Henry Burris

0:01Alright, Enri. Pleasure. Pleasure. Pleasure. Thanks for sitting down here on the field in March so it's a little chilly out from what you're using on the field here. Well, I think I'm becoming Canadian more and more each and every day each and every year. I was going to talk about that actually later. Do you feel like you're a Canadian now? You've been here for a while. Well, I do. And it's crazy because when the US and Canada played for the gold medal, it all was torn a little bit. The fact that I've built so many great relationships here in Calgary and all over this country and both of our children, from my wife Nicole and I, we're both born here in Calgary. Right now, of course our roots are always back home in the US but this is where our life has taken us and it's not where you're from, it's where you're at.

0:47Fair enough. We're here in Canada and we're definitely embracing this just as well as the city has embraced us also. The winners must be different for you though. Yeah, totally. Something that I'll never get used to. I mean, I know some Calgary and two aren't used to it. So, you know, if they're filming the same pain that I am, hey, it's all good. But, you know, I said, we'll be here for a long time. This is home for us and we love this city and the greatest city in the world. The only negative is the weather. I don't know. Changes like that. Let's go back though to Oklahoma in the beginning. Do you remember what got you into football? What made you love the sport so much? Well, I think about Oklahoma. Everything revolves around football. Each and every time a little boy is born or they pronounce, you know, he's a boy or whatever. They see that third leg in an ultrasound or something.

1:35Everybody wants to know, you know, what position? You know, what position do you think you're going to play? And, you know, for me, you know, my dad was always a leader on the baseball field. He was an army serving in Vietnam. And for some reason, he always took a leadership role and whatever went on in the community. And here I am being a leader on the football field. So, I just grew up in it. You know, while I grew up in Spar, Oklahoma, it's all about football. That's the sport people turn out for. We're a town of 2000, but might turn out 10,000 people in a game. So, that's just the type of atmosphere I grew up in. It's almost like varsity blues. And what led you to quarterback? Was it your dad? Well, I love the pressure of being a quarterback. You know, the fact that my dad played outfield and baseball gave me a strong arm. I guess those traits were there. And for some reason, I picked them up well, you know, for bailing hand, doing things like that on the farm.

2:23And so, therefore, I was able to have that strong arm. And just the fact of having that added pressure, nobody ever wanted to play the quarterback position. But I was always that young kid saying, give me the ball. You know, go get open and I'll hit you. But I just love what people call the so-called pressure of the position. And I love being that leadership role because, you know, when it's, you know, the pressure time that it's called, you know, I want the ball in my hands and, you know, able to let the guys just do their thing. And we had the best seat in the house, just eating the pop corner and watching them do their thing. They're actually pressure off the field, though, in that leadership role, too. Well, you know, there definitely is. But the thing is, as long as you're being yourself, that's all guys ask for. You know, there's one thing that I've always told different players and different coaches in this game is that there's one group of people you never can fool. And that's the players. And, you know, they can always tell when you're genuine.

3:09They can always tell when you're fake. And, you know, when you're just being yourself and just living this dream that we live and enjoying what you do each and every day. And taking care of things you're supposed to take care of people see that. That generosity that's in your heart. And the fact that you go out and lay it on the line for these guys day in the day out in practice and also in a game, the shows that your heart's in the right place for them. So, you know, they're so-called pressure, but to me, it's just me being me. And I don't try to be anything else other than what I am. What was your team as a kid? Dallas Cowboys. Still Dallas Cowboys? Not now. No. Things are changed. You know, I have a lot of friends that, you know, when I played in Green Bay in Chicago that are, you know, throughout the league, guys who I grew up with went to college with that are playing in the NFL. And so I just root for players.

3:54I just like to see Giffel ball good quarterbacking. And there's not a lot down there right now. But I like to see good quarterbacking. And so really I don't have a team, but when I was young, Tregman, Emm Smith, you know, those type of guys, Tony Cacias and Tony Tovar, a lot of guys that played for the Cowboys were guys that I knew of growing up as a kid who played different universities. Troy can grow up not far from me. So the fact that I had all those, you know, similarities with those guys that I always cheer them up. Plus they were close to the steam home. You talk about playing in Green Bay in Chicago. Do you think you got a fair chance? Well, the thing is it's all about money, right? And, you know, especially in Green Bay, it is what it is, you know, backing up Brett Farrah. Well, yeah, exactly. It is what it is. You know, the guy never got hurt. The guy's going to play till he's 80.

