Ticats bring the road show to Mac

Haven't been there, but certainly done that.

The Tiger-Cats are back on campus for a CFL game and their staff, in conjunction with McMaster's, spent Friday setting up Ron Joyce Stadium for Saturday's preseason game against the Alouettes.

Kind of Guelph 2.0.

"After converting Alumni Stadium last year I think we showed we're a pretty resilient organization capable of coming up with creative solutions," says Tiger-Cats communications director Scott McNaughton. "This is kind of similar to what we did last year but on a smaller scale."

There are no temporary stands at Mac as there were at Guelph, where the Ticats played a full home schedule last year. Ron Joyce will seat about 6,000 for the game, and because there is no alcohol allowed in the stands, beer tents will be set up in the Shaw Garden on the back side of the stadium, in the north end zone and on the concrete pad leading to the stadium.

This will be the first professional football game ever played on the McMaster campus, though Mac teams have shared the HAAA Grounds and Ivor Wynne with the Cats at various times.

Notes: The Ticats depth chart features a number of veteran players. "They'll play but we'll start to rotate pretty quick," said head coach Kent Austin ... the team must get down to 65 players, plus non-counters (draft picks and the like) by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday. That makes Saturday a make-or-break game for some. "I'm sure they feel pressure but it isn't the pressure that's important, it's how you deal with it," Austin said. "We'll have to make some tough decisions." ... receiver Cary Koch on what experienced players need to get from the game: "As a vet, you know you're not going to have as many reps but the ones you do get need to be fundamentally sound and mentally sharp." ... running back Isi Sofele, who is trying to earn a roster spot, on his approach: "The coaches have put me in a situation where I can be successful. The rest is up to me." ... there is no TV coverage of the game but it will be broadcast on CHML radio ... the referee for the game is slated to be Andre Proulx ... Austin on whether the outcome mattered: "We want to win, you play to win. Even the preseason game."


with files from Drew Edwards