TORONTO – Chad Owens isn’t satisfied. In the wake of signing a contract extension with the Toronto Argonauts earlier this week, the 32-year-old Honolulu, Hawaii native refuses to be complacent. Owens strives to improve each and every single time he sets foot onto the gridiron. While he does not necessarily require any added motivation, this weekend’s home opener against the Saskatchewan Roughriders is a special circumstance.
It has been nearly nine months since Owens and the Argonauts last took to the field at Rogers Centre. On that chilly November afternoon, the Argonauts’ bid for back-to-back Grey Cup Championships came to a bitter end. Hosting their first Eastern Division Final since 2007, the hometown Boatmen suffered a heartbreaking loss at the hands of their provincial rivals, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
There is no image that resonates more with die-hard Argo supporters than that of Owens laying facedown on the Rogers Centre turf grasping the facemask of his helmet as the clock struck zero. The Flyin’ Hawaiian remembers that moment very vividly. In fact, the aforementioned photograph on his phone for the entire off-season.
“That picture was my screensaver,” remarked Owens following a recent Argonauts’ practice. “That moment definitely motivated me this off-season. I had the opportunity to look at it every day.”
Owens is already recognized as one of the Canadian Football League’s premier receivers. However, the former University of Hawaii standout is not content with simply being an elite player. Owens possesses a burning desire to be the best. Saturday’s home opener presents a unique opportunity for Owens to exercise his demons and rediscover the form that earned him the distinction as the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player in 2012.
“The hunger is there,” proclaimed Owens. “There are a lot of things that we can take from our past, both good and bad, that can motivate us and help us improve. That’s how I used that heartbreaking moment (last season) to motivate me during the off-season.”
Year-in and year-out, the ultimate goal is to compete for a Grey Cup championship. Without question, there is no individual more competitive than Owens. In the aftermath of the Argonauts’ season-opening 45-21 loss at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg, Owens did not hesitate to make note of the several mental miscues that he and his teammates committed.
“This week, we are just focusing on our game plan. We want to eliminate the silly mental errors such as penalties and those extra-circular confrontations,” stated Owens. “It just goes to show you that the things that our coaches hound us about are what determine wins and losses. Penalties and turnovers are a large part of that.”
Owens was perhaps the lone bright spot for the Double Blue in Week One. The Argonauts’ versatile wideout registered eight receptions for 78 yards and also added an 84-yard punt return touchdown. Although he recorded excellent personal statistics in Week One, Owens immediately turned his attention to this week’s home opener against the defending Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders.
“Last week was last week and we’re over it,” commented Owens when asked about his personal performance from Week One. “We’re moving forward and we’re focused solely on what we can control.”
Owens’ main concern is winning. Like many other world-class athletes, Owens embodies a day-by-day mentality. It may sound cliché, but truthfully it is the most appropriate way to approach a physically demanding 18-game schedule. With that being said, there are always certain occasions that are more sentimental than others. For Owens, the Argonauts’ annual home opener acts as a constant reminder of his tumultuous journey to success. In the spirit of recollecting about last year’s demoralizing defeat in the Eastern Final, Owens made it a point of emphasis this week to acknowledge the fact that Saturday’s home game signifies the beginning of the Boatmen’s road to redemption.
“We look forward to playing at home in front of our fans and I hope that they come out this week and pack the house,” declared a jubilant Owens. “Every fan in there helps and we need to have that home field advantage. When the defence is on the field, we need them to be loud and crazy, and when the offence scores, we need them to do just the same. This week, we’ve had a few really good days, a couple championship quality practices. We’re really looking forward to the opportunity that is being presented to us. I love playing at home and I can’t wait.”
Insider Extra – Easing The Load
For the better part of four seasons, Chad Owens has been a dominant force for the Argonauts in virtually every facet of the game. At 32 years of age, the Flyin’ Hawaiian hopes to slowly transition from being a full-time kick/punt returner to becoming an occasional wrinkle in the Argos’ special teams schemes. Currently, Owens’ workload has been reduced to simply handling punt return duties while assuming his role as an every down slotback. Owens attributes the decision to the physicality associated with playing all three positions. All in all, the former M.O.P. assures that this particular personnel adjustment will not have a drastic affect on his personal performance.
“The only difference is that I’m not doing any kick returns. I’ll get maybe three or four fewer touches per game,” said Owens. “Other than that, I feel that our defence is strong and they can force a lot of punting situations. My focus is on making plays whenever I receive the opportunity to do so.”