4:40So, I mean, you're better. So, I mean, if you're backing him up, I mean, really you're trying to learn as much as you can. The one thing that was unfortunate for me is that I always thought Brett was a technically sound, fundamentally sound quarterback. He's probably the worst. I mean, it was, you know, if you saw the last throw in the game, it kind of showed you why I said that when he played the Saints. But the guy is such a great competitor. So, you know, such, such fire. I mean, it's a tenacious player. I mean, it's a tenacious individual. I mean, he plays a lot of aggression, a lot of intensity, prepares that way. And just to see those things and this passion for the game, you learn from that. But the fact that we had some similarities and, you know, strong arm and the fact we love to move around and use our abilities, athletically, as well as mentally, we shared some similarities, built a great relationship.

5:30Of course, in Chicago is a different story. You know, I felt that if I would have, you know, made a couple of different decisions while I was there and maybe stayed, but I didn't want to back up. That was the decision. You know, I was backing up, didn't really get to do much in Green Bay, basically, waste of the year. I went to NFL Europe after spending one year in Chicago, and it was tough there in Chicago. It was a different atmosphere than Green Bay. One where it's successful every year than one where we didn't have success in being in Chicago. And I was asked to come back to be the number three, the next year, behind Rex Grossman, who was the first-round draft pick, who struggled a lot in Cordell Stewart, who was given a high sign in bonus, who struggled a lot. Where I didn't want to just be a third string. I didn't want to settle for what I was given. You know, that's the competitive nature, but I'm happy where I am.

6:17I'm glad I made the decision. And of course, after winning the great cup, all those Chicago people called me asking me why they let you go. You know, it felt good, but again, you know, it's not about that. It's about where I am now. What's the biggest difference for you as a quarterback playing? I was talking to Jesse Lumsen about playing, and he played a couple of games for the Seahawks pre-season, whatnot. And he said the field size is different, but as a quarterback, I mean the ball size must be different for you too, playing up in Canada now. It's the timing of the game. Whereas the game here is quicker, the game there is faster. The fact is, actually I got to flip that around. The game here is faster. The game is much faster because you have smaller, more athletic players, style players in giving positions. And whereas down there you got 300 pound guys running around. Down here you got upper 200s, maybe a couple of 300 pounders, but guys are fast.

7:04Whereas here you got a 22nd clock in between plays. So basically everything is bam, bam, bam, go, go, whereas down there you got 40 seconds. So you can go up in section D and get a Coke or something and come back before the next play. And so it's just a difference in the game. However, the zone holes are much smaller due to the size of the field and the athletic ability down there. But again in all, I mean the difference of the game really to me are the guys up front. I mean down there you got guys who over 300 pounds who run faster than Joffrey Reynolds. And up here you got some of the same guys but they weigh in the upper 200s. And to me that's what makes the difference because the skilled players, whether it's receivers, defensive backs, even to the linebackers in some capacity, you're dealing with the same type of players. And even with running backs you're dealing with the same kind of players. But really when it comes to the big guys, with the Cameron Wakes that we had here

7:53and you do the Michael Ben-Jose of the league, you're starting to see the CFL catch up to the NFL now. Is there anyone that when they pass the O line you're just like, oh not again. Please don't have me. There's got to be a couple players where you know they're coming. You're just like, oh here we go. Well I'll tell you one guy who, I know when I was playing against the Carolina Panthers was Julius Peppers. I kept an eye on him the entire game and he was hitting me the all game. And definitely another guy was Simeon Rice and Warren Sat when I played against the Tampa Bay Buckers. And the bad part for me was I had third stringers blocking them both. So that wasn't a good night's sleep prior to the game. But the fact I was able to go on and experience those things. The one thing I do wish I could have received the opportunity to get over again is just the opportunity to learn from my mistakes.

