Columnist image

TSN Radio 1050, Host

Archive

"I don't approach it any differently."

That's the approach Trevor Harris is taking as he begins the 2015 CFL season as the starting quarterback for the Toronto Argonauts.

Ricky Ray is still recovering from shoulder surgery and will in all likelihood not be ready for the first few games. That gives the fourth-year Argo from Waldo, Ohio a chance to run the offence.

Harris has earned the reputation as being a hard worker. He's the type that actually relaxes by watching game film. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that there was an overlap between his football career and his off-season job.

"I substitute taught a lot this offseason," said the graduate of Edinboro University. "When I was substituting, I had my iPad with me and I'd just hand out papers and tell the kids to sit down, do your work and don't bother me, and I'd watch film."

He says going to school while teaching class has helped with his coverage recognition. It's all helping to prepare Harris for the opportunity in front of him, something that head coach Scott Milanovich says he and his staff are working hard to make sure is an opportunity that's not wasted.

"We're really trying to push him to be great," Milanovich stated in a matter-of-fact way. "We're not settling for pretty good. Every time he comes out and practices like he did today, he gains more confidence, the coaches gain more confidence in him, and his teammates do, too."

The coach continued.

"I told him the other day, all he's ever done when he's gotten in games is produce and score points so he should be very confident with what he's doing."

Harris started the final game of the 2014 season for Toronto, a game that the Argos needed to win to keep their playoff hopes alive. He threw for 281 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 23-5 win.

Though the numbers have been good and the confidence of the staff is there, Milanovich admitted that there's a different vibe in camp with Harris being behind centre instead of Ray.

"When you've got (number) 15 back there, you know you've got a Hall of Famer and you pretty much expect him to put up 400 yards passing," said the coach. "The emphasis now is everybody else has got to pick it up. We've got a young quarterback that's started one game and I think the urgency from the other guys is what's picked up."

One of those other guys would be running back Curtis Steele, who had 850 combined yards rushing and catching the football last season. He's confident in Harris, and his presence in the huddle.

"He's calm, cool and collected," Steele told TSN.ca. "I'm very comfortable because I know he's got that competitive edge to him and he's not going to quit fighting. He's going to continue the fight and continue to carry this team."

Part of the reason the team is so confident in Harris is his attention to detail. Something that wasn't lost when he proposed to his girlfriend - also a teacher - in the offseason.
He actually popped the question while wearing a mascot costume.

"I dressed up as a Wildcat and she had no idea. They set up a surprise assembly for their softball team because they had made it to the Sweet Sixteen in the state, so I dressed up as a Wildcat. We rigged a drawing so the second-grade teachers got to come down and dance with the Wildcat."

The quarterback, now broadly smiling and in full proposal story mode, continued.

"After that, I went down and started dancing and when I stated dancing with Kalie, who is my fiancee now, I said 'just cut the music' and so when they did that, I kinda just took of the mascot helmet. I bumped my chin a few times and finally got the mascot hat off and I asked and luckily she said yes."

Trevor Harris is in a good place these days. He's newly engaged, he has the confidence of his teammates and coaches, and is ready to begin the season as the Toronto Argonauts starting quarterback.

Argo notes: The team held its annual Double Blue inter-squad game in Oshawa, just east of Toronto, as a part of its Fan Day... After practice, the Argos were introduced one by one to the fans. Perhaps the loudest cheer was for kicker Swayze Waters, who has become a real fan favourite... It would appear however that second-year QB Logan Kilgore has moved into the number-two spot on the depth chart ahead of Mitchell Gale. When asked who is number two on the depth chart right now, Milanovich replied with a quick "I haven't made that decision yet."... Among the players the club is excited about is running back Henry Josey, who bounced around the NFL last year... Former Argo Jason Pottinger, who recently announced his retirement after a year in Ottawa, was honoured during the practice. He played his minor football in Oshawa with the Hawkeyes... His former teammate in Toronto, 100th Grey Cup MVP Chad Kackert, watched the scrimmage as a spectator. He brought his chocolate lab puppy as company... Perhaps the question asked the most on Saturday was "Are you going to Fort McMurray?" Several Argo fans are planning to make the long trek to Northern Alberta for the season opener.