O’Shea knows Ticats fans

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/06/2018 (2682 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HAMILTON — Mike O’Shea returned to the scene of many previous triumphs Thursday afternoon and was reminded by a reporter of the sort of vitriol Hamilton football fans are capable of.

Did the former Ticats linebacker remember being greeted by a sign that read “Two jerks from North Bay – (former premier) Mike Harris and Mike O’Shea” upon returning to face his former teammates wearing a Toronto Argonauts uniform?

“There was one better than that,” the head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers said, grinning. “Oh, yeah, one a lot better than that. Something about burying me face down so O’Shea can kiss something (my ass).”

Hamilton fans are fiercely loyal and very inhospitable to visiting teams, but O’Shea supports their right to free speech.

“I think they’re great fans,” O’Shea said. “They buy tickets and come out to the park and support their club. I’m always a big fan of CFL fans wherever we go. If a stadium gets a little loud or the fans get a little belligerent, I think it’s part of it, it’s fun. They buy a ticket, they can say whatever they want.

“It’s all right. It’s good fun.”

How do his players react to the verbal abuse?

“Generally what happens is there’s one or two players who don’t understand what’s going on and they sort of (say), ‘Did you hear that coach?’” O’Shea said. “‘Yeah, and now they know that I know that you heard it, too.’”

SUPPORT SYSTEM: Winnipeg quarterback Chris Streveler admits his rapid ascent during the first two months of his pro career has been a little hard to believe.

“Haven’t had much chance to take a step back and look,” Streveler said. “I’ve got a great inner circle of people that have been supporting me since the second I got up here, people I talk to on a daily and weekly basis.

“Their support puts everything in perspective for me, just how crazy these past couple weeks have been… coming into camp and just fighting for a roster spot, and then getting the chance to start a couple games — it’s been kind of a whirlwind. And an opportunity I’m extremely grateful for. It’s a pretty cool deal.”

BREAKING THE CYCLE: Ticats head coach June Jones has performed a miracle in Hamilton, taking over from Kent Austin midway through 2017 — the team lost eight straight to start the season — and going on a 7-5 run.

It’s not a coincidence that Jeremiah Masoli’s installation as the No. 1 QB, replacing Zach Collaros, was one of Jones’ first moves. He also brought fun back into the equation.

“A lot of it was the condition of the program when I got in here,” Jones said. “It had been 0-and-8 and whenever you go 0-and-8, fun is gone. So, I took it upon myself to try to change that part of the atmosphere of the club. I think it shows up on the field… the kids are enjoying being together, they’re enjoying competing in the game and competition makes them better.”

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

The Warm-Up

Winnipeg Jets Game Days

On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.

Sign up for The Warm-Up

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

What came first, the wins or the atmosphere?

“Well, atmosphere change is responsible for the wins,” Jones said. “That’s what happened last year. As I said last year, I felt like we won six of the 10 but we lost two on the last play of the game and two in the final minute. So we could’ve won all 10 and that’s a chemistry change more than anything else.”

NOTEWORTHY: rookie Blue Bombers receiver Daniel Petermann, who hails from nearby Stoney Creek, Ont., is expecting to have about 50 friends and members of his family and friends at Friday’s game. Petermann was drafted by Winnipeg after setting the school record for receiving with 181 receptions in his four-year career at McMaster University… Winnipeg added Tyneil Cooper, John Rush, Marcus Sayles and Kyrie Wilson to its 46-man roster Thursday. D-linemen Brandin Bryant and Trent Corney, defensive back Anthony Gaitor and linebacker Ian Wild are out. Gaitor was placed on the six-game injured list.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @sawa14