HUFF BACK FOR ONE MORE YEAR
CALGARY (CP) – Dave Dickenson says he doesn’t mind waiting another year to get his first opportunity as a CFL head coach.
John Hufnagel announced Wednesday he will be back on the sidelines next season as he tries to guide the Calgary Stampeders to a second straight Grey Cup title, but he said he will hand the reins over to Dickenson, the team’s offensive co-ordinator, in 2016.
“I have one more year left on the field coaching,” Hufnagel said on Wednesday afternoon. “Then, Dave in Year 2 will become the head coach and I’ll move up to just be the general manager. With that program in place, I don’t think that there’s a whole lot of talking necessary about another team.”
When asked if he’d still consider talking to B.C. general manager Wally Buono about the vacant head coaching position with the Lions, Dickenson said he’s not even considering that option.
“I’m not leaving,” said Dickenson, who was announced as a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame’s 2015 class last Friday. “I’ve said that a million times. I’m staying here. I don’t know if he’s planning on calling or not. I respect Wally, love what he’s done. He’s been really good to me, but I’m locked in here in Calgary. I’m very happy to do that.”
The Stampeders are coming off a 20-16 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Sunday’s Grey Cup final. It’s Calgary’s second CFL title since Hufnagel took over as head coach in 2008.
“We put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this one man and (it’s great) for Huff to finally get one again,” said linebacker Keon Raymond, who referred to Hufnagel as “probably the best coach I’ve ever played for in my life.
“I appreciate and I admire coach Hufnagel so much,” Raymond added. “To have this opportunity to make this run with him – seven years – I’m overjoyed with.”
When told of Raymond’s comments, Hufnagel said he appreciated the compliment.
“It was very flattering,” he said. “One thing I try to do is build a relationship within the locker-room of trust and part of that trust is them trusting me and it goes from there.”
Dickenson also had high praise for the man he referred to as one of his coaching mentors.
“This is Huff’s team and he’s done just such a great job,” Dickenson said. “I’m glad he’s coming back. I told him that after the game, ‘Don’t do anything crazy now. Come back here.’ He’s just really, to me, a guy that we can all lean on and he showed what a great coach he was this year. I want to keep working with him for many, many years.”
Running back Jon Cornish wasn’t shocked to hear of the plan to have Dickenson to take over as coach in 2016.
“I think that a lot of players were surprised,” Cornish said. “I wasn’t. He’s been the associate head coach and has sort of been the No. 2 guy here for quite some time now, so it’s just nice to see it official.”
The Great Huff – none better!!
Huffer has the contacts down south. His practice squad could be starters on most CFL teams.
Huff and Puff is the bestest ever
I don't know where Huffer fits on a list of great coaches but he's sure near the top of the GM hierarchy. He just keeps finding outstanding football players and it doesn't matter what position goes down he just gets on the phone and finds one that's just as good.
Wow, naming your 2016 coach in advance. What could possibly go wrong? Suppose Calgary's offense goes South in 2015 and the fans get critical. Or suppose they repeat as champs and Huff decides he wants another year. Or suppose Dickenson has some kind of surprising off-field issue. Or suppose they start feuding with each other and the starting QB takes sides. This is the kind of thing you might hint privately to Dickenson to entice him to stick around, but you don't make a public promise! None of these scenarios are individually terribly likely, but the future is unpredictable and… Read more »
Come on man… everyone in the cfl knows that dave was being groomed to fill huffs shoes. Its actually a good idea to announce so dave doesn't jet off to BC or elsewhere knowing he has a promotion coming on his existing team. Plus how does a team stay at the same consistant level like cgy? Hire from within.
Does Huff draw full salary as GM and another full one for Head Coach, or does he as GM try to joo down the salary scale of his other-self coach?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Translation; The Stumps are already paying Dickenson head coach wages.
Anon #5…seriously dude? Really?
To Scruffy,
Lay off Brandon Banks he just sprinted down the field and then had his heart ripped out.
Secondly, Scruff you are the only guy questioning if a 'no-yards' should have been called. You are missing the point, the debate is about how that terrible block in the back call took away from a fantastic finish. Yet you are more concerned about a 5 or 15 yard penalty… I think you missed the point Scruffy.
Try shutting your gate and actually listening or observing.
Kel
If a professional athelete can not recover in 30 seconds after sprinting 100 yards then he should be let go. Banks should have been on the field for the Ticats. But maybe it was Austin decision not to have him on the field. That would be a great question for the coach. Go ahead Scruffy ask the question
To Kel,
Lay off Scruffy he just sprinted to Rose and 12th and had his mike ripped away by Rod.
His pie hole is his way of earning a living so it cannot be closed. He is a talker, not a listener.
We all love you dear Scruffy!
Hot Sally
@Kel and Hot Sally, Let me tell you where you both went wrong in your assessments. The game is 60 minutes. Banks QUIT after the call back. If you know anything about CFL football the game can go down to the last second and is not over until 0 is on the clock…even then it isn't over ala the 13th man debacle. Had Banks stopped his crying he may have been the guy on the field to break one open on the last play. Does anyone remember, "Stegal's gone! Stegal's gone!" – and the look on Danny Machoicha's face? Banks… Read more »
Who the hell is Dwight Yoakam? Is he relevant to anything sports? If so, how?
Obama: Your whole commentary always, always has some obscure quote from some irrelevant movie or some irrelevant song. Just once try using your own words, irrelevant as they are.
To Obama,
Let me tell you where you went wrong in your assessment.
Let me guess Obama, you likely are turned off by me saying to you: "Let me tell you where you went wrong in your assessment".
No one wants to listen to your point after you start like that. It is negative, condescending, and is not part of a positive criticism format. I know you just started this, it really should be stopped as quickly as you started it, because whatever your point is after you state that phrase, nobody is reading it.
For your immediate consideration,
Kel
Dwight Yoakam was the 4th singer in NSYNC, everybody knows that. But even worse, what does he know about Calgary and the CFL? I watched the Longest Drive Competition, and then watched the last 3 minutes of the Grey Cup. What a great game!
Who the f*ck is NSYNC? who cares x4?
Calgary Stampeders RULE !
Obama says "It never works." How arrogant and narcissistic can you be to make such a statement??!! What Hufnagel announced was his commitment to his staff and the Stamps. It is also called "succession planning" within good organizations. Perhaps the Riders could learn a bit from this.
It never does work because sports especially Football is a day to day and what have you done for me lately business as it should be. You want security and succession planning then go work for the public sector.