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Cousens happy upholding law in CFL official for eight years and the head lines- description calls for a lot of standing man for the TiCats-Argos matchup. "It's around, the officials begin workouts in great for the personal fan touch. I don't March and attend a training camp in April Hamilton's Ivor Wynne Stadium is interact with them at all, but they certain- to prepare for the six-month CFL season. And there's a safety factor to be aware usually considered a hostile envi- ly interact with me." Then there are the players and coaches, of as well. ronment for the guys wearing the Cousens suffered torn knee cartilage zebra stripes during the annual whom Cousens says are generally respectful of the officials, but the emotions of a when he was involved in a sideline colliLabour Day Classic and TigerCat fans were in an exceptionally growly mood for big game and the pressure to win can lead sion in Edmonton last season, causing the 2006 edition of the Canadian Football to some colourful sideline conversations. him to have surgery. As head linesman, Hamilton quarterback Jason Maas ran his job involves making sure everything's League contest. legal at the initial Their team hadn't scored a touchdown almost half way line of scrimin four games and the hated-rival across the field to mage, covering Toronto Argonauts were routing question a stoic Cousens after short passes and the home side 40-6, led by another TigerCat getting the forrecord-setting quarterback ward point of Damon Allen. The roar of drive fell short of progress on rushthe 30,000 sold-out crowd a first down. "You're getting es, all while makdulled to a purr as the it from the coaching sure the sixdejected Steeltown faith--CFL official person sideline ful began to leave early es on the sideline crew is doing its Don Cousens in the fourth quarter, and there's no escape. Some of job. but on the sidelines, them are pretty "Everyone takes located just a few feet it for granted that from the stands, the animated because officiating crew is still their business is to win and when they're they're just a stick crew, but they can have being berated by a few not winning, it's not fun anymore, so we a significant impact on the outcome of the mostly overrefreshed as officials tend to give them a bit of rope game," Cousens added. "There's so much when they carry on." going on during the game-- never mind patrons. A staff sergeant with the Halton about the off-field distractions with the "Working Ivor Wynne is special Regional Police Service, the 48-year-old fans behind you. As the head linesman because like no other Cousens started with high school and you've got to keep your crew's heads in CFL stadium, you junior football officiating about 25 years the game as well." It's no surprise that Cousens would be feel like the fans ago, moved up to the Canadian university ranks and his first CFL game was between assigned to the crew of the Labour Day are right on top of you," said Geo- Toronto and Hamilton in June of 1998. He Classic, especially with Allen surpassing rgetown's Don currently works 16 to 20 games a season Warren Moon's all-time pro football passCousens, a CFL and while it seems as though the job ing yardage record. Cousens has been to three Grey Cups and figures to be a lead candidate for this year's championship Don Cousens, a staff sargeant with Halton Police, has game in Winnipeg. been officiating CFL games for the past eight seasons "Don has a calmness that comes with and is a leading candidate to officiate this year's Grey experience that just sets himself up to be Cup game. Photo courtesy Hamilton Tiger-Cats See COUSENS, pg. 21 EAMONN MAHER Staff Writer `I don't interact with them (the fans) at all, but they certainly interact with me.' Raiders complete free pass to students Every student in Halton Hills will receive a free pass to a Georgetown Jr. A Raiders' hockey team for the 2006-07 Provincial Jr. A Hockey League season and players from the squad were at St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic School recently to distribute tickets to Ungolo Ettorre's Grade 5 class. Each school will have its own Saturday night home game to attend. From left are Raiders Ryan Torres, Jon Southgate, Jeremy Whelan, Ryan Ford and Rob Sgarbossa. Photo by Eamonn Maher