Photo from www.ticats.ca Crescent Heights High School grad and current Ti-Cat Aaron Crawford is seen in this undated photo. Crawford and fellow CHHS grad Connor McGough are feeling good about the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and their season thus far.
With a record of 9-2, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats came into Calgary as the best team in the country. Although they failed to end a 15-year drought at McMahon Stadium, losing 19-17, they left for Edmonton still the best team in the CFL with the same mark as Winnipeg who they defeated earlier in the season. The problem? Lady Luck was dressed in red and white.
To be fair to the home team, after a listless first half and trailing 17-6, they held Hamilton to a single point the rest of the way. While playing flawless football for 30 minutes, the Cats turned the ball over in the second half and the potential game-winning field-goal attempt was blocked.
After the game, Ti-Cat coach Orlando Steinauer said, “When you lose the turnover battle, it makes it tough. They made a play at the end and we didn’t.”
In his first year in charge of a CFL team, Steinauer has made a real difference in Steeltown. Crescent Heights High grads Connor McGough and Aaron Crawford appreciate what their young mentor brings to the table.
“Coach Orlando is an amazing coach,” said special teams player and defensive lineman McGough, in his third year with the club. “The culture he has created is very special. He is very positive. You want to do extra things for him. He does extra things for us, too. He’s an amazing leader. We all see that and believe in him.”
Added Crawford, described by his former head coach (who also led NFL teams) as the best long-snapper he’d ever seen, “we’re a family. Coach Steinauer is a family man and he makes everyone feel like they’re part of the family. He’s a great coach.”
The Ti-Cats are led by a young quarterback, Dane Evans. Like McGough, this is his third year with the club. He started one game in 2018 but was pressed into full-time action when Jeremiah Masoli was injured July 26 against Winnipeg. Evans won that game and five of the next six. While the other young gun back-ups like Vernon Adams, Jr., Cody Fajardo, Chris Streveleler and Nick Arbuckle have garnered most of the attention, Evans has quietly become a star. The team didn’t panic when Masoli went down.
“There was no great concern at all,” said McGough. “We trust in Dean. He’s been amazing. But I’m not surprised. I see him at practice every day. He’s a great quarterback.”
When you’re 9-3, it is only natural to have Grey Cup aspirations. The organization soft-pedals that. While acknowledging that “we’re so close right now and we’re playing unselfishly for each other,” McGough added, “all we’re worried about is the next game.” When reminded Hamilton hadn’t won in Calgary since 2004, Crawford said, “We don’t think about the past, only the future.” In fact, Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell has never lost to Hamilton, home or away.
In his seventh season in the league, Crawford was part of the 2014 Grey Cup team that lost to Calgary 20-16. I asked him to compare that team with the current edition. “There are a lot of similarities. We’re very close as a group, we’re like family, staying together and focusing on one another.”
His journey to the CFL wasn’t easy. “I bounced around to different teams and played every position you can think of. Hamilton gave me a chance which I really appreciate.”
While Crawford played college ball at St. Mary’s in Halifax, McCough was All-Canadian with the University of Calgary. It was there he realized his dream of playing in the CFL could become a reality. He was the fourth player chosen in the 2015 Canadian college draft. While still aspiring to be a starter, he is proud of his work on special teams. He came close to blocking a punt on Saturday, bowling a Stampeder over in the process. Kicker Rob Maver thought McGough should have been charged with roughing but the official disagreed. There were no hard feelings. “Connor’s a good dude,” observed Maver. “He was just trying to make a play.”
Although they lost, playing in front of family and friends at McMahon Stadium is special. They want to return in November and play in the Grey Cup. I like their chances.
Graham Kelly has covered the CFL for the Medicine Hat News for 47 years. Feedback for this column can be emailed to sports@medicinehatnews.com.
