Kent Austin has plenty to smile about these days.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats not only return home after opening the season with four straight road games but are also poised to get some of their walking wounded back. Luke Tasker, the club’s leading receiver last year, will make his 2015 debut Monday night when the Ticats host the arch-rival Toronto Argonauts (3-1) while defensive linemen Ted Laurent and Eric Norwood both resumed practising this week.
"We’re just glad to be here, we always knew this was going to be here for us," Austin, the Ticats head coach/GM, told reporters. "We’re glad it arrived but let me tell you we’ve learned a lot in the process.
"Every team has their challenges, we’re no different than anybody else. I think all experiences, bad, good, anywhere in between, are experiences you should learn from and how to get better and improve as a football team. Hopefully we’ve done that."
Hamilton (2-2) has been unbeatable so far at Tim Hortons Field, registering seven straight wins since moving into the new facility last September. The Ticats’ first victory there was a 13-12 decision over Toronto on Sept. 1.
The Ticats were forced to open the season on the road as Tim Hortons Field was the soccer venue for the Pan American Games, which concluded last weekend. The CFL club will play three straight home games there, also hosting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Aug. 9 and B.C. Lions on Aug. 15.
And veteran Ticats receiver Bakari Grant said there’s a very simple explanation for the club’s success at Tim Hortons Field.
"There’s no place like home and there’s no place like Tim Hortons Field," he said. "It’s about our fans, it’s the energy, the pure love for football.
"Our fans love the way we play and we play the way we do because of our fans so I think it’s that reciprocation that makes it what it is."
The combination of the Pan Am Games and limited availability at Rogers Centre have forced Toronto to play its first five regular-season games on the road, although its 26-11 season-opening win over Edmonton in Fort McMurray, Alta., counted as a home contest.
Although it’s just the fifth regular-season game for both teams, Monday night’s contest will be for first in the East Division. Toronto would remain atop the standings with a win while Hamilton would grab a share of top spot with a victory.
"I don’t know about the long-term ramifications, we’re real excited to be in an important game in a great environment close to home," Toronto head coach Scott Milanovich said. "Their fans will be all over us, that makes it fun and that’s what rivalries are all about.
"Obviously it’s an East game and you need to win those so it would be great to win but I don’t know if anybody is feeling any pressure. We’re just excited to be in the game and go down there and see what we’re made of."
The contest will also be a showdown between two young quarterbacks who were teammates in Toronto.
Zach Collaros is in his second full season as Hamilton’s starter after beginning his CFL career in Toronto. Trevor Harris will make his fifth straight start replacing injured incumbent Ricky Ray (shoulder).
"It’s obviously a daunting task but we’re up for it," Harris said. "We know it’s going to be a very difficult test because they’re a team that’s complete … they have great special teams, a great offence and a great defence."
Milanovich said it’s tough to compare the two quarterbacks because they’re very different.
"Trevor is more a Ricky Ray-type of quarterback," Milanovich said. "Zach still has the ability to be a pocket passer (but is) maybe a bit more dynamic outside the pocket.
"Trevor would argue that and Zach would argue it the other way but that’s how I see their strengths. Both are winners, both are very competitive, they do a great job of preparing and understanding the gameplan, studying defences. Ultimately I think that’s why they’ve both been successful."
