Isaac Owusu
Ticats.ca
Quarterback Zach Collaros was back on the field, taking snaps at the soon-to-be opened Tim Horton’s Field on Thursday.
Though the circumstances that forced his absence weren’t ideal, he admits that his time away from football allowed him to put things into perspective.
“Not playing for so long, I think you start to take for granted being are able to play every day,” he said. “Being away from it for that extended period of time made me appreciate it more.”
Thursday marked Collaros’ second day back in action since being activated off of the six-game injured list after nearly a two month-long absence.
The six-foot 216-pound dual threat pivot missed five games after suffering a concussion thanks to an illegal hit in the team’s second game at Edmonton.
His status for Monday’s Labour Day Classic against his former team, the Toronto Argonauts, is still up in the air, and he is well aware that his progression to being game-ready is a work in progress.
“I’m just getting used to the pace and speed of the game again, because I haven’t done that in quite some time,” he said.
“It was like being up there for the first day of training camp so I did a couple of reps yesterday and being out there again today really helped. The longer I’m able to practice and the more reps, I get the better I will get,” Collaros added.
While trying to soak in the reigns of the offence again, he was able to gather an impression of the team’s new digs at Tim Horton’s Field.
“The playing surface is nice. It’s a fast surface, that’s good for us we were very excited to be out there today.”
While Collaros works to get himself back into speed for Monday, the man who was snapping the ball to him is prepared for his first real taste of the Labour Day Classic.
Centre Mike Filer grew up in nearby Hamilton in Brantford, after years of spectating the historic rivalry he finally gets to be apart of it on the field.
“I grew up right next door, I went to a lot of Labour Day classics. I was a big Ticats fan growing up. I even worked for Ivor Wynne Stadium for security back in the day. I worked a few Labour Day events back then,” Filer said
“It means a lot to me, I was able to be a part of the team in 2012 but I wasn’t on the field for Labour Day, so this will be my first official Labour Day Classic, so I’m pretty excited for it,” he added.
Filer understands the depth of the rivalry and what it brings out of fans.
“Being right in Branford, you’re pretty much Hamilton, so you’re pretty much a ‘Steel-City’ kid and we hate the Argos. No matter how you put it, the Ticats hate the Argos. Its got that rivalry feel, it’s a very special game and a lot of fans think that this is the biggest game of the year, so it’s exciting to be a part of it.”
Defensive coordinator Orlando Steinauer is certainly no stranger to the Labour Day Classic. As a player, he suited up in the much-anticipated clash for both sides.
If anybody can tell you about the magnitude of the upcoming game, it’s him.
“I just understand the intensity, the excitement, how fun it is playing on both sides. I know what it means to Hamilton and I know what it means to Toronto, and the players that have not been part of it are in for a treat. Its going to be a special time, but as a coach it’s just about the players,” he said.
Steinauer played in Hamilton from 1997-2000 and then for Toronto until he concluded his playing career in 2008.
Although his days of wearing the pads are long behind him, he vividly remembers the switch that went off before entering this match.
“When you put the pads on you feel the general excitement and you should feel anxious those are all normal emotions for this game,” he said.
“You know you can get the other team’s best, they’re going to block a little longer, try and hit a little harder, but in the day it’s just football between the whistles. The rowdiest team does not always win. I would expect both teams to come out like that but I’m not focused on Toronto, I’m focused on Hamilton,” Steinauer added.
