HAMILTON - The Ottawa Redblacks might be out of playoff contention but Hamilton coach/GM Kent Austin says the Tiger-Cats cant afford to overlook the expansion CFL franchise. Hamilton (6-8) hosts Ottawa (2-12) tonight tied with Toronto and Montreal atop the East Division. The Ticats, Argonauts and Alouettes also must consider that the B.C. Lions (8-7), currently fourth in the West, have a better record than the third-place Eastern squad and would cross over and assume the No. 3 playoff seed if that remained the case at the end of the regular season. Catch the action unfold on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4 and TSN5, and on TSN Radio 1200 at 7pm et/4pm pt. Toronto hosts Montreal at Rogers Centre on Saturday afternoon (TSN1, TSN3, TSN4 and TSN5 at 4pm et/1pm pt). Every game you play is a dangerous game and I dont buy that they (Redblacks) dont have anything to play for, Austin said Thursday. In fact, being out of the playoffs would give them a little bit more of a reason to do more and maybe to live a little bit on the edge more. Hamiltons first win of the season came against Ottawa — a 33-23 decision July 26 at McMaster Universitys Ron Joyce Stadium. Dan LeFevour started at quarterback for Hamilton as incumbent Zach Collaros was out with concussion-like symptoms. Hamilton was 1-6 when Collaros returned to the lineup and hes led the squad to five wins in seven games. The Ticats are also 4-0 at new Tim Hortons Field. However, Hamilton missed a glorious chance to take sole possession of first in the East last Friday when it relinquished a 17-point, third-quarter lead in Toronto, eventually dropping a heart-breaking 34-33 loss to the Argos. But defensive tackle Bryan Hall said thats all behind the Ticats now. I didnt sleep well at all (that night) and Im sure a lot of guys didnt either, said Hall, adding the coaches have been doing a great job of moving on. But Austin bristled when asked if the loss was a reality check for the Ticats after four straight victories. This is not a complacent football team and we certainly werent in a position last week to be complacent, he said. We have fought hard. The players have fought hard and scratched and clawed their way back into this (playoff race) to give us an opportunity to make a stretch run and get in the playoffs and to hopefully perform well at that time. Ottawa quarterback Henry Burris will make a second return to Hamilton. He spent two years with the Ticats, leading them to a Grey Cup appearance last year before being released after Collaros was signed as a free agent. Burris subsequently joined the Redblacks. We know Henrys strengths and weaknesses, said Austin. He has more strengths than weaknesses, obviously. Theyre going to put together a plan that not only fits what he does well but also what they think will attack our defence, so, yes, we gameplan accordingly. But that being said, Ive always maintained the belief that its really your adjustments during the game that make the difference. Ottawa is looking to rebound from a 41-3 road loss to B.C. on Saturday night. The most important (thing) for us I think going into this week is the fact the guys are embarrassed and I think well see more spark, Burris said. Well see more passion, more hunger. Burris said the Redblacks are more concerned with finishing the year strong than playing the role of spoiler down the stretch. To win out here would be the perfect way to at least finish off with a good taste in our mouth and give us something to look forward to next year, he said. Hamilton will dress two new international running backs after losing Mossis Madu to a shoulder injury against Toronto. Madu was replacing injured tailback C.J. Gable. Delone Carter spent time in the NFL with Indianapolis and Jacksonville before signing with Hamilton on Oct. 7. Hell be joined in the backfield by rookie Sam Ojuri, who was signed in July and had been on the Ticats practice roster. .J. Mayo made seven three-pointers and scored 25 points, Ersan Ilyasova added 20, and the Milwaukee Bucks placed seven players in double figures in a 130-110 rout of the Philadelphia 76ers, who lost their 11th straight game on Monday night. . - Mike Magee converted two penalty kicks in a 10-minute span of the first half and the Chicago Fire beat Sporting Kansas City 2-1 on Sunday.
http://www.cheapnhlducksjerseysauthenti ... r-jersey.Y. -- That hangover from the Big East tournament is gone for Villanova. . Terrance Broadway threw for 227 yards and Hunter Stover kicked three field goals as the Ragin Cajuns won an unprecedented fourth straight New Orleans Bowl with a 16-3 triumph over Nevada. . Nikolaos Kounenakis has been hired as an assistant coach, the team announced on Monday.John Tortorellas much-maligned relationship with the media has been a major talking point ever since his hiring in Vancouver. The new Canucks head coach was on TSN Drive with Dave Naylor on TSN Radio 1050 and his rapport with the media was once again the hot topic. "No matter if its in Vancouver or wherever, and Im very fortunate for another stop here, when youre told youre no longer wanted as a coach, you end up reflecting and assessing," said Tortorella. "Ive done some pretty stupid things along the way... Im going to try and get some of the stupid things out of the way." Tortorella is going from one hotbed media market, where his relationship with reporters was always contentious, to perhaps an even bigger hotbed media market. "I know the scrutiny and the pressure and the media and I think I need to do a much better job at cultivating a relationship. There will be mistakes along the way but I certainly need to straighten a few things out as we begin this." Its easy to say the right thing at introductory press conferences, but Tortorella says he really has learned from the past, and will be better with the Vancouver media. "Its not so much saying it, I believe it. Listen, Im not going to go out to dinner and hang with the media but I need a working relationship." As the 12-year veteran coach says, hell work to be more amicable, but hell never be buddy-buddy with reporters covering the team. "Its not going to be a love-fest here. I still have a job to do." Reportts stated Tortorellas relationship with players in New York was at times as difficult as his relationship with the media.ddddddddddddAsked if he cared what players think about him, Tortorella had a definitive answer. "No. I dont think you can as a coach. In Vancouver, I think its one of my biggest jobs to try and get guys to another level. Theyre a good team. They havent gotten to a level to win the Stanley Cup. Its my job to try and push them there." "The way I look at it and the way I introduced myself in the interview was, to get to the next level, I just think there has to be a little bit more stiffness. And the mental part of the game, Im anxious to work on with them." While one of his main tasks may be motivating his players to reach the next level, another big one is dealing with Roberto Luongo and the teams goaltending situation. "I watched it last year from afar and I thought those two players (Luongo and recently-traded Cory Schneider) handled themselves tremendously. It was a really precarious situation." "I have talked to Roberto after the Schneider deal was made and I hope what will help him is that you have new guys coming in as far as a coaching staff." "I think Robertos a hell of a goalie. He isnt a backup... Hes going to be the backbone of our team." According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, Tortorella is looking to fill out his coaching staff by adding former Dallas Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan as an assistant. ' ' '
