CATCHING UP WITH FANTUZ

By Murray McCormick Fri, May 14 2010 COMMENTS(0) Rider Rumblings

The Chatham News talked with the Riders slotback in advance of his football camp. Loads of insights into Fantuz is this wide-ranging and well-written piece.

Loss motivates Fantuz;The Chatham Daily NewsFri May 14 2010Page: B1Section:

SportsByline: MARK MALONE, THE DAILY NEWS;Go ahead and ask Andy Fantuz about the Grey Cup. He won’t mind.Enough time has passed since the heartbreaking loss that he and his Saskatchewan Roughriders teammates joke about how everyone they’ve met this off-season has questions.“It almost gives you motivation when someone does bring it up,” the 26-year-old slotback said during a trip home to Chatham recently. “It makes you think about next season and makes you work a little bit harder.”Next season is almost here.

Training camp starts June 6.Fantuz wasn’t always so positive about the Roughriders’ 28- 27 loss to the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL championship game last November.“I probably got a little mad for the first month or so,” he said, “then it was, ‘Use it as fuel.’”The 2009 Grey Cup is remembered for Damon Duval’s winning field goal on the last play of the game. His first kick missed, but he got a second chance when the Roughriders were caught with an extra man on the field.“I was just focused on the kick,” Fantuz said. “I didn’t pay attention to the whole play. I just remember being excited and seeing a couple people on the sidelines looking really disappointed, so I knew something was wrong. Then I saw the flag.”

He was more upset about the Roughriders’ play in the fourth quarter than about the penalty. They led by 16 points before the Alouettes rallied.“When I think about it, I get mad at how we changed our style of play and let them climb back in the game,” the McGregor graduate said.The Roughriders won’t have to wait long for a rematch. They play the Alouettes in the season opener July 1 in Regina.“The fans are going to be pretty insane for that one,” the six-foot-four, 220-pound Fantuz said.

The former Western Mustang is going into his fifth season in the CFL.He’s already been to two championship games -- winning in 2007 -- and wants to play for another ring this season.“I’m looking to make it to Edmonton and win the Grey Cup at all costs,” he said.

“On an individual level, I want to get better as a player and improve my game and stay healthy. I’m going to be focused on everything you need to do to keep your body in shape and be a leader on the team.”He missed five games in 2009 with a pulled hamstring and 11 games in 2008 with a broken leg.Those setbacks came after never missing a game in high school, university or his first two CFL seasons due to injury.He’s worked this off -season to strengthen his hamstrings and increase his flexibility.Despite the injury last season, Fantuz caught a career-high 67 passes for 882 yards and four touchdowns. He had five catches for 67 yards and a TD in the Grey Cup.His Roughriders contract is for the 2010 season with an option for 2011.

He’ll have a window next year from Jan. 1 to Feb. 15 to sign with an NFL team. If he doesn’t, he stays with the Roughriders.“That’s kind of my goal,” he said about the NFL. “If I’m healthy and productive this season, I’m going to aggressively pursue that direction.”He could have signed this off -season, but NFL teams were scared away by two straight injury-shortened seasons.“They want to see a productive season and a healthy one,”

Fantuz said. “Then I hope I get my shot.”He’s been busy organizing his first football camp at The University of Western Ontario on May 22-24.He wants to hold camps next year in more cities, perhaps even Chatham