Courtesy Hamilton Spectator:

You know the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are anxious to put another horrific season to bed when the veterans hit the practice turf 15 minutes early for the first full training camp practice.

But as Hamilton bench boss Charlie Taaffe puts it, if you can’t get excited and enthused for Day One than you likely shouldn’t be here in the first place.

So the excitement was tangible as the Ticats — all 68 of them not including draft picks — hit the Ron Joyce Stadium turf yesterday for the first of the two-a-day practice regime.

“They started trickling in here a few days early which was a good sign. I was kidding them this morning. They were out here probably 15 minutes early. I said ‘a week from now we’ll probably be pushing you out the tunnel to get you out here.’” Taaffe quipped.

The only mild surprise for the opening session was the absence of veteran offensive lineman George Hudson. He has a stomach virus that could keep him sidelined for a couple of days and is technically suspended.

While the Cats held a three-day rookie camp last week, the full training camp takes on a different air with the arrival of the veterans.

“It’s so much different when the veterans show up because they’ve done it, there’s that air of confidence. I think we all have something to prove. I think everyone is very focused and ready to go,” the Cat head coach added.

But Taaffe said there is something else that goes along with the energy, excitement, enthusiasm. It’s called competition. Everyone is happy to be back but now the battle begins. Better bring your A game because the guy beside you plans to bring his.

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