Ticats.ca Staff
“I think they understand that we’re in a position where we need to win this game to keep our playoff possibilities alive.”
– Ticats head coach George Cortez feels his team is aware that this Satursday’s bout with Calgary is a must win. Ticats.ca
“Both of the other teams (Toronto and Edmonton) play before us, come to think of it. There are still two scenarios there that would be good for us, but they both involve us winning.”
– George Cortez spells out the events that must take place in order for his team to make the post season. Ticats.ca
“When you coach against people who you’ve worked with – which has been the case with me and a lot of guys at different teams – it’s like playing your brother in the back yard. They’re your brother, but you still want to beat them badly.”
– Cortez feels like his history with Calgary’s personal adds a little more to the equation. Ticats.ca
“I’m looking forward to going back to the place that got me started in this league. I have a lot of great memories there and I still have a lot of friends on the team. They’re my friends before and after the game, but during the game, we’re out there trying to win.”
– Hamilton pivot Henry Burris knows the significance of this game and the importance of tuning out all distractions come game time. Ticats.ca
“I know that my family and friends will be there, and honestly, that’s what counts. Of course, all that you want is to be respected for everything that you’ve done there. We went through a lot of great experiences. But I’m a Hamilton Tiger-Cat, and I expect that once we step on the field, they’ll be against us, which is the way it should happen.”
– Henry isn’t sure what his reception will be when he returns Saturday but knows what’s important to him now. Ticats.ca
“So, you’ve got to expect guys to bring their best in times of adversity. This is truly the time where teams and individual players are judged on what type of character they have. You don’t want to be in this situation, but you do want to see what type of team we have here.”
– Burris feels his team is going to come out to play with their season on the line. Ticats.ca
“We haven’t been able to play as a unit in the linebacking corps much this year, and it felt great just to be able to communicate with guys that you know and feed off of the energy that they’re bringing on a consistent basis,” “Markeith is a fiery guy, he’s a playmaker – he makes a lot of plays on the field, whether it be against the run or in the passing game. He brings a lot of know-how to the game, and we’ve missed him.”
– Jamall Johnson speaks of his fellow linebacker Markeith Knowlton and how the team will build off of his return. Ticats.ca
“We have a chance to probably prove a lot of people wrong by going out and winning in Calgary. If we win, it’ll give ourselves opportunities as the season closes out. 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.”
– Cortez wants to fight through the adversity and come out with a big win against Calgary. Ticats.ca
“At the beginning of this season I was fully healed and I felt like my old self,” Knowlton said. “But stuff happens that you can’t control.”
– Ticats Linebacker Markeith Knowlton was starting to feel like his 2010 form was coming back before suffering a ankle injury early in the season. CFL.ca
“He’s one of the best defensive players in the league you can’t replace him. He brings a different dimension to our team. He can play two gaps, rush the quarterback, cover receivers and knows where the ball is and how to get there – just a smart football player.”
– Rey Williams feels Markeith is irreplaceable and sees his return as a very positive thing for the club. CFL.ca
“Now, I’m not saying I didn’t have fun when I was in Hamilton, because I did have fun. But the thing is, it’s not just fun here because of one particular thing. It’s multiple things going on. You’re in a new city, and it’s a good city, a good organization. The players, from top to bottom, it’s like everybody enjoys everybody. Everybody cracks jokes, offence, defence, special teams — I mean, everybody gets along. Sometimes you don’t have that. Sometimes these guys go this way on a team and those guys go that way. Here? Everybody gets along. Seriously. No controversy in the locker-room, no NOTHING, whether we win or lose. Everybody has each others back, and it’s good to have that kind of feeling.”
– Former Ticat quarterback Kevin Glenn is himself after being traded in the offseason for Henry Burris. Canada.com.
“I would be lying to you if I said it didn’t.” “My play was questioned. My ability was questioned. Any time that is questioned, it holds a sore spot with you as a competitor. I hold no grudges. Even though this is a business and people say business isn’t personal, I do believe this is personal because it’s conducted by persons. There is no ill will. I have love for guys over there, but between the white lines, this is a battle.”
– Calgary’s Stevie Baggs who is looking to play hard against his former team that released him earlier this year. Slam Sports.
“Henry did a lot for this city and this team, this organization. It’s only right for them to talk about him when he comes to town. My thing is, Henry plays for the opposing team now, so it’s about getting wins and beating him.”
– Stampeder quarterback Kevin Glenn believes that Henry Burris deserves recognition in the city he calls home. Calgary Sun
“You can’t let emotions, personal things, get in the way of you doing your job. In this league, with eight teams, a lot of emotion is thrown out there. But he’s a veteran, so I’m sure he’s good at blocking that out and just doing his job.”
– Drew Tate says that Glenn will ignore the sideshow on Saturday. Calgary Sun
“It’s like every week I’m at a different position. By the end of the season, I should know all of them. Whatever happens, if somebody goes down, they can just plug me in anywhere. Wherever they put me, I’m bringing my speed to the table regardless.”
– Calgary wide reciever Maurice Price is happy to play wherever his team needs him to. Calgary Sun
“Last time he stood on the visitors’ sideline (at McMahon Stadium), they whupped our ass. I still remember that, seeing him laughing and joking around.”
-Stampeder receiver Nik Lewis remembers Henry Burris’ last return to McMahon Stadium – as a Saskatchewan Roughrider in 2004. Calgary Herald
“I don’t see why they would boo him. It’s not like he just left — he got traded. It’s not like he said, ‘(expletive), Calgary.’ He got traded. He went. That’s the nature of the beast that we play. Sometimes trades happen. But his family still lives here. He still lives here in the off-season. He calls this home, so he should get a warm welcome. But, at the same time, we’re not going to treat him any different. And we don’t expect the fans to treat him any different during the game. They’re still going to boo. They’re still going to yell and make it as tough as possible on him.”
– Lewis argues that Burris will not receive special treatment on Saturday. Calgary Herald
“To come in on the road, against his old team . . . if you’re not full of piss and vinegar then, you’re never going to be. He’s definitely going to come in and try to make an example of us. We’ll see what happens.”
– Claybrooks believes that Burris will be highly motivated in his return to Calgary. Calgary Herald
