Fraser Caldwell
Ticats.ca
“Winning is not an act – it’s a habit.”
Those words – a simple but effective reminder – hung from each player’s change area in the Ticats locker room on Tuesday.
Following Saturday’s evisceration of Edmonton, it is clear that Hamilton’s coaches are guarding against complacency as the team prepares for a new challenge in Winnipeg.
The Ticats appear to understand their situation well. Namely: that their blowout success was only one step – albeit a very impressive one – in their climb back to playoff contention.
“We’re 4-7 right now, not even in the playoff picture,” said rookie linebacker Brock Campbell. “We just know that we’ve got to win every week.”
“You can never be complacent in football. We started this season with the goal of winning the Grey Cup, and that’s still our goal.”
It would be easy to downplay the importance of Friday’s contest against the Blue Bombers. With a record of 2-9, Winnipeg resides alone in the CFL’s basement.
But Ticats quarterback Henry Burris reminds those who would write-off the Bombers of the two teams’ last encounter. It is a painful but necessary memory for Burris, who took a valuable lesson from the turnover-filled affair.
“We haven’t done anything good against Winnipeg,” said the quarterback. “In the only meeting we had this season, they beat us.”
“It’s a game I won’t forget. To have four fumbles in that game – three while running and one in the pocket – is something I definitely haven’t forgotten.”
The Ticats are determined to enjoy much better execution on this occasion than they did on that mid-August night. Because – as their result against the Eskimos showcased – they are a truly scary team when firing on all cylinders.
“It’s about focus and about chemistry, and also about not kicking ourselves in the butt,” explained receiver Bakari Grant of the means to maximize his team’s potential once again on Friday.
“It takes those practice plays – getting the reps in practice – and then following up on the field, showing up on game day.”
Grant was at the centre of the crucial play that swung momentum decisively in the Ticats favour a week ago. The blocked field goal that the sophomore receiver marched to pay-dirt was the sort of monumental moment that the team has craved for weeks.
But while “big plays” are always welcome, Grant believes that his team will need a less glamourous but equally important type of play to fall its way on Friday.
“It’s always good to have the momentum plays, but the more important ones are the second and twos, the second and threes,” argues the receiver.
“Converting those into first downs is what we have to do consistently. The big plays are called that for a reason, but they’ll come as they may.”
Whatever the method, Burris knows that a victory on Friday is a necessity.
He suggests that closing out those contests where expectation is in your favour is a mark of a good team.
“Winning on the road in games where you have the opportunity to be successful in is a must,” says the quarterback.
“We have an opportunity to take our momentum and confidence into this game. You’re playing in a different park, but it’s the same people.”
The task will not be an easy one on Friday, in spite of what the standings have to say.
Defensive lineman Brandon Peguese is typical of his teammates in his wary approach to the embattled Blue Bombers.
“Everybody knows, when you’re down, that’s when you fight your hardest,” says Peguese of Winnipeg. “This is a team with nothing to lose.”
“They’re going to come out screaming, trying to make plays and do what they have to do to win, because they’re hungry for a win.”
Unfortunately for the Bombers, the Ticats have a hunger of their own to be satisfied on Friday.
