“The focus is always internal in that the way you play pretty much determines how the game goes. The focus is to eliminate our problems. The games aren’t played on paper, the games are played on the field. As we talked about last week, don’t look at the team’s record, I look at the team.”
-Tiger-Cat Head Coach George Cortez explains the internal emphasis of his team. Hamilton Spectator
“There aren’t too many things that bug me, but turning 30 bugged me. Turning 40 has not been an issue. I may be 40 but I’m still playing professional football, the same sport I’ve been playing since I was five years old. So I do not feel like a 40-year-old whatsoever.”
-Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo on the effect of turning 40 this week. Hamilton Spectator
“Same old AC: making plays and having fun. That’s what I do and I was born to do this. I’m going to give my teammates a lot more energy. But I’m really nervous about getting hit right now.”
-Tiger-Cat running back Avon Cobourne on what he expects from himself in his first start of the season tonight. Hamilton Spectator
“We did a good job as a team. We had a couple of good special-teams plays, we played well on offence and the defence was strong in key situations so we should come into the game with confidence.”
-Cortez identifies the areas in which his team excelled in their last meeting with Montreal in Week 4. Hamilton Spectator
“They believe they can be beat us because they did it this year and last year. We have to go out there and remind them that it’s going to be tough to beat us in our house.”
-Calvillo speaks of his desire to reverse the success Hamilton has had against his team recently. Hamilton Spectator
“It looks to me that he’s definitely feeling better than the first time we played them. I don’t see him grimacing when he gets hit all the time. I’m guessing he’s bounced back from his shoulder injury. I don’t see any difference in him from the year when I was last in the league (in 2009).”
-Cortez on the condition of Calvillo. Toronto Sun
“We got to be more accountable. We got too many players, regardless if they’re banged up or not. There’s a sense of urgency in the locker room, especially on the defensive side of the ball. We’ve got to do better. Teams are only as good as their defence. You got to be able to stop people and if we can’t do that we’re going to be in trouble.”
-Tiger-Cat linebacker Renauld Williams explains the need for improvement from his defence tonight. Toronto Sun
“Guys are a little testy. Guys are hostile and angry. It’s great. It’s always great to play when you’re angry and upset. Everyone is mad right now. What we need to do is get back to playing sound football, outhit people and execute our scheme.”
-Williams on the attitude among his defensive teammates this week. Toronto Sun
“We want to get on them fast. You want to be the hammer, not the nail. It’s very important to come out like we did last time, set the tone and set up some scores for our offence.”
-Williams on the necessity of getting out to a quick start on the defensive side of the ball. Toronto Sun
“My last college game was at McGill. It’ll be kind of neat to go back. It feels like I’ve come full circle. It’s been five years since I last played in Quebec. They’ll be plenty of family and friends (on Thursday).”
-Tiger-Cat receiver Sam Giguere sizes up a return to his native Quebec tonight. Toronto Sun
“It’s easier to play defence when (Calvillo) goes through people.” “But I don’t care if you’re the ’85 Bears, you play your best defence when you’re standing on the sideline.
-Alouettes Defensive coordinator Jeff Reinebold on the advantage of having a potent offence. Montreal Gazette.
“Still, it’s a long season. I don’t care who you are, you’re going to get your teeth kicked in every once in a while. This game humbles you, real fast.”
-Reinebold on the ebb and flow of a CFL season Montreal Gazette.
“Reinebold wants to make the game simple. He wants you to play fast and hard, send guys to get the ball.” “We had to let go of things we were used to doing, adapting to new stuff.”
– Alouette defensive back Dwight Anderson on what is expected of the defence, Montreal Gazette.
“We’re going against the best QB in the league, if you look at his passing record.” “He’s not throwing picks or making bad decisions where he’s throwing the ball.”
-Montreal Linebacker Chip Cox speaks on facing Henry Burris, Montreal Gazette.
“I’ll be making plays and having fun,” he said. “I was born to do this, and I’ll give my teammates some energy.”
-Avon Cobourne believes his exlosive energy will carry througout the whole team, Montreal Gazette
“We’ve had drives and put up yards. We just haven’t finished. When we put things together, it can be scary and we’re not far off. We have to cut out the mental errors. Our mistakes have been self-inflicted. We’ve got to win and start putting something together. We have to start making a run.”
– Henry Burris on the potential of his team’s offence, Montreal Gazette
“When you look at the big picture, it is pretty amazing,.Damon Allen played for so many years and I always wondered how he did it. Now here I am going into my 19th year and people ask me how I’ve been able to do it.
-Anthony Calvillo speaks about his long tenure in the league, CBC
“A lot of credit goes to this organiza
tion and all the guys I’ve been able to play with. Without them and the success we’ve all shared here, there’s no way I would have been able to play for this long.”
-Calvillo paying his respects for his career with Montreal Alouettes, CBC
