Justin Dunk | CFL.ca
Despite not having a permanent home field in 2015, the Boatmen have been sailing along pretty smoothly.
Toronto has had five home games with only three of them played at Rogers Centre through 16 weeks of the schedule. One was played in Fort McMurray and the other in Ottawa. It seems as though the Argos like the home team designation as they’ve gone 4-1 in contests where Toronto was the hosting side. And up next for the Argos is a home game at Tim Hortons Field.
“It sucks, especially because [the Ticats] are our most hated rivals and we have to go play a home game in their stadium,” National defensive lineman Ricky Foley says.
“We’ve gone through so much at this point it’s not new. If we hadn’t played in Fort McMurray or Ottawa, dealt with short weeks, then I think it would probably be a bigger issue. But the fact that we’ve already gone through that – we’re just used to it.
“We’re numb to the changes and crazy schedule.”
Foley’s been wearing a t-shirt that reads, “Toronto vs. Everybody” throughout he season and it’s an attitude that’s galvanized the entire Argos team.
“Once the schedule became crazy it applied to our team and what we’re dealing with,” Foley says.
There was really no choice for the Argos right from the start of the season. It began with a home game in Fort McMurray. Home openers are supposed to be in front of a packed stadium with fans covered in team colours, but instead there were more people in green and gold cheering for Edmonton in Toronto’s home opener.
“It was really good for our team to go through that the first week of the year and to get a win out there,” Foley says. “Then once you start having more schedule changes like playing on Tuesday night in other teams’ city when it should be a home game – really at this point ‘Toronto vs. Everybody’ or ‘Argos vs. Everybody’ is definitely bringing us together.”
Head coach Scott Milanovich has not allowed complaining from any of his players.
“I have to give a lot of credit to Scott and our coaches – we just don’t care. They don’t let anyone boohoo about it,” Foley says. “The young guys probably don’t know any better and the veterans have been echoing what Scott’s been saying, ‘Boys this is what it is’.”
Foley wonders aloud whether or not the Argos will even play another home game in Toronto this season.
“We just show up to work. Scott tells us the schedule, what venue we’re in, we have our week of practice and we go wherever we need to show up,” Foley says.
Normally athletes like to follow a routine when preparing for competition, with home dates in team sports providing an advantage because of familiar surroundings. No plane or bus trips, sleeping in a hotel room, eating out instead of a home cooked meal are just a few differences when going out on the road. That said, Toronto has made the unpredictable just plain ordinary.
The Argos have a 9-5 record which has them tied for top spot in the East Division and a win at the donut box would clinch a playoff spot for the Double Blue. Although, Toronto hasn’t looked comfortable at the coffee grounds, dropping all three of their matchups against Hamilton there. However, Calgary provides the opposition this time around.
Tim Hortons Field will count as the fourth different stadium the Argos have called home season to date — SMS Equipment Stadium, Rogers Centre and TD Place Stadium the others. With the Argos used to the unexpected, yet another venue change won’t be the reason they win or lose.