8:43Because you know from guys like Jeff Garcia to Doug Cluely they all told me the same thing that we were able to learn from our mistakes. You know we made mistakes our rookie year our first year. Like I went through in Chicago really my first year not playing in Green Bay. They said if you get an opportunity to come back and erase those mistakes and show that you won't make those mistakes over and over again. You know that'll give you an opportunity to become a better quarterback. And that's really what anybody wants an opportunity to do. You know you're going to make mistakes as a youngster in whatever you do. Whether you're a child in life or you're young or freshman or rookie in an occupation or in school. You're going to make mistakes but if you're given the opportunity to erase those mistakes and show that you've learned from them and perceived from there. Good things will usually happen for you and that's something that guys don't get an opportunity to show. And that's why you know myself I want to come back here to Canada and just enjoy playing the game and I deal with all the hoopla.

9:33And it was a pretty good decision for me. And back you played on both sides of the biggest rivalry and on Canadian football I was saying. To talk about being on both sides and what it's like. Well you know people there must be pretty angry at you. Saskatchewan right I would like to say now some say Edmonton. I would say Saskatchewan of course. Well I tell you it's to me it's one of the first just rivalries in all sports right now. I mean because you know some of the things that you hear about you know that going off the field you know with families. You know the family eyes and each other if that's a word. We understand it. I mean I've heard cases where people move to different hotels different sides of town the night before that game despite if it's in Regina or here in Calgary. But just the fact of you know being on the Saskatchewan side when I was there you know back in 2000 and 04 or 03 and 04.

10:28You know it's surreal because you know when you come to McMan Stadium you're basically playing a home game on the road. And it's still the same way. However now things have changed for me because you know I hate it when I see the green I don't even wear green. I don't even wear green so St. Patrick's Day is coming up soon so. Right yeah exactly so whatever I see that day coming up I just stay out of the public eye. But the thing is it's a rivalry where there's love off the field but if there's any mention the football season it quickly turns to hate. And but it's a good hate. It's one of those arch rivals that you know you love to hate each other but you hate to love each other. And that's something I look forward to each and every year and that's what makes this game truly what it's all about. Just the love for the fans having fun of the competitive factor the entertainment factor.

11:18And also the Yom Field products are great for both sides because the last couple years it's been Saskatchewan and us you know representing the West stuff for the great cup. We're just talking about the great cup now that you've won one. Does the quest to win another is it is still deep in your heart. Oh it burns. It burns every day and the fact that we didn't make it this year it's even worse. You know last year though it was a tough year for in many ways for us. You know me I had nagging injuries I dealt with all year and but I didn't complain. We had some key injuries to guys like Kignon Rambo and Ryan Thelwell you know two of our key receivers in our offense. Rambo of course was the number one receiver in this league and you know to lose him he's irreplaceable as well as the leader. And so those are things we were trying to catch up with throughout the entire season and find the right people to put in those places to try to make up for it.

12:06But you know again when you have a guy like that he's irreplaceable it's hard to replace him but you know our team proceeded with no excuses. We fought all year and the fact that you come with that short and lose to the team that really should have won the great cup in Saskatchewan. You know they had a chance to beat Montreal and the fact that you were that close to representing and playing in your home park and you had to see somebody raise a trophy just as we did in Montreal. They came back with prevention so you know it's our turn. How did you feel with those last few seconds. If you were on the team how would you have felt. Wow. I'd have been a nervous wreck just like everybody else was and I'm pretty sure on Saskatchewan sideline it was helter scale to you know trying to get the right team on the field. There's so many you know different substitutions that come in that type of position whether it's this call you want that team on the field or returning or you're not as an all out block.

12:54What are we trying to do here was there an injury if there's an injury who's the backup. So you got all these people running around with you know and they did call a timeout and of course he missed that kick. But the thing is there's so much going on at one time and just the slightest mistake can end up you know changing your world changing your life and to tell you the truth that's a decision and that's a situation that'll you know be with them forever. And because that's something even a hundred years from now they'll always be talking about. Me I would have been a nightmare I just went somewhere got you know just spent some time by myself and wouldn't even look out it just went off the crowd ovation and pretty much that would have told me everything. Well we are in the off season now gearing up for the for the next one and you got some like a football camp coming up for some kids.

13:39Yes. Yes. Each May we have the Henry Burr All-Star weekend and this year it's May 14th and 15th and right here in Calgary and we bring in some of the CFL's finest. Some of our Olympians from across the country both summer and winter also we you know we bring in NFL players also. And the thing we try to do is bring a different element a different type of event to Calgary not just a sole event but a weekend more so whereas on our Friday we we host a golf tournament in me. It did spring break the spring bank links during Calgary but I call this spray bank links because I spray every bank. I'll probably take a hundred balls to this golf outing as well as you got all these other football players who think we can you know hit it to the moon and of course it's not going to the moon it's basically going to the near sand trap near you.

