Roxanna Nazarowicz (RX photography)
By Ethan Ready
HAMILTON — Lucas McConnell may have been searching for the pause button on the first day as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats opened up their 2016 Training Camp.
“I figured out right from day one about just how much these guys know.”
McConnell found himself as this year’s invitee for the Ticats training camp as a participant in the CFL-CIS Development Program, making him the first Waterloo quarterback to participate in the program. The program began in 2012 when the CFL mandated each of its teams to bring a CIS quarterback to camp.
It’s an opportunity that Waterloo’s Head Coach, Chris Bertoia, is hoping he makes the most of to not only improve his own game but also come back and make the rest of his Warriors teammates better.
“If anything, I just want Lucas to come back to Waterloo knowing that he can, and he will be successful,” said Bertoia. “He’s passionate about football and this gives him an opportunity to solely focus on football for three weeks with no distractions.”
Coming from the small town of Waterford, Ont. and a high school of about 400 students, McConnell has always made an effort to surround himself with individuals who have similar goals.
“I’ve always been pushing myself to be around guys that have those CFL goals, have those high level football goals.”
“I’ve always been pushing myself to be around guys that have those CFL goals, have those high level football goals.”
McConnell throws during Ticats’ training camp in Hamilton (Roxanna Nazarowicz/RX photography)
Although McConnell may be limited to the on-field activities that he’s able to participate in, often just helping the other quarterbacks warm up or stepping in on positional drills with the running backs, he’s been taking in as much as he can during practice and has been a full participant in the off-field activities and team meetings.
“You can learn so much just from watching these guys; how they interact with each other and how they conduct their business off the field.”
It’s something Coach Bertoia knows all too well having coached previously with the Western Mustangs, who saw Will Finch attend two CFL training camps including one with the Hamilton.
“He’s going to learn not only how to be a quarterback, but how to become a leader as well. The quarterback position needs to understand protections, shifts, everything. So I’m excited to see the player that Lucas comes back as,” the Waterloo coach said.
Even as McConnell stands in on practice, having professional quarterbacks at his disposal to bounce questions off of has been a big opportunity. “If I’m wondering about a read or anything [else] that I’m wondering about I can just go and ask them.”
His time with the Ticats will also give him the chance to expose himself to coaching that he may not necessarily get the opportunity to receive while at the university level. Realizing the finer details in the ability to call protections are skills he’s learning during his three weeks that he’ll be participating in the entire training camp with the Cats. Any moment you have the opportunity to get coached up by a four-time Grey Cup champion, you’re bound to pay attention.
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“In individual periods I’m working with him a little bit fundamentally,” said Tiger-Cats head coach Kent Austin. “Good young man. [He’s] Quiet, very quiet but quiet confidence.”
That’s something that the 19-year-old knows very well about himself however. “I’ve always been more of the quiet type but when something has to be said sometimes you have to step up and tell the guys ‘hey let’s step it up here’,” said McConnell.
“More reserved, I’m more comfortable that way.”
When training camp wraps up following the pre-season game against the Ottawa REDBLACKS at Tim Hortons Field on June 17, McConnell will have to wait to showcase his newfound knowledge and skills until Aug. 28, when the Waterloo Warriors will travel up the 401 to kick their season off against the York Lions.
