start my life close to my family. Everyone knew what it was like in Saskatchewan and how well I was treated by Rider Nation, how well I got along with the team and the success we had there. It was really tough to leave the guys and the organization, but it was just the right time.’’
– Fantuz on making the move to Southern Ontario, Saskatchewan Leader-Post
“I’ve never stepped onto the field without those expectations. When you’ve achieved it, when you’ve reached that goal, you can’t accept anything less. For me, it’s either Grey Cup or bust.”
– Burris on his championship goal this season, Hamilton Spectator
“This is not a rebuilding year: They spent some money on guys like Hank and Fantuz. It’s a new year; slate’s clean. But the Grey Cup is the goal. We have new pieces and we’re still trying to come together as a team. I think our talent is going to get us by for a while. As we go through the season, we’ll start to jell.”
– Rey Williams on the expectations surrounding t
he Ticats this season, Hamilton Spectator
“It might be a little easier for us to cover Andy because we know his tendencies. I’m not going to do anything different though. I’m just going to go in and play my technique and do what I’m supposed to. If I can do that and if we can do that as a team, I think we can go in there and be pretty successful.”
– Defensive back Chris McKenzie on covering Andy Fantuz, Riderville.ca
“The one thing I told the team this week is that they are a very youthful bunch. We have to use that youthful energy right from the opening kickoff to the last play of the game. We have a fast group and we have to make sure we control that energy and use it to our advantage. If we can do that, I think we can come out of there with a ‘W’.”
Saskatchewan Head Coach Corey Chamblin on making the most of his team’s youth on Friday, Riderville.ca
“Every football player wants to be a starter. It’s unfortunate that Chris can’t go this week, but he has helped me a lot over the past couple of weeks. I think I’ve adapted pretty well and I think I’ve improved my performance from week-to-week so I’m ready. I know people will be looking at me, but I just have to do the same thing that I did in high school and university and that is play to the best of my abilities and hope for a positive outcome.”
First overall draft pick Ben Heenan on getting the start for the ‘Riders, Riderville.ca
“He’ll have some guys yipping at him. That goes with the territory of being a young guy. [Opposing players] think they can get in your head.”
Guard Brendon Labatte on the challenge facing Heenan, Postmedia News
“He’s going to have some mistakes, like even the veterans will, but I think he was a good draft choice and we knew what we needed to do to build this team. We didn’t want to lose Best or anyone, but [Heenan] was the right fit for this team and he was the right pick.”
Corey Chamblin on Heenan, Postmedia news,
“It has been a long off-season. When you have a season like we had last year, a lot of thoughts go through your head — a lot of ‘what ifs?’ and what I should have done. Running was one of those things.”
Darian Durant on what he needs to do differently compared to last season, Leader Post
