Lionbackers.com

maxlion wrote: Sat Jul 21, 2018 12:58 pm

ziggy wrote: Sat Jul 21, 2018 10:46 am Man I can’t believe some of the hate of Buono spewed on this site. We get it Blitz, you don’t like him! Unfortunately you are letting your hate blind you.

The perceived weakness of our coaching staff is greatly exaggerated by some on this site, but this is not atypical for a fan forum when the team has limited success over an extended period of time under the same leadership.

In my view, we lack the elite strategic thinkers that some teams have.

In Edmonton, Maas is perhaps not an elite head coach, but he is perhaps the best OC in the league.

Calgary has Dickenson and Claybrooks, both excellent football minds, with Hufnagel upstairs giving guidance.

Saskatchewan has Jones, perhaps the best and most innovative DC of this generation.

Winnipeg has a top notch game planner in Lapolice, and O'Shea helping with special teams.

Toronto has Trestman, the QB whisperer.

I'm not sold on June Jones in Hamilton, but some are. I think they are bound for a big fall.

Ottawa is solid in its coaching, but nothing spectacular. Like us.

Montreal is questionable. Sherman is unknown in the CFL. Stubler is past his prime. Jones is so-so.

maxlion wrote: Sat Jul 21, 2018 12:58 pm

ziggy wrote: Sat Jul 21, 2018 10:46 am Man I can’t believe some of the hate of Buono spewed on this site. We get it Blitz, you don’t like him! Unfortunately you are letting your hate blind you.

The perceived weakness of our coaching staff is greatly exaggerated by some on this site, but this is not atypical for a fan forum when the team has had limited success over an extended period of time under the same leadership.

In my view, we lack the elite strategic thinkers that some teams have.

In Edmonton, Maas is perhaps not an elite head coach, but he is perhaps the best OC in the league.

Calgary has Dickenson and Claybrooks, both excellent football minds, with Hufnagel upstairs giving guidance.

Saskatchewan has Jones, perhaps the best and most innovative DC of this generation.

Winnipeg has a top notch game planner in Lapolice, and O'Shea helping with special teams.

Toronto has Trestman, the QB whisperer.

I'm not sold on June Jones in Hamilton, but some are. I think they are bound for a big fall.

Ottawa is solid in its coaching, but nothing spectacular. Like us.

Montreal is questionable. Sherman is unknown in the CFL. Stubler is past his prime. Jones is so-so.

Hambone wrote: Sat Jul 21, 2018 8:22 pm To add some levity to this thread one of the hilarious parts of the game was one of those fan participation contests they did before the game. I saw it on one of the monitors in the concourse after it had already started so don't know who the sponsor was. Imagine if you will 2 garbage cans about 10 yards apart. Then there's several balls on the field. They may have been volleyballs, same colour but looked a bit bigger. Now add two contestants with the object being to put more balls into your garbage can than the other guy puts into his. Simple enough right? Not quite because the 2 contestants are hooked together by about 5 yards of bungy cord! It was hilarious watching them going back and forth in a bungy cord tug of war.

Hambone wrote: Sat Jul 21, 2018 8:22 pm To add some levity to this thread one of the hilarious parts of the game was one of those fan participation contests they did before the game. I saw it on one of the monitors in the concourse after it had already started so don't know who the sponsor was. Imagine if you will 2 garbage cans about 10 yards apart. Then there's several balls on