Fraser Caldwell
Ticats.ca
Technically speaking, today’s Labour Day Classic marks only the ninth of 18 games the Tiger-Cats will play this season. It’s the exact midpoint of a four-month regular season slog.
No silverware will be handed out, no accolades heaped upon players. For all intents and purposes, it might as well be just another game in the dog days of the CFL calendar.
Except everyone – the Ticats’ players and coaches included – knows that it’s not.
“This is definitely much more than just another game,” says Tiger-Cat quarterback Henry Burris. “There’s a lot riding on this beside the obvious.”
“It’s the last Labour Day Classic at Ivor Wynne Stadium, so it’s definitely a very important game for not only us on the field but the fans in the stands and the tradition of this organization.”
Tonight brings a contest rife with historical meaning, but one that is hardly short on practical implications either.
The Tiger-Cats are in search of a spark – a much-needed return to form – to stop the bleeding of a three-game losing streak and vault them back into the upper echelon of the East Division.
The urgency of the occasion is not lost on Burris, who believes that his team is quickly entering the stage of the season where championship credentials are shown.
“We need to come out here and get back on track,” stressed the quarterback. “Toronto’s a game up on us and we need to make our move right now.
“As we’ve seen in the past couple of years, the team that truly makes the run to the Grey Cup starts their run around now. It’s time for us to get on board.”
In order to do just that, Burris suggests that he and his teammates must find their killer instinct. In their recent losses, the Ticats offence has repeatedly driven well downfield only to exit the red zone with little to show for their efforts.
“The number one thing we have to improve is just being consistent,” says Burris. “We’ve moved the ball effectively as an offence in every game, but we’ve got to finish off drives.
“That’s the bottom line. If we finish off drives, it puts more pressure on the opposition’s quarterback and playcalling, because they have to try to keep up with us.”
Burris’ defensive counterparts face a similar challenge tonight, as they look to keep the lid on Ricky Ray and the Argonaut offence for a full 60 minutes.
“In the last three games, there have been stretches where our defence has played very well,” argues the Ticats’ Head Coach George Cortez.
“We’ve had two halves that, if you put them together, would be about the best game that you could play. For whatever reason, we haven’t finished the deal, and that’s one of the things that we’ve talked about.”
It appears that the search for defensive consistency will bring a measure of change to the Ticats’ lineup tonight.
Recent acquisition Brock Campbell – who saw spot duty a week ago – looks to slot into the strong-side linebacker position previously occupied by Carlos Thomas and the injured Markeith Knowlton tonight.
It’s a steep test for a player who joined the team less than a month ago, but Campbell is adamant that he is more than ready for the challenge of stepping into that pivotal spot.
“I’ve got some great coaches and some great veteran leadership that really helped me out and has made the transition easy for me,” explained the Ticat rookie. “So I know that I’ll be ready to play tomorrow.”
“I like to play fast and play physical, and that’s the way the nickel position has to be played.”
Campbell is one of several new initiates to the yearly Labour Day ritual that will be bidding Ivor Wynne Stadium a fond farewell tonight.
But as fellow rookie Sam Giguere explained, the Ticats young and old are aware of the magnitude of this contest and can feel the eager energy of the Hamilton faithful.
“It’s supposed to be a full house here and you can feel the fans’ excitement for this game,” says the receiver. “Our President Scott Mitchell talked to us [on Friday] about the Labour Day Classic and what it meant to the community, to Hamilton.
“It makes it exciting for us and it’s going to be a great time.”