14:29So but you know we have a good time just getting all our sponsors out and it's been well represented and it's all for good calls. But you know we have our golf tournament on the Friday usually get together at Mingle night on the Friday night with all the guys who bring in town all the guys and gals. And Saturday we have a football camp right here at McMahon Stadium. Last year we had about 400 kids and this year we're going to do two sessions instead of one like we did last year. We'll probably have close to 600 kids this year between the two sessions. What are you teaching them? Well basically with our younger kids we do ages from ages eight to senior year in high school and basically we take the younger two groups which are Adam, Adam and Peewee. And what we do is with them they're at a different mental state than the older kids who are probably taking them more serious for you know next level opportunities with colleges and stuff.

15:21But for them we're teaching them just the basics of the game where we don't you know positions specify our drills and things. We just specified different types of drills that help you out to become a better you know to become faster to become aware of how to move your feet. We're just teaching the fundamentals of the game how to catch the ball, how to throw the ball, how to phone tackle things like that for the kids. And really for us we're trying to wear them out for the parents who you know bring them in for the day and send them home and also their passing out. Have a nice long nap and things like that. But then you get in the older kids the bathrooms the high schoolers and the midgets. Those kids are focused they're wanting to become better players better athletes they want to learn the game because some of their players some of the players that are present at this event are guys they dream about becoming one day you know being able to play the game like being able to live that professional

16:10professional football dream you know and but again it's both for male and female and we tell boys and girls to come out and get involved because you know we want to make sure we're helping each and every every youngster you know achieve their dreams and realize how they can achieve those dreams and but yeah for the older group they're more focused on you know what is it going to take for me to be successful in my position. And that's when we'll get the Damon Allen's or the the Warren moons who are Warren moons he's actually coming this year to the event. We get some of the the the greatest in this game of course they call it backs. To teach them what it takes to be the best that they can be and I'll only talk to them about the game. We often feel the aspect in the game because as we know today it's more money more problems in the city like Calgary so we're first to understand what it took for a Warren moon to become a special night he's become not only as a quarterback but also off the field and doing charitable events and giving back to his community.

17:02And doing the big things that he's done in life as well as Damon Allen. It allows these kids to understand what it takes to be successful both on and off the field so that's really what it's all about because I know for me I went to him and Smith's football camp going into my senior year in high school and he said a couple things to me and I'll remember this forever. And he said man you're special and if you do the things you're supposed to do you'll be a special player one day in this game. And she was very able to live in my dream and for me to be able to get back and maybe one of the guys who we invite here for the camp was talking to one of the young men or women. They say that right thing for them that just kind of rings a bell something that can stick with them forever and it can have the same impact on their life like they did on mine.

17:48For sure. And I'm sure a lot of these kids are looking for scholarships and things like that too. You're wearing the temple hat. Yeah. It's a big thing in the States culture. It might even be bigger than the NFL. Oh yeah it is. Why is that? The college football is just so massive. Well the thing is it's tradition because when you go to your school you represent your school forever. And I mean you know because the thing is colleges you know going to college that's the best years of your life. And that's one thing I try to voice to kids every day. I mean you know don't miss out on college because those are the greatest years of your life because you know you're somewhat of an adult. You have to accept so much. And you know just all the things that you wish you could do now you're away from home so you try to do them right. Because the thing is you have to accept some responsibility so you'll grow up at a rapid rate. And so I always tell them you have to experience that because just your allegiance and all you were able to learn and achieve at that school.

18:40And you know they stick with you forever and the friends that you make there will be your friends forever because you guys grew up together. You look out for each other and you know that's something you'll never forget. And whether it's bowl season you know pushing for the als or of course March Madness I'm always pushing for Temple. So you know it's something that you know we try to voice to them each and every day that you know you know definitely look to go to that next step. You know you're going to get your education or whether it's doing both in your education and playing sports but in the end it's all about what you achieved while you were there. And really in the classroom is more important because without the classroom you can't do anything on any field or any playing circuit. So you know we voice that each and every day to them and it's good to hear when the ones that have listened and heard that message.

19:27And for the ones that still have we still get after them too. Cool. Thank you. Thank you.