The Toronto Argonauts are finally set to play their home opener Thursday on TSN against the Calgary Stampeders, after playing the first seven games of the campaign on the road.
The Argonauts were displaced from BMO Field while the venue was hosting matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, forcing the Boatmen to hold camp and practice in Guelph and play on the road for the first two months of the year.
Defensive back DaShaun Amos - a three-time Grey Cup champion (2018 with the Stampeders, 2022 and 2024 with the Argonauts) thinks that the odd schedule has been a positive and will work in Toronto’s favour moving forward.
Amos joined First Up on TSN1050 on Tuesday to discuss the experience of playing on the road for an extended period, how the team has used the time on the road to improve and his expectations for the rest of the season.
“I think grind is a good word... it’s been ups and downs, it’s had its pros and its cons,” Amos said of starting the season as visitors. “Everyone is looking at it, thinking it’s all bad, but it really hasn’t been. Being here in Guelph, kind of isolated, living as a team, we got to know the character of our team, we faced some adversity so we’re battle-tested early in the season.
“It’s brought us a lot closer than I’ve been used to as far as bringing new teams, new staff, bringing teams together like that this early in the season. I think honestly in hindsight we’ll probably look back at this moment and say ‘this is exactly what we needed’ to bring us together, bring us closer and to be ready for the back half of the season.”
Amos looked at the time together away from home as a chance to bond and learn about the team, but he also credited first-year head coach Mike Miller’s preparation in helping guide the team through an unusual spot.
“The credit goes to Mike Miller and the rest of the staff - everybody coming together and using the time that we had, knowing the challenge we were going to be facing starting the season,” Amos said. “We’re all we have. It’s just been us, and we’ve been on the road, we’ve been away from home. It’s been a plus because we’ve been together and trying to figure out this thing together.”
The Argonauts are sitting at 3-4 after seven games, second in the East Division with a positive point differential. Three of their four losses have been by single digits, including two by just one score.
“We would love to be at a better record than 3-4,” said Amos. “I think that’s one thing we’ve learned in this front part of the season is that it’s come down to a few plays here, a few plays there.
“Being able to take those moments and learn from those losses and turn it over is a lot easier to do when you’re at home. Having more home games, being able to sleep in your home bed, it’s those little things I think they make a difference. Being able to have your own crowd - shout out to Toronto fans, they’re the best at travelling and making us feel loved as we go on the road for these first seven games.”
The Argonauts only have six home games on the schedule for the entire season, and Amos has a goal in mind for those games - a perfect homestand.
“Our motto is always win at home, go undefeated at home, so I believe we can do that. We’re at 3-4 right now, if we can go undefeated at home we’ll be in a good spot at the end of the season.”
That would get the team to at least nine wins, with five more road games also still to come. A playoff berth in a weak East Division is definitely within grasp if the team can play at that level moving forward.
“I’ve said it since day one - we have everything we need in our locker room,” Amos said about going on a run in the second half. “We have a lot of bright minds, we have talent, we have leadership, we have young guys that can play just as good as the older guys. We have a complete group, we have depth, all the pieces are there, we just have to continue to hit the rock, continue to show up to work every day, continue to work on the little things, fix the mistakes, then go out and play football.”
The Argonauts suffered one blowout loss this season at the hands of their upcoming opponent, when the Stampeders hosted the Argonauts on July 2.
Vernon Adams Jr. threw for 405 yards and six touchdowns, adding another touchdown on the ground, to lead the Stampeders to a 58-36 victory.
That loss still sits with Amos over a month later, and is part of why he’s anticipating this Week 10 showdown.
“It stings. Even after being able to move on from that and put it behind us and learn from it, it still stings,” Amos said. “We still have some scars from that. So as a defence we’re fired up. It’s an opportunity. We work hard, it’s not like we’re going out there and it’s whatever, we’re gonna let this team put up 50. We went out there with the intentions to win the game and that didn’t happen.
“The atmosphere, the mood, the energy of knowing we’ll be at BMO Field, it’s the home opener, the crowd’s going to be there, this is the perfect game for us to show what kind of football we can really play.”
