Roughriders’ Foley a traditionalist
As a veteran of the CFL wars, Ricky Foley knows that the knowledgeable football fans in Hamilton deserved a new stadium.
That said, the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ defensive end isn’t exactly looking forward to seeing newly opened Tim Hortons Field when his team visits the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday.
“I love new stadiums, but I wish we were going back to Ivor Wynne, I really do,” Foley said Wednesday in reference to the Tiger-Cats’ former home.
“Summers in that (visitors’) locker-room were tough — no air conditioning, small lockers, smelled terrible, hot as you wouldn’t believe — but it was tradition.
“I loved (Ivor Wynne). I’ll miss it. It was unique and there was nothing else like it. I’ll have to see what this new stadium is like.”
Foley became very familiar with Ivor Wynne Stadium during his three seasons with the Toronto Argonauts, the Tiger-Cats’ geographical rivals. The teams met annually in the Labour Day Classic in Hamilton and clashed regularly in front of the Tiger-Cats’ rabid fans.
Now in his second season with the Roughriders, Foley will play for the first time in Tim Hortons Field, which staged its first game only on Sept. 1.
“You know what I’m going to miss? I’m going to miss the dugout,” Foley said of the trenches in which players could sit at Ivor Wynne. “It was just a different kind of atmosphere.
“The fans were right on top of you. There’s no other stadium like that, where the fans literally could touch you if they wanted to — and on some occasions they did. I’ll miss that.”
Roughriders head coach Corey Chamblin’s focus remains on football despite losing starting quarterback Darian Durant for the remainder of the CFL season with a torn tendon in his right elbow.
Durant suffered the injury in the third quarter of Sunday’s 30-24 victory over the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“It doesn’t matter who is (injured), I always look to the second and thirds (on the depth chart),’’ Chamblin said Wednesday. “I never want anyone to get injured, but my heart isn’t going to drop.
“If you build your team around your starters, you’ll be in trouble when (an injury) does happen. I think we did a good job of bringing in the depth and preparing our depth. When an injury comes, we are already prepared for it.’’
Tino Sunseri is to make his first CFL start at quarterback for the Roughriders in Hamilton.
Slotback Chris Getzlaf and linebacker Shomari Williams didn’t take part in Wednesday’s practice.
Getzlaf dressed for Sunday’s win in Winnipeg, but he didn’t play after the first offensive series due to an undisclosed injury. Chamblin said that Williams suffered a minor injury late in Sunday’s game.
“Chris thought he could have gone (Wednesday), but we held him out one more day,’’ Chamblin said.
Chamblin said there was a possibility Getzlaf and Williams will take part in today’s closed practice.
The Roughriders, like all Reginans, were surprised Wednesday when the seasons seemed to turn from summer to winter.
The team practised in single-digit weather, just days after enjoying 20-plus-degree days in late summer.
Chamblin and punterkicker Chris Milo wore toques during Wednesday’s practice and other players and coaches also were bundled up.
“Geez, I thought we were supposed to be warmer this year,” Foley said with a smirk. “I guess we were pretty lucky last year.
“I don’t know what’s going on. It was pretty cold the other night. I’m used to going outside in a pair of shorts to grab something from my car, but when I went outside, I was like, ‘Holy crap!’ ’’
At the other end of the spectrum were the Roughriders’ offensive linemen, who as usual seemed to revel in the nippy conditions.
“(The change in temperature) was a little bit radical and drastic, but you can’t really help that,” centre Dominic Picard said. “We enjoy this weather. It’s perfect for us up front.”