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Home indeed sweet for Toronto Argonauts running back Brandon Whitaker

Home indeed sweet for Toronto Argonauts running back Brandon Whitaker

It's like some sort of holy jock mantra that every player recites, almost chants, as he anticipates training camp.

``I'm excited about the new season."

"I'm thrilled to see the great new players we've added."

"I  just know that this is the year I'm going to be injury-free."

"I can't wait to get going."

Although on occasion, these pronouncements may even be true, there's a tendency to take them with a liberal dose of skepticism.

But when Brandon Whitaker talks about how thrilled he is to be heading into training camp with the Toronto Argonauts, there's plenty of evidence to back up the running back's optimism.

``I can't wait to get going," says the 30-year-old native of Edmond, Okla., as he prepares to enter his eighth CFL season.

As he begins to list the reasons, it's not hard to see why he's so enthusiastic.

The team apparently will have a healthy Ricky Ray at quarterback again, Whitaker will be running behind former Montreal teammate Josh Bourke (``I've had my best years with him," he says), the Argos will have defensive genius Rich Stubler back in the fold, and everyone will benefit from the enthusiasm surrounding Toronto hosting the Grey Cup game.

But the biggest reason of all, the one that gets the blood pumping faster through anyone dress in double blue is the fact that the team has a home. Instead of being the football version of the Port Ruppert Mundys, the Argos will have a stadium to (sort of) call their own.

No more playing ``home" games thousands of kilometres away in Fort McMurray or in the unfriendly confines of Ottawa or, horrors, Hamilton. No more being on the road for a month. No more having their lives dependent on the Toronto Blue Jays schedule.

``That's an experience I've never had before," Whitaker says. ``We handled it pretty well, but being able to play in front of our home crowd and not have to worry about if the Blue Jays win this game, are we going to play there. Having a locker room we know is ours and we're not sharing it with everybody. Being able to do that is just huge.

``It was just one more thing to worry about. It's really big for us and we're really excited about."

Another reason for Whitaker's enthusiasm: Despite the trying and at times comical schedule, the Argos finished 10-8.

Adding to the excitement for 2016 is a season opener at refurbished BMO Field against the hated Hamilton Tiger-Cats, featuring recently departed Argo star receiver Chad Owens.

``It's a rivalry game ... the environment is going to be crazy because you know Hamilton fans will be there and Chad will be there," Whitaker says.

``We're all excited about it. The environment is just going to be electric."

Adding to that electricity will be Whitaker, who finished second in rushing yards in the East Division last year with 636 and a 5.3 average. Add in his ability as a receiver (53 catches for 440 yards) and a blocker, and you've got a pretty dynamic package.

While Whitaker wasn't exactly a workhorse at running back with only 121 carries, he's not worried about getting more touches this season.

``I'm past that stage," he says. ``I just want to win. If it means me blocking for Ricky on every play, I don't care. The receivers we've got out there and the young guys we've got out there, they need to get the ball in their hands.

``Whenever my number is called, and it will be called, I'll be ready to do what I do."