Courtesy Winnipeg Free Press:

It’s the first day of school, a blind date, a boot camp and a reunion all rolled into one.

It’s Milt Stegall in civvies, playing with coaches and beaking at defensive teammates from the sidelines. It’s the first glimpse of all those unknown fresh-faced recruits trying to swim upstream against a current of veterans. It’s taking the time to ponder: When is the rest of Matt Sheridan going to arrive?

Such is the wet cement that is the opening day of Bombers training camp. Throw in the highest of expectations and go figure the buzz around the local twelve seems torqued just a tad for the three-ring circus of two-a-days that began at Canad Inns Stadium Sunday.

“It’s exciting to get back out the first day — always,” testified Tom Canada, the Bombers’ exuberant defensive end. “Practice starts at 8 (a.m.) and everyone’s in at 6. Then as it goes on, practice is at 8 and everybody starts to come in at 7:50 (a.m.) towards the end of camp.”

Canada chucked through that last part, but he was only half-joking. Soon enough, the rigours and the reality and the pain will set in. For now, though, it’s about opening eyes during the morning, digesting schemes in the afternoon and cramming at night.

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