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Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2007 17 HERE'S THE GAME PLAN: T.A. Blakelock senior football assistant coach Steve Morrison (second from left) makes a point during an information session Tuesday at the high school, detailing future plans for the Tigers football program. Morrison and the other coaches (also pictured, left to right: Leo Petti, Brent Kilborn, Bill Rhind, Dan Calvert and Chris Weir) are excited about the new direction of the team, which will travel to British Columbia next September for an exhibition game with the New Westminster Hyacks. LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER Returning the pride to Tigers football Blakelock coaches have big plans for senior team next season, including out-of-province games lan Freeman says he is no Al Bundy, the classic middle-aged shoe-selling character from Married With Children whose lone highlight in life was the day he scored four touchdowns in a high school football game. But don't try telling Freeman that his gridiron days as a teenager were irrelevant, either. "I've gotten on with my life," says Freeman, who played for the T.A. Blakelock Tigers football squad from 1979-83. "But it's exciting knowing that it was a very exclusive group of guys. I honestly can't remember who was in my chemistry class or history class, but I can close my eyes and envision everyone's name and position that I played football with. "I still see a lot of those guys at Christmas time or New Year's, guys we played with or against, and we still get into it. We've got lawyers, we've got doctors, architects, businesspeople -- but eventually it all comes back to football. That's what we've all got in common, regardless of our varying degrees of success." That -- and the fact Freeman's son, Connor, currently plays for the team -- is A why he is one of many excited about the new direction the Tigers senior football team is taking. T.A. Blakelock held an information night Tuesday at the school to announce several major changes to the football program, including plans for a pre-season exhibition series against outof-province squads next fall. Blakelock assistant coach Steve Morrison is spearheading the initiative, using his High School Hype website connections to organize games against British Columbia's New Westminster Hyacks and Manitoba's Churchill Bulldogs. The ultimate goal is to return a sense of pride and excitement to a Tigers program that has struggled to a 1-13 record in Halton tier 1 senior play the past two years. "A lot of parents and players are excited. They see there is going to be some progress," says Morrison, a teacher at W.H. Morden Public School. "Two years ago, it was a 1-6 team. Last year, it was 0-7. I don't even think the parents care about the losses; what they care about is that their kids are learning. As long as they are better football players at the end of it... that's what we're trying to do." and the implementation of video sessions Blakelock will travel to New into practices during the season. Westminster in September for a game "Is it radical? Not really. There are against the Hyacks, the team that the Ontario high schools doing it," Morrison Tigers' new program is modeled after, says of the video plans. "But you know while a yet-to-be-announced Mississauga what? It's radical for T.A. Blakelock. We'll school will visit Churchill. The two west- invest a lot of time and effort, and hopefulern schools will then fly to Ontario the fol- ly impart some knowledge." lowing week for a double-header in Heading the coaching staff will be Bill Mississauga, when Blakelock will play Rhind, a former member of the Burlington Churchill and the Mississauga school will Braves and Halton Invictas who has take on New Westminster. coached at Blakelock for Morrison says he has "I don't even think three years. Rhind will handle already had discussions with the parents care the offensive co-ordinator network television in the about the losses; responsibilities as well, while hopes of having the games Brent Kilborn -- who was what they care televised. part of the Tigers' Tier 2 "It's fantastic. It's a great about is that their Halton championship team in opportunity, not just to have kids are learning." 2004 -- will oversee the a football game with someone defense. from the other side of the Blakelock coach Blakelock teacher Leo country, but to get out and Steve Morrison Petti, Dan Calvert, Chris Weir meet people and see the and Morrison will round out country," says Gord McHugh, who, like the staff. Alan Freeman, is a former Blakelock playThere are no expectations for a worster and has a son, Aaron, on the current to-first transformation next year, Morrison team. concedes. Other changes in store for Blakelock "It is a long-range plan, not just a onefootball include additions to the coaching year (strategy)," he says. "We've got goals staff, improvements to the locker room, an we're going towards. There's a plan in aggressive off-season workout program, place."