Fraser Caldwell
Ticats.ca
The Ticats are channeling their underdog status into motivation with their backs against the wall.
Hamilton enters its Saturday matchup with Calgary in virtual do-or-die territory, and Head Coach George Cortez knows that very few outside the team have faith in its ability to succeed.
But Cortez believes that the Ticats can turn that writing-off into a positive.
“We have a chance to probably prove a lot of people wrong by going out and winning in Calgary,” says the coach.
“There probably aren’t a lot of people around the league that give us much of a chance to go out there and win. But I don’t believe that, and I hope that our players don’t either.”
Quarterback Henry Burris agrees with his coach’s assessment, and indicates that despite their situation, he and his teammates have not quit on their season.
“[Calgary has] been playing well all season, and of course we’ve had a couple of disappointing losses back-to-back,” says Burris. “When you have that situation, people feel that you’ve given up.”
“But there’s no giving up on this team. We’ve been a resilient bunch this year. We’ve had to overcome a lot of adversity this season, and I hope that it’ll be a good thing for us this week.”
Part of that adversity has come and gone in the form of injuries. The offensive line in particular has undergone a transformation in recent weeks as Ticat veterans Marwan Hage and Peter Dyakowski have been relegated to the treatment room.
Those developments have thrust rookie linemen Cody Husband and Pascal Baillargeon into duty, and they could be joined by another first-year Ticat – centre Mike Filer – if Tim O’Neill is unable to play on Saturday.
Regular tackles Brian Simmons and Marc Dile have suddenly become old hands on the line, and Dile confirms that the two are doing their utmost to lead the fresh players around them.
“With me and Brian on the field with the most experience, we’ve got to go out and lead the charge and make sure that we’re assignment-sound,” says the tackle who is a rookie himself.
“If you know where you’re going as far as your assignment, then you just play fast and it makes the game easier for you.”
If Filer does indeed step in at centre on Saturday, he has the faith of his teammates to support him.
“If you put the time into it – which he has done every morning getting in and watching film – and you trust that time, it takes care of itself,” says Dile of Filer’s readiness. “He’s done a great job so far.”
“If Mike Filer has to get in there, I’m confident in the ability that he has,” says Burris. “He’s a great drill sergeant up front and knows how to direct guys. He speaks loudly and when he makes a call, he makes sure that everybody listens.”
The odds are certainly not in their favour at this stage.
But Burris contends that the season’s final stretch is where the Ticats can forge their identity and prove the doubters wrong.
“When the chips are stacked against you, that’s when the real men rise up.”
