The new Hamilton Tiger-Cats looked the Ticats of old last night with an impressive 32-22 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before the largest Ivor Wynne Stadium crowd in recent memory. There was a time when the Ticats were renowned for their rough-tough defence. And a time when their passers took every advantage whenever the big D gave them the ball. It was also a time when fans flocked to games.

Well, all three were in place for this one as a ferocious defence sacked Bombers quarterback Khari Jones six times while their own guy, veteran Danny McManus, passed for 525 yards and three touchdowns in completing 23 of 44 attempts, coming within 46 yards of a club passing record set by Joe Zuger in a 1962 game.

This is a guy they said was washed up.

"I don't worry about what people think," the 39-year-old pivot said. "I just care about what my teammates think."

As if on cue, defensive end Joe Montford strolled past shouting "Danny Mac is my hero."

Hamilton head coach Greg Marshall said the key to McManus's season is the fact he stayed in town and worked with the receivers in the offseason.

"Danny is a team guy. He told me when I was named coach, he'd do whatever I asked of him," the Western Mustang legend said after watching McManus -- the offensive player of the week last week after leading Hamilton to a season-opening 38-36 victory over the B.C. Lions in Vancouver -- do it again.

Hamilton's defence, led by Montford, pushed Jones into his pocket all night. Meanwhile, the Ticats offensive line gave McManus large swaths of time to get to his receivers. It was the kind of show Hamilton fans used to get.

It would seem they might again as the 2-0 Cats doubled their win total over last year's abysmal record of a single victory in 18 games. The crowd, at 25,712, was the largest of at least the last 10 years and sent club folks scouring the record book to see when it was exceeded.

Off the field, the efforts of new owner Bob Young appear to be bearing fruit. The software guru has invested plenty in the Ticats.

McManus was asked whether he was aware he was close to a club passing record.

"I wasn't thinking of that. I was just trying to get the two points and hold on at the end," he said after calling running plays his last possession.

Halfway through the fourth quarter, McManus ripped off passes to virtually all his receivers to eventually hook up with Archie Amerson for the killing major.

After leading 22-13 at the half, the Ticats maintained control of proceedings. The Bombers' Troy Westwood scored two singles on wide field-goal attempts in the third quarter, then kicker Jason Currie pumped through his first three-pointed at the start of the fourth. Charles Roberts took a four-yard pass to complete the Bombers' scoring.

Two quick completions late in the second quarter gave Hamilton a 22-13 halftime lead and helped disguise a number of early offensive blotches. Craig Yeast cashed it when he took an over-the-shoulder pass for a TD play covering 40 yards with 1:18 left in the half.

Before intermission, Donovan Carter and Jason Lamar nailed Winnipeg's Roberts to create a fumble recovery and give the Ticats another shot.

McManus took advantage of it, threw a 30-yard strike to Dimitrius Breedlove, then reconnected with Yeast with 24 seconds left.

Davis pounded in Hamilton's other touchdown and Currie's tipped field goal went for a single. Winnipeg's scoring came on a a touchdown by Roberts and a pair of field goals by Westwood.