With the 2015 Canadian Football League schedule officially released, Ticats.ca has compiled a list of 15 things for Tiger-Cats fans to look forward to when the Black and Gold kicks off the season on June 26.
1) Austin enters his third tenure:
The 2015 season will mark Kent Austin’s third campaign as the Ticats general manager and head coach. Since taking charge of the team in 2013, Austin has led the Tiger-Cats to a 19-17 regular season record, in addition to back-to-back East Division championships and Grey Cup appearances. This season, the Ticats will have the most continuity in comparison to Austin’s previous two seasons. Out of the 46 players that appeared in last year’s 102nd Grey Cup, 41 still remain on the roster.
2) Collaros’ Sophmore Season with the Ticats:
Quarterback Zach Collaros will enter his second season at the helm of the Tiger-Cats offence this summer. Collaros helped lead the Ticats to a 9-9 record to finish the regular season and a berth to the 102nd Grey Cup, after missing five games due to injury. The pivot finished his first season in TigerTown completing 279 of 424 passing attempts for 3,261 yards and 15 touchdowns in just 13 starts. One can only imagine Collaros’ potential in his second year in TigerTown.
3) 2015 will mark the first full season at Tim Hortons Field:
After spending 2013 in Guelph and part of 2014 at McMaster, the Tiger-Cats will play all nine regular season home games in front of the Hamilton faithful at Tim Hortons Field.
4) Tiger-Cats will kick off the season with a Grey Cup rematch in Calgary:
What better way to kick off the season than where you left off? Hamilton’s 2015 schedule finds the Tiger-Cats opening the season against the 102nd Grey Cup Champions, the Calgary Stampeders, at McMahon Stadium on Friday, June 26 at 9 pm – TSN’s first regular season broadcast of Friday Night Football for the 2015 season.
5) Hamilton Homecoming 2.0:
The Tiger-Cats experienced a true home coming last year, figuratively and literally, when they stepped foot into Tim Hortons Field last September for the Labour Day Classic and home opener. That same electric atmosphere will be present at Tim Hortons Field on August 3, when the Ticats renew their rivalry with the Toronto Argonauts. The first-ever prime time Monday night game at Tim Hortons Field will also mark the first of three meetings between the two teams. Since moving into Tim Horton’s Field, the Ticats have remained undefeated (7-0) at home, including their 2014 Eastern Final win over Montreal. Can the Ticats hold on to their win streak at Tim Hortons Field through 2015?
6) Labour Day Classic:
For the second consecutive season, Tim Hortons Field will play host to the highly anticipated Labour Day Classic game against Toronto. In the Inaugural Labour Day Classic last season, the Ticats secured a win with a nail biting 13-12 victory.
7) The Battle of the QEW:
The Ticats play their only game in the Big Smoke this season just five days after the Labour Day Classic on Friday, September 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Rogers Centre. The second half of this home-and-home series with the Argonauts could play a major role in the East Division standings. Also at stake will be the rights to the Ballard Trophy, awarded to the winner of the season series between the two teams.
8) Return of Justin Hickman, Brandon Banks, Taylor Reed and Luke Tasker:
The Tiger-Cats have locked up some key members of last year’s team for the 2015 season. Pending free agents Brandon Banks, Luke Tasker and Taylor Reed all signed new deals with the team that will see them back in Black and Gold again this season. Defensive end Justin Hickman and running back Nic Grigsby tested the free agent market but were quickly re-signed by the Ticats.
9) More Speedy B:
Ticats receiver/punt returner Brandon Banks took the CFL by storm after returning two punts for touchdowns in the team’s 40-24 win over the Montreal Alouettes in the 2014 Eastern Final at Tim Hortons Field. In his first full CFL season, Banks was productive, leading the league in combined yards (1,968) and punt return yards (618) while adding 42 receptions for 529 yards and five receiving touchdowns. When Banks re-signed with the Tabbies earlier this month, he created a buzz that had fans across TigerTown anticipating what he’ll have in store for 2015.
10) New Faces:
Through free agency Ticats general manager and head coach Kent Austin locked up former Toronto Argonauts Anthony Woodson and Spencer Watt. Come June, Tiger-Cat fans will get their first chance to see two of the latest newcomers in action.
11) Steel City D:
The Tiger-Cats had one of the CFL’s best defence’s in 2014, especially down the stretch. Last season, the ‘Cats defence lead the CFL against the run, only allowing 76.8 rushing yards per games and an average of 4.6 yards per attempt. The Ticats also got after the quarterback, ranking second in the CFL with 21 sacks in the last seven regular season games.
12) Hamilton-to-Ottawa:
The Ticats will play their final regular season home game on Sunday, November 1 at 1 p.m. vs. the Ottawa REDBLACKS and then travel to the Capital six days later to close out the season.
The last time the Tiger-Cats had multiple home-and-home series in one season was in 2013 when they played five home-and-home series against BC, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, and Saskatchewan.
13) The Return of the Ticats TV Live:
Back by popular demand Ticats TV Live will make its return to Tim Hortons Field this summer. Broadcasting live from one of the spacious plazas at Tim Hortons Field and available exclusively on the state-of-the-art 3,400 square foot HD videoboard inside of the stadium, Ticats TV Live presented by Baffin will feature former Ticats players, who will provide game analysis, opinions, stats, and stories from their playing days.
The panel will continue to entertain fans before kickoff, during select commercial breaks, quarter breaks, and halftime.
14) Under the lights at Tim Hortons Field:
Tim Hortons Field will be the host of six night games in 2015, seven if you include the team’s pre-season opener vs. the Ottawa REDBLACKS.
15) Return of CJ Gable + RB depth:
The Tiger-Cats announced on Monday that 2013 East Division All-Star and Most Outstanding Rookie, C.J. Gable, has signed a contract extension that will keep him in the Steel City through the 2017 season. Gable, who missed the majority of the 2014 season due to injury, can be expected to be seen in full form in 2015. The versatile running back has complied 160 carries for 920 rushing yards, an average of 5.8 yards per carry, and nine rushing touchdowns while hauling in 72 passes for 822 yards and seven receiving touchdowns in 21 career starts. In 10 of 21 career starts, he has has registered 100+ combined yards.
Hamilton will also boast one of the league’s deepest backfields to start the season as the team currently now has four running backs with CFL experience – C.J. Gable, Mossis Madu, Sam Ojuri and recently re-signed Nic Grigsby.
