Q & A With Tim Hicks

Growing up in Niagara Falls, Tim Hicks was part of a divided household of Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats fans. Luckily, he chose the right side. Hicks will be making a special appearance during the free admission concert at Tim Hortons Field outside of Pioneer Gate (Gate 2), presented by Supercrawl, as part of WeatherTech Football Day in Hamilton on Sept. 5. Remember, you don’t need a Labour Day Classic game ticket to come down and enjoy the free concert!
Katrina Squazzin from Ticats.ca caught up with the JUNO Award nominee and CCMA Award winner to talk about his football playing days and what he’s most looking forward to about performing on Labour Day.
KS: I heard you were a football player in high school?
TH: Ya, I was a wing back. Outside wing back. I had a great time. I was top heavy with a helmet on because I weighed about 120 pounds back in those days, but I had a whole lot of fun playing. Those are some of the best times I ever had in highschool, with the guys, just going out and doing our thing. I was a terrible blocker but I loved to catch the ball.
KS: Were you a big CFL fan growing up?
TH: Ya, absolutely. My house was divided, I’m ashamed to say, between Ticats and Argos. My grandfather and my father, for a lack of a better term, beat it into me that the CFL was a superior game because there were three downs instead of four, because the field was longer, and that’s how we wound up working those lines into “Stronger Beer” which has sort of become folklore at this point. The CFL had a big impact on me growing up.
KS: You said the house was divided. Which side of the fence were you on?
TH: Hamilton, all the way. In fact, my grandfather joked because one of my first CFL gigs was to play halftime at the Argos game. He said ‘your back is going to burn when you put that blue jersey on.’ I just have so much respect for the game and for the players and for what they do and how hard they work that it really doesn’t matter what team. I love chatting people up and finding out where they’re from because you have guys from all over North America playing in this league and they’re fantastic athletes.
KS: Did you have a favourite player growing up?
TH: Can’t say I had a favourite player. But we loved to watch the Labour Day Classic. That was a big deal in our house, especially my grandma and grandpas house. My grandfather will definitely be watching this game.
KS: Any bold Grey Cup predictions at this point?
TH: It’s too early to go down that road. But it’s been within reach and I don’t think we’re too far off.
KS: What are you most looking forward to about performing on Labour Day?
TH: Just being here for the vibe of the Labour Day Classic. That’s such an iconic game for this area and where I grew up. Just being here with boots on the ground is exciting enough for me.