There’s no place quite like home.
The Tiger-Cats had their first practice at Tim Hortons Field of the 2015 season, back at their stadium for good.
It’s been a long process, the transition from Ivor Wynne, but the Ticats are officially back at home for the long haul.
No more practices as McMaster, no more travel back and forth between the team office and Ron Joyce Stadium every day. The team has taken up permanent residence at their new home, and will now reap the benefits of some extra time to work each day, amongst numerous other benefits.
“It feels good, finally we don’t have to hurry up and get on the bus and rush off the field,” said running back CJ Gable.
Head coach and general manager Kent Austin talked first and foremost about the convenience of the team having their own home, allowing individual players and position groups to put in extra work following practice.
“They’re doing some extra work, we have time,” said Austin, “we can get the JUGS machine going, the defence is doing a little extra running. It’s awesome.”
The JUGS machine, a football-launching device that allows players to practice their catching, is understandably a favourite among receivers, but is utilized by defensive backs, linebackers and running backs as well. Players will gather around the machine, taking turns practicing their skills for up to a half hour after practice concludes.
Luke Tasker, often one of the last ones off the practice field on a day-to-day basis, is more than excited to be home and have the opportunity to linger as he is used to.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats wide receiver Luke Tasker (17). CFL Road Trip in Hamilton, ON. (PHOTO: JOHANY JUTRAS)
“This is the first time that I’ll be able to get JUGS machine— apart from training camp—consistently after practice since I was in San Diego and since Cornell,” explained Tasker. “We’ve never had that luxury here, so it’s going to be a huge benefit.”
Tasker will make his long-awaited return to the Ticats lineup, after missing the first four games of the 2015 season.
“It’s real exciting,” said Tasker of his return to full strength. “When you really start the process of feeling game-ready, you start building up a bit of angst…now that I’m back and I’m full-go, there’s a little bit of relief, I can finally just concentrate on playing instead of getting healthy.”
Along with having Tasker back healthy, both Ted Laurent and Eric Norwood were able to hit the practice field at full force on Thursday, marking the first time since training camp that the Ticats have had almost all of their starters on the field together.
“First and foremost, it’s good for them, the individual players that have worked hard to come back” said Coach Austin, “it’s good for them and good for us.”
The convenience of being back home for practice is amplified by the fact that the Ticats will now enjoy a home-heavy stretch of their schedule, after playing the first four games of the season on the road.
The team will enjoy three consecutive home games in the month of August, starting with the home opener against the Toronto Argonauts on Monday, followed by games against the Blue Bombers and Lions on the 9th and 15th respectively.
“We’re just glad to be here,” said Coach Austin, “we always knew this was going to be here for us, and we’re glad to arrive, but we’ve learned a lot in the process.”
