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Bombers’ 6-foot-3, 303-lb. offensive lineman Obby Khan sports a sumo-style topknot at Tuesday’s workout. The big guy and his fellow Hogs step into the ring tonight. (KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

Someone wiser than us, and yes, we know it's a low bar, recently said Bombers coach Mike Kelly and his new regime will live and die on the field. Well, it's almost time to get busy living or busy dying.

Tonight the Bombers take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and it'll be the first chance for Winnipeggers to watch Kelly prowl the sidelines as their head coach as well as the first chance for the Blue Bombers to work in a game situation under their new master.

New coaching staff, new director of player personnel and new quarterback. They kept Buzz and Boomer around but believe you me, those two boys better watch their step or they'll be looking for work with the Transcona Nationals Peewee squad.

No one, and we mean no one, is safe under the reign of Kelly if they're not living up to his expectations.

"I expect us to come out and be physical because that's what coach Kelly wants," said veteran defensive lineman Tyrone Williams. "Players want to play for coach Kelly and if you want to play for him you better do things the way he wants them. It's as simple as that. Straight to the point, just like coach Kelly."

The new bossman has been an interesting study over the first two weeks of training camp, with equal parts dictator and favourite uncle coming to the fore. One day he's screaming and the next he's handing out Slurpees.

"Guys have taken to him in a hurry," said Williams. "He's as much a friend as he is a coach. He's not untouchable and above us all. You can walk into his office to talk to him at any time. Or you can talk to him outside of his office. He's still the coach and has the authority and we know there are boundaries, but he's approachable at the same time."

For his part, Kelly is jacked to see his men in action.

"We're looking forward to playing our first exhibition game," said Kelly, as he addressed the local media looking relaxed in jeans and deck shoes on Tuesday morning. "I know there are a lot of people who are anxious, excited, apprehensive... about what kind of football team we're going to have this year."

Just like Williams explained, Kelly wants to see pop and crispness from his players.

"There's a certain way I expect us to play football and if they can exhibit that with the adrenaline rush they'll have coming out here in front of these fans in Winnipeg... we've talked about it, we've brought in alums to talk about it so they know what is expected of them," said Kelly, when asked how important it is to see some fire from his players. "If they can't perform with that kind of reckless abandon and enthusiasm, controlled reckless abandon and enthusiasm, then they'll have a difficult time making this club."

Kelly, however, won't get all sweaty over the final score tonight.

"I don't think it's overly important. I think it's important for us to play well. I actually went back and saw Cal's (legendary Bombers coach Cal Murphy) first year (1983) and that's in the days when they played four pre-season games. Cal lost all four and his opener and he ended up doing OK."

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 17, 2009 C3