Sep
Do or die for Argos vs Cats on Labour Day
Courtesy Hamilton Spectator:
It’s Frosh Week on the Mississauga campus of the University of Toronto where the Argonauts practise and head coach Bart Andrus could probably offer a few salient points on wobbly beginnings.
The Argos are just 2-6 in Andrus’s first year at the helm and are in danger of falling completely out of the East Division playoff picture. A sweep by the second-place Ticats in back-to-back contests — the first goes Labour Day at Ivor Wynne, second at Rogers Centre just four days later — and the Argonauts’ season could be essentially over.
And so, while the Ticats took an extra day of rest yesterday — Hamilton played a road game one day later than Toronto last week — the Argos were back on the practice field.
“These are crucial games for us — it’s a must-win time. We’re facing Hamilton, one team that we feel we match up well against and we’ve beaten them once already,” said Argo linebacker — and former Ticat – Zeke Moreno. “In order for us to get back into this competition, we’re going to have to address the goal ahead and that’s Hamilton.”
Andrus said the low point in the season to date came during a 25-0 drubbing at the hands of Montreal on Aug. 7
“We made some adjustments. We brought the pads back out for a couple days and worked on some fundamentals. Slowly but surely, we’re coming around and getting things fixed,” Andrus aid.
“We’re starting to show some progress. (But) are we where we want to be? No.”
Another indication of the Argos’ troubles is a revolving door of roster moves. Since the start of the season, the Double Blue have traded or released six wide receivers and signed five others. The most recent addition, Jason Carter, had his first practice with the club yesterday.
“When we’re making moves, it tells you that we’re still not totally satisfied with where we’re at. As time goes on, we’ll get to the point where we feel good as to where we’re at and that will be really easy to see because we’ll stop making roster moves,” Andrus said.
But the Argos were a loose and peppy bunch at practice yesterday, showing all the signs of a team still committed to their coach and each other.
“The guys are practising hard, their attitude is very good, their spirits are high. They believe they can do it and that’s half of it,” said Andrus.
The Argos weren’t the only ones in high spirits. A group of U of T frosh stopped by practice on the way to an adjacent carnival to serenade the team with a chant of “We’re No. 8!”
Andrus knows he can expect more colourful commentary from the Ivor Wynne faithful Monday.
“Any time you play somebody in your division, there’s a little bit of extra incentive. The fact that we’re playing Hamilton, which is traditionally the rival, that’s exciting as well,” he said.
“It’s an environment you want to be playing in.”
NOTES: Andrus said that defensive tackle Adriano Belli should be ready to face his old team on Monday after struggling with an infected calf. “He’s coming along real well. He’s got one treatment left and he looks like he’ll be probable,” said the coach. … The Tiger-Cats announced yesterday 27,500 tickets have been sold for Monday’s contest, just 2,000 shy of a sellout.
