Saturday\u2019s matchup with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).<\/a><\/p>\nThe Milligans were together in the Queen City for the early part of the 2023 CFL season. But those plans changed when Rolan suffered a season-ending toe injury in Week 4. With a long recuperation ahead, the family eventually returned to Florida.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year, I wanted them to come up, but my wife was pregnant and she didn\u2019t know what the process would be as far as having a baby in a different country,\u201d Milligan Jr. said.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe decided that it would be best for us to keep her down there with the kids and I\u2019d come up here by myself. After that, it was a given that they\u2019d be coming up.\u201d<\/p>\n
That was wonderful news for someone who knows that family time is not a given. CFL players routinely move far away from home to play the game they love. And there aren\u2019t any guarantees in professional sports.<\/p>\n
Milligan Jr. enjoys more stability than many players. In the off-season, he signed a contract extension that carries through 2026. A new deal was ideal for both parties after he was named the CFL\u2019s Most Outstanding Defensive Player.<\/p>\n
Now the \u201coutstanding\u201d label can also apply to life away from the stadium, thanks to the presence of Samantha, Lyric, Loyal, Peace and Suni.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the biggest thing is just that time that we miss when they\u2019re at home and I\u2019m up here,\u201d Milligan Jr. said. \u201cYou can\u2019t get that time back.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not all day. I\u2019ve got to come to work. But that time I do get with them every day, you can\u2019t trade that for anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Record-wise, every other CFL team would trade places with Saskatchewan, which carries a league-best 7-1 record into Saturday\u2019s game.<\/p>\n
\u201c(The season to date) has been solid, but we\u2019re not where we want to be at yet,\u201d Milligan Jr. said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not even halfway through the season. The goal isn\u2019t 7-1. The goal is Grey Cup. We\u2019ve still got work to do. We\u2019ve got to keep stacking good days and keep building.\u201d<\/p>\n
The excitement is building for a showdown of the CFL\u2019s division leaders. Hamilton sits atop the East with a 6-3 slate.<\/p>\n
One of the three losses was to Saskatchewan, which won 28-23 at Hamilton Stadium on June 14. Milligan Jr. had a 64-yard interception-return touchdown during that game.<\/p>\n
The pick-six was a rare blemish on the 2025 slate of Bo Levi Mitchell. The Tiger-Cats\u2019 quarterback leads the league in aerial yards (2,856) and touchdown passes (21). Eight of those scoring tosses have been caught by Kenny Lawler.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve been putting up points,\u201d Milligan Jr. said. \u201cThey\u2019re a good group. They\u2019ve got a good quarterback, a good receiving corps and a good running back. They\u2019re explosive.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re just trying to make sure that we\u2019re crossing our T\u2019s and dotting our I\u2019s. We\u2019re making sure we\u2019re doing everything we can to prepare for them, because it\u2019s a good team that we\u2019re going to be playing this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Tiger-Cats can say the same thing about their opposition, thanks in large part to the presence of No. 0, Rolan Milligan Jr.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the same breath that you keep eyes on Kenny, I believe offences keep their eyes on \u20180\u2019 too,\u201d Head Coach Corey Mace said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not like we just track the guy with the receiver all day. It\u2019s going to take everybody to get that done. But having \u20180\u2019 back there certainly helps.\u201d<\/p>\n
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