There is something strange happening in Hamilton Tiger-Cats training camp this year. There is a mood surrounding the play of the team's quarterbacks that has rarely struck consistent onlookers. For once it is not fear, or doubt and gone - for now - is the seasonal emotion of regret felt after sending away a player only to watch him grow beyond fan's wildest dreams.

For the first time in several years the team feels comfortable, nay excited by the quarterbacks. Better yet the excitement does not come from just one quarterback, but the entire room - coach to potential clipboard holder. There lies the important distinction which separates the 2015 Tiger-Cats from over two decades of their predecessors. At various times throughout team history a golden boy has existed. However the prized possession of the organization has traditionally proven through time to be a flash in the pan of an otherwise empty cupboard.

Before explaining the present optimism it is important to remember the bewildering positional history of Hamilton Tiger-Cat quarterbacks. Settle in, we could be here a while.

There really is nowhere else to begin than with what historians will surely label the most egregious case of hindsight disappointment. No, not Damon Allen's one season in the Hammer, we don't have enough time to include that. The catalyst to the conversation is Anthony Calvillo.

After the Las Vegas Posse folded, Calvillo was selected first overall by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the dispersal draft. While in Hamilton, Calvillo served as a backup quarterback to players such as Steve Taylor and Matt Dunigan. Despite being a backup Calvillo started 26 games between 1995-97. After a 23-turnover 1997 season Calvillo became a free agent. As we all know he signed with Montreal where he stayed for 16 seasons to become the most prolific passer in pro football history.

After Calvillo came Danny McManus in 1998. McManus' name remains the most commonly celebrated when asking Ticats lifers about "the good old days". McManus supplied a stabilizing force throughout eight seasons in Hamilton. He even delivered the most recent Tiger-Cat championship to the city in 1999. However, when the battered and bruised McManus was forced to the sidelines despite his endless tape jobs and natural grit, the Hamilton faithful were force-fed a diet of names over the years such as Todd Bankhead ('00), Jan Beutjer ('05), Marcus Brady ('04-'05), Mike Cawley ('97-'98), David Corley ('03), Billy Dicken ('00), Marquel Fleetwood ('97), Pete Gonzalez ('02-'03), Khari Jones ('05), Kirby Montressa ('99), Cody Ledbetter ('98-'01), Jason McCullough ('97), Kelvin Robinson ('01) and many more. All had varying degrees of success in Hamilton, but collectively they will not be enshrined into the Canadian football hall of fame any time soon.

Following McManus' trade to Edmonton in 2006 (he would quickly be flipped to Calgary for a third round pick) the Tiger-Cats rolled out any and all combinations of Marcus Brady ('04-'05), Kevin Eaken ('05-'06), Richie Williams ('06-'08) and Jason Maas ('06-'07). Again, mediocrity loomed with minimal depth and rapid turnover without a visible plan in place.

Following Charlie Taafe's dismissal in September of 2008, interim and eventual Head Coach Marcel Bellefeuille would clean the QB house. The overhaul included the arrival of Timmy Chang ('07-'08), Casey Printers ('07-'08) Quinton Porter ('08-'12) Adam Tafralis ('08-'11) Jason Boltus ('09-'11) and Kevin Glenn ('09-'11). Whether through poor performance, or managerial impatience all of the above experienced brief tenures in gold and black.

After 14 years between Saskatchewan and Calgary Henry Burris arrived on the scene via a trade which bid farewell to the latest window shopping pivot Kevin Glenn. Finally the city had found their veteran steed to ride towards the shining light of established success.

Burris was gone two years later. Smiling Hank even expressed his desire to stay with the Ticats and create continuity stating, "I want to be back here, we've had a great run. I still feel like I can get it done," following the Ticats' loss in the 101st Grey Cup. He was deemed a non-priority following the signing of Zach Collaros.

So here we are. Collaros is due to be traded, cut or struck by lightning any minute now, right? I mean he is due, he has been a Tiger-Cat for more than 16 months. Once the second year pivot is removed there will be no succession plan, right? If you talk to Tiger-Cats management and players they would strongly disagree.

Collaros is on the verge of establishing himself as the dominant and consistent quarterback every organization (especially Hamilton) spends years searching for. Behind him is an intriguing battle for playing time in Monday's preseason opener (CKOC 1150). All the involved parties Jacory Harris, Jeremiah Masoli and Jeff Matthews have shown their worth this camp in levels not recognizable to Ticats staff in a backup quarterback.

Asked about his quarterback depth after Tuesday's practice Head Coach Kent Austin smiled, "they're all really bright, they're all really well prepared, they know not to come to a meeting unprepared, they know they need to pay the time and attention to be prepared the next day, and that means paying the price the night before. Austin continued, "their study habits and film work, all the extra work I cant force them to do they've done so far".

Key among the factors leading to this rifled armed resurgence is the connected between coach and quarterback. Believe it or not Kent Austin entering his third season in the black and gold visor qualifies him as the longest tenure since Ron Lancaster worked the sidelines from 1998 to 2003. Lancaster's quarterback? The eight-year Tiger-Cat legend Danny McManus. Their result? The last Grey Cup to call Hamilton home.

If the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are atop the podium on November 29, 2015 in Winnipeg you can be sure the depth, strength and leadership of their quarterback room will be a pivotal factor. Then begin to mentally prepare yourself for the next group of arms because the quarterback sand will clearly have passed through the Hamilton hour glass by January 2016 right? Only time will tell.

Marshall Ferguson, a former McMaster quarterback, covers the Tiger-Cats for Classic Hits 1150 CKOC in Hamilton - the future home of TSN Radio 1150. His CFL blogs and podcasts can be read and heard weekly on TSN.ca.