CFL.ca
Henry Burris isn’t about to let father time slow him down on the field. Hamilton’s starting pivot enters his 14th Canadian Football League season, number two with the Ticats, at the ripe old professional football age of 38.
In 2012 analysts debated whether Burris, 37 at the time, could continue to compete at a high level at the most important position in football, despite his age. He responded to the naysayers by going out and throwing for career best season totals in yards (5,367) and touchdowns (43) while directing the league’s most prolific offence, scoring 29.9 points per game.
Undeterred by the gaudy statistics Burris put up, pundits have grown even louder saying his stellar campaign last year was an anomaly, an outlier and it can’t be repeated because he’s too old.
“Old…I have no idea what you’re talking about, being old,” Burris said with a chuckle. “But honestly, people talk about my age and I laugh about it. I feel like I’m one of the youngest quarterbacks in this league. I’m faster than Travis Lulay and I’m definitely a lot more durable than a lot of other guys out there.”
“I still feel I’m one of the top couple quarterbacks in this league.”
Smilin’ Hank believes that when he’s out there with the younger guys he still possesses all of the physical tools required to be an elite passer in the CFL. Much of the credit for his body being in such great shape goes to Burris’ personal trainer.
James Gattinger works out of the Bob Niven Training Centre at the Canadian Olympic Park in Calgary where a lot of the different team Canada winter sport athletes train. Burris was referred to Gattinger through Stampeders head trainer Pat Clatyon, after he suffered an ACL injury during the 1999 season.
“James got me prepared and when I came back to play that next season I was like ‘wow’, here I am coming off a major knee injury and I felt great,” Burris said.
The pair has been together ever since, 13 years running to be exact.
“He has always been the spark plug behind getting me going. He understands what my body responds well to and what it doesn’t,” Burris explained.
“Trust me, he’s put me through the pains of the off-season training and those are the things it took to get maximum output from my body.” 
“I over-prepared for this season to make sure that those games that are physical and feel like two games are added up into one, my body has been prepared to be able to endure those games and still be able to respond in a positive way.”
Another member of the Ticats organization, Canadian Football Hall of Famer Danny McManus, can appreciate how hard Burris has worked to keep himself in the league for so long because he went through the same kind of grind, carving out a 17-year CFL career.
“Your body will go quickly once you get over 35 and the hardest part is trying to stay in football shape to where you can do the same stuff that you used to do when you were 25,” McManus said. “Henry has done a great job of that.”
“You have to work out all year long and can’t take any months off just to make sure that your body is ready and able to compete against the younger kids.”
Burris and McManus share more than just lengthy careers. The two were teammates with the Stamps in 2006. Hank was the starter and Danny Mac backed him up in what was McManus’ final season in the CFL.
“He made the game fun for me,” Burris said of his one-time teammate. “Danny is a guy who has put up some of the most amazing numbers and most amazing performances that I have ever seen from a quarterback here in this league. Danny wasn’t the Usain Bolt of the CFL, but he knew what his strengths were and he worked toward those.”
“Hank is a kid at heart,” McManus responded. “Football is a game and you’re supposed to have fun, everyone knows from the smiling Hank he has fun out there, but he is a competitor.”
As Burris continues his playing career, McManus has worked his way up in the front office and is currently the Ticats Director of U.S. scouting. He’s certainly kept an eye on Burris since their time together in Cowtown and, of course, he saw the man who wears number one for the Ticats up close during Burris’ first year in Hamilton last season.
When McManus watches Burris, in the present day, he sees improved use of his legs in the throwing motion. Every quarterback is going to experience loss of pure arm strength whether they want to admit it or not. So triggering the lower body in the throwing mechanics is key said McManus.
“He’s been able to maintain his ability to throw all the passes because now he’s using his feet more, his legs more and he’s getting his core into the throws.”
To complete the quarterback triangle in Hamilton, McManus suited up with Kent Austin back in 1994 with the BC Lions. Austin enters his first season as the head coach and general manager for the Ticats. He will coach Burris and work with McManus in the Tiger-Cats football operations department. And don’t forget Austin is renowned for getting the most out of his pivots, with his wealth of quarterbacking knowledge.
“I had the opportunity to work with Kent as a teammate in 1994 and we won a Grey Cup with BC,” McManus said.
“I know what Kent teaches them and Henry has to be just like a sponge, soak it all in. Kent has a proven track record with quarterbacks, develops them very well and produces championships.”
In five seasons as a CFL coach, Austin has seen two of his quarterbacks win the MOP award and Grey Cup championship in the same season, Damon Allen in 2005 and Kerry Joseph in 2007.
After Austin was hired in Hamilton and before Burris met him in person, Hank talked to both Allen and Joseph to ask them why his new coach is able to get such a high level of production out of his pivots.
“They said he really understands the game from the perspective of the quarterback position,” Burris said.
“Preparation,” McManus said.
“He puts you through every situation possible so you won’t be surprised on the football field during the 60 minutes that you’re playing. If something does come up during the game he will be right on the white board to give you the information.
“Kent’s preparation was unbelievable back in 1994 when I was a teammate with him and it’s even better now.”
McManus already knows Austin and Burris will work well together – regardless of Burris’ age – because they both have a have a burning desire to win and each is ultra competitive.
“It’s just a number,” McManus said. “As long as you’re being productive and able to stay in the realm of what the offence needs and be successful, than keep playing.”
All that’s left is to sit back and watch which Hank, good, bad, smilin’ or old, emerges in 2013.
