Football is fun again for Joe Montford, which means it is anything but for opposing quarterbacks.
The quick and powerful rush end, whose three quarterback sacks have him in a tie for the Canadian Football League lead, was not inclined to reflect much on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats season from hell yesterday during his visit to the Forest City Football Camp at CCH.
Hamilton went 1-17 during a season that started with a bad schedule, continued with an injury blight and wound up with the CFL having to hand out paycheques to the fiscally moribund club.
No, the guy who regularly leads the Ticats in sacks and is consistently among the leading tacklers would rather talk about how energized everyone is under a well-heeled owner and growing fan following.
"That 1-17 overshadows everything, but people forget we had a lot of bad stuff going on," he said after working with a group of 10-year-olds.
So, what's good now other than new ownership?
"I've been doing what I do for years but the past two years I didn't really get the opportunity," Montford said. "Now, with the return of (defensive line) coach (Dennis) McPhee, I'm allowed to do more things. I'm having a blast. When you're loose and in a comfort zone doing what you do best, you're in your game and it rubs off on everyone."
When the little footballers were assembled in the CCH gym for an address by their visitors, it was clear how McPhee regards Montford. The former St. Francis Xavier head coach, who spent five seasons as a Hamilton assistant, termed him "the most gifted athlete I've ever coached."
The Ticats sacked Winnipeg quarterback Khari Jones half a dozen times Friday night en route to a 32-22 victory, with Montford blasting in for two of them. The former CFL defensive player of the year, who turns 34 tomorrow, said the enthusiasm of the new coaching staff is matched by its confidence in the players.
"The game was a testament to our co-ordinator," he said. "We linemen get lots of credit. I know I'm going to get doubled (double coverage), but I don't mind. It allows one more cover guy back there. They did a great job."
One wondered what head coach Marshall had to do to persuade his guys to come to London for the day. Not much.
"In fact, some of the others felt left out," he said. "Guys were saying stuff like 'I guess my invitation is in my locker, right?' "
Montford, who has worked with young footballers as far afield as Medicine Hat, Alta., said Canadian youngsters tend to fall behind Americans unless they get a chance to attend these camps.
"My pads were down around my cleats when I started at about age six," he said. "Football where I come from (North Carolina) is kind of like hockey is here. It's a cultural thing. Football is always there, playing with your buddies even without coaches around. It's all about competition."
The kids got a taste of it yesterday with an array of coaches besides the pros that included Paul Gleason, Mike Circelli and a range of high school and Beefeaters coaches and Western Mustangs.
On the topic of competition, Montford said it's one of the reasons Hamilton quarterback Danny McManus won't be dislodged easily by Marcus Brady, who was acquired in a recent trade with the Toronto Argonauts.
"You can put any kind of competition behind Danny and he won't be concerned," he said of the 39-year-old who proved last game he's not washed up after throwing for a career-record 525 yards. "Danny competes against himself and he's very demanding."
As you might imagine, the Ticats' victories over British Columbia and Winnipeg took some pressure off Marshall, the first coach in CFL history to go directly from coaching a Canadian university team to head coach. At the same time, it added a bit.
"When we won the first game, people said, 'Well, you've matched last season.' Now, after two wins it's almost as though we're expected to win them all," he said with a chuckle.
They won't do that. But when guys like Montford are having fun again, it's fair warning.
