Tate optimistic prior to season opener

Times Reporter

 

The Calgary Stampeders have a not-so-new face hoping to help lead them to victory this CFL season. This will be Drew Tate’s fourth season with the Stamps, with his first professional start only happening last season. 

The quarterback and recently named captain, along with Juwan Simpson, Larry Taylor and Marc Calixte, will be season opening starting for the first time of his CFL career after former quarterback Henry Burris was traded to Hamilton. 

Tate, who hails from South Texas, began playing football when he was seven-years-old. He had always hoped to make it to the pros. 

“I always knew I wanted to so it was just if God was kind to me,” said Tate.

“I knew just a little bit about the CFL, (I) didn’t know much about it but I like this league, I like living in Canada for six months out of the year. I feel like the luckiest person in the world.”

With camps and the pre-season over Tate is feeling pretty confident about the upcoming season. 

“(I) feel good, feel confident. Had a really good camp, it was a good experience for everyone, learning experience for everyone and hopefully (it’ll) just catapult us into the season, have us start off the season right and continue on through,” said Tate.

“It’s a long season you know, so you just have to play the best you can week in week out, and win enough games early to set you up at the end of the season, so you can either go to playoffs or get that bye week.”

The day after Calgary Stampeders won the final pre-season game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, 33-31, on June 22, Tate was in Strathmore.

Tate stopped by Strathmore to take home his new Ford F-150 sponsored by Byron Smith Ford. 

“We’re trying to be part of the bigger community as well, Calgary and area. We’re looking to expand, we’re looking to grow and we’re looking for people that can help us reach our targets and he’s a fine young man,” said Byron Smith. 

“He carries himself extremely well, he’s going to be doing a phenomenal job for our Stampeders and we really feel that the Stampeders have a huge shot this year at the Grey Cup.”

Kick off for the season opener is this Sunday, Canada Day at 5 p.m. The Stamps will be facing the Montreal Alouettes.