Orlondo Steinauer called quarterbacks Jeremiah Masoli and Dane Evans into his office for a meeting to let the competitors know who had been chosen as the starter Sunday morning.
Inside the Hamilton Tiger-Cats headquarters at Tim Hortons Field, Steinauer, Masoli, Evans and offensive coordinator Tommy Condell came together.
“No broken telephone: called them right in, manned up and we talked about it. I definitely offered them if they wanted to talk to me or Tommy individually, but they know they can do that anyway. That’s how it was handled from the inside out,” Steinauer said.
“Jeremiah was somber and I’m sure Dane inside was probably burning, it would’ve been the same if it was reversed. I don’t mean burning mad, just they both wanted it, they didn’t come to camp to not start — and I love that about them.”
For the duration of a longer training camp than years past — three weeks — Masoli and Evans battled for the right to be named the Ticats starter entering the 2021 season. Hamilton’s football staff was adamant that money, age, resume or experience wasn’t going to decide the No. 1 QB spot. It was based on “consistent evaluation” throughout camp.
“They to a man weren’t sure who we were going to pick, and I don’t think the football team had a clue either. They actually said they were interested to see which way we were going to go. I do think it’s going to take both of them to get the goal that we all want done,” Steinauer said.
“The only reason a decision’s been made is just for that key word, a decision had to be made. I’m very comfortable with both quarterbacks. A decision had to be made, we all knew that and we decided on Jeremiah.”
The 48-year-old Steinauer brought the entire team together to start practice and let them know Masoli had been named the starter. He wanted to do it face-to-face and tell everybody know in person, not on Zoom. The 2019 CFL Coach of the Year flatly stated Masoli is the quarterback for Week 1.
Photo courtesy: Ticats.ca
Steinauer didn’t project who would be QB1 beyond the opening week of the schedule. Hamilton travels to Winnipeg for a 107th Grey Cup rematch against the Blue Bombers on Thursday, which is the same team Masoli tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee against in 2019, ending his year.
“He attacked his rehab, he came in to training camp in shape, he’s not wearing a knee brace or anything, no setbacks along the way, so we’re comfortable with our decision,” Steinauer said.
In 2019, Masoli led the Tabbies to their best start since 1998 at 5-1. That helped the Black and Gold go on to set a franchise record for the best single-season mark in team history at 15-3. The Ticats enter the upcoming campaign heavy favourites to win the East Division and hoist the Grey Cup on home turf in December.
“This is not the 2019 football team by any stretch, so we have a lot to prove,” Steinauer said.
“There is no wave a wand and we’re supposed to win the East, other people can write that. We haven’t done anything this year.”
