Fraser Caldwell
Ticats.ca
Cortez: Players “should always be having fun”
Ticats Head Coach George Cortez implored his players to enjoy themselves during their Monday workout at Ivor Wynne Stadium.
Members of the media quizzed the coach as to the rationale for his message in the wake of the practice.
Cortez explained that despite the circumstances surrounding his team, the Ticats must remember the enjoyment that drew them to the game of football in the first place.
The early Fall weather on Monday reminded the coach of his own football origins.
“Fall is my favourite time of year,” said Cortez.
“We were walking over there and they were mowing the grass on [Brian Timmis Stadium]. We don’t get the smell of fresh-cut grass very often. It makes me remember being in high school and practicing there.”
“Most of us started playing because we liked it and were having fun. Sometimes you lose sight of that when you’re getting paid to do it.”
“That’s what I was alluding to. You’ve got to remember why you started doing this, and you should always be having fun. There’s not a day that I don’t come out here and have fun. I enjoy what I’m doing and they should too.”
Cortez: Ticats have bounced back from tough loss
The coach was asked to gauge the attitude of his players on Monday, and indicated that the Ticats had rebounded well from Friday’s result in Winnipeg.
He suggested that their experience helped the players to contextualize and deal with their loss.
“I think players are pretty resilient,” said Cortez.
“These aren’t young guys in the spectrum of football players. They bounce back much quicker than the coaches do most of the time.”
“It’s been several days since the last time we played and it’s time to get on to the next game.”
Burris: “We’ve got to find a way to score more points”
Ticats quarterback Henry Burris diagnosed his offence’s problem on Monday, and it was a familiar explanation.
“We’ve got to find a way to more score points – especially touchdowns – when we’re in scoring areas,” said Burris.
“I’ve said it time and time again, and I’m getting tired of talking about it, because we’ve got too much talent to be coming away with four or five field goals.”
However, the quarterback argued that it would do no good to dwell on the situation at hand. Rather, his team would be best served by working to change it.
“I’m not going to sit here and be frustrated by it,” said Burris.
“When you come out here to practice, you can’t focus on the past; you’ve got to focus on getting better. That’s what I’m focused on, because there are still games to be won.”
Burris: “It’s a partnership here”
Members of the Ticats offence held a players meeting on Monday morning in an effort to clear the air.
Burris suggested on Monday that he and his teammates are continually at ease with one another, and that the early meeting was a welcome opportunity to talk.
“It’s important for me – if I see something – to relay it to the guys,” said the quarterback.
“In order for me to be able to do my job, I need the guys’ help. It’s a partnership here. I always tell them that if they see something from me, to tell me as well.”
“It was that stuff that was shared this morning. I’m glad that we had that session – that sit down, man-to-man session – and I think it’ll make us better. It needs to, because this is a big game coming up against Montreal.”
Burris: Players are “back to having fun again”
Burris was encouraged by the morale of his team on Monday, and argued that the morning workout was a step in the right direction.
“This was a very loose practice,” said the quarterback. “Guys were back to having fun again and not worrying about playing without making mistakes.”
“We were playing to be better and to make sure that we’re ready come Friday.”
