Hamilton Tiger-Cats look for better fate in Calgary in season-opener

He and other Ticats veterans haven’t quite erased the memory of last season’s debacle in Calgary.

“Obviously we’re all human and we remember that from last year, but it’s a new team, new year,” Masoli said Friday upon arrival in Calgary.

“Not really focused on that. That doesn’t have too much to do with the game tomorrow.”

Stampeder head coach Dave Dickenson is happy if Manziel’s presence boosts a home crowd, but was more preoccupied with the quarterback Jones has confidence in, which is the is the 29-year-old Masoli.

“He’s streaky,” Dickenson said. “He’s definitely a guy that when he’s hot . . . I think he has the CFL record for most completions in a row.

“We’ve got to make it a lot tougher on him. We can’t let him just sit back there. We’ve got to make sure he’s running around and feeling us.”

Manziel, a first-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2014 after starring at Texas A&M, completed 21 of 32 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown for the Ticats in a pair of pre-season games.

His public persona as a talented athlete whose off-field problems sabotaged his pro football career, and is now attempting a comeback in Canada, makes for a compelling storyline.

Jones did not speak to media Friday and thus provided no clues as to his quarterbacking plans for Saturday.

“We’ll see how things go,” Manziel said. “Any backup or anybody on our depth chart is one play, two plays away from getting in the game. That’s something I’ve learned over the course of the years and take very seriously.

“We’re all behind Jeremiah starting tomorrow. More than anything, I want a win for this team. It’s more than me. It’s more than just one individual. It’s a team effort and it takes every body we have on this roster to go out and games.”

Stampeder quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell doesn’t begrudge Manziel the attention, but chafes at the idea that Manziel or a Tim Tebow could dominate the moment they step on a Canadian football field.

The CFL is a lot tougher than that, he said.

“The best thing for the league is for those guys to struggle because it does prove what we all say, that this league is full of great players and amazing athletes,” Mitchell explained. “You’ve got plenty of guys here that go to the NFL.

“Johnny has earned his own following . . . first-round draft pick and everything he did in college. He has earned everything he has right now. That’s not to be questioned.

“My thing is you have to go out here and earn your respect from the guys in this league, because everybody is out there to prove you’re not who you are.”

HAMILTON (0-0) at SASKATCHEWAN (0-0)

Saturday, McMahon Stadium

JOHNNY FOOTBALL — Will Ticats quarterback and former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel get in the game?

BO LEVI SHOW? — A premiere pivot in the CFL, Calgary’s Mitchell could have people asking Johnny Who?

JEREMIAH MASOLI — Hello? Hamilton has a solid starting quarterback.

RUNNING/RETURN GAME — Calgary backs Terry Williams and Don Jackson take on the loads previously shouldered by Jerome Messam and Roy Finch.

STREAK — The Stampeders have beaten the Ticats 12 games in a row with Hamilton’s last win Sept. 25, 2011. That’s the longest active streak by one team over another.

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Hamilton Tiger-Cats look for better fate in Calgary in season-opener

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