By Neil Hodge
(Moncton) Times & Transcript

Calgary Stampeders quarterback Henry Burris received the Canadian Football League’s top individual honour last season, but he makes it clear there’s no room for complacency.

“I want to be better,” he said. “I want to be bigger, stronger, faster and make better decisions. It’s what I strive for each season. Here I am going into Year 14, but I’m still trying to get better.

“You look at guys like (quarterbacks) Anthony Calvillo and Damon Allen, they got better as the years went on. Hopefully, that will continue for me this year. I’m going to work my butt off to try to make that happen.”

Burris, named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player last season, was in Moncton yesterday for a news conference to release details surrounding Scotiabank Touchdown Atlantic II. Calgary will face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in a regular season game on Sept. 25 in Moncton.

The 35-year-old was third in CFL passing with 4,945 yards and had a league-high 38 touchdown tosses last season, but he threw the second most interceptions with 20. He was also a threat on the ground with 491 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

That was the second most passing yards and second most touchdown tosses in his 13-year career in the league.

“It felt good,” he said of being selected the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player for the first time. “It’s not something you focus on trying to achieve, but if it’s presented to you then you definitely take it and be proud of it. It rewards you for the hard work you put in.

“You do whatever it takes to keep your offence on the field and move the chains. Of course, when big guys are getting close to you you’ve got to run scared sometimes.”

A capacity crowd of 20,725 watched the Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton Eskimos meet last season in Moncton in the league’s first-ever regular season game in Atlantic Canada. The game was sold out in 32 hours.

Burris, Hamilton quarterback Kevin Glenn, CFL commissioner Mark Cohon, Hamilton president Scott Mitchell, Calgary president Lyle Bauer, New Brunswick Premier David Alward and Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc were all on hand for yesterday’s news conference.

“It’s the first time I’ve been east of Montreal in Canada,” said Burris. “I’ve been to the northeastern U.S. a number of times. It does have that northeastern mentality, but it’s so much more beautiful here and the air smells so fresh. I’m loving it.

“The people in Moncton have welcomed us with open arms. I mean this is a community that supports the community. I grew up in a small town in Oklahoma. Moncton has that small-town feel even though it is a city. I’m excited about coming here to play a game.”

Burris has won two Grey Cups, both with Calgary in 1998 and 2008. The 6-foot-2, 219-pounder was named 2008 Grey Cup Most Valuable Player following a 22-14 triumph over the Montreal Alouettes.

Some of his other career highlights are:

• Won the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy in 2008 and 2010 as the West Division nominee for Most Outstanding Player
• Calgary’s nominee for CFL Most Outstanding Player in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2010. The Saskatchewan Roughriders nominee for CFL Most Outstanding Player in 2000.
• West Division all-star quarterback in 2005, 2008 and 2010
• CFL Players’ Association all-star quarterback in 2006 and 2010
• Led the CFL in touchdown passes in 2006, 2007 and 2010
• Calgary’s all-time leader for touchdown throws (183), passing yards (28,504), pass attempts (3,235) and completions (1,986). Ranks ninth all-time in the CFL for career passing yards.

Calgary finished first overall in the CFL last season at 13-5. It then lost 20-16 to Saskatchewan in the West Division final for a second consecutive season.

“That was tough because we were the better team, no doubt about it,” said Burris. “It was a minus 35 day. We didn’t do a good job of keeping our offence on the field and our defence didn’t get them off the field. We beat ourselves, but Saskatchewan did what they needed to do and executed their game plan.

“That loss in the West Division final last season is still bothering our coaching staff, our players and everyone in the organization. If you’re the better team and playing at home, you should win. That will give us extra motivation going into this season.”

Burris won four varsity letters in football, track, baseball and basketball. A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. He attended Temple University and finished with 20 passing records.

“I had a chance to play college basketball, but I had to make a decision whether to be a starting quarterback or play basketball,” he said. “Football was my best sport. It was always my calling.

“It’s pretty much all about football where I grew up. The first question they ask there when the child is born is ‘What position is he going to play on the football team?’ It’s a rural area where small towns run into each other. We would have high school football games with 10,000 and 20,000 fans.”

Burris, known as Smilin’ Hank for his constant grin, lives year round in Calgary with his wife and two sons. He runs the Henry Burris Foundation and has raised almost $800,000 for Big Brothers/Big Sisters over the past six years.

He has twice been selected as Calgary’s Tom Pate Memorial Award nominee for his outstanding sportsmanship and contributions to his team and community. He was named Calgary’s Male Athlete of the Year in 2008.

“We’ve been living in Canada for a long time and both our sons were born here,” he said.

“The Canadian heritage and culture has embraced our family. It’s done so much for us both on and off the field as far as opportunities after football. We try to give back to the community as a way to say thanks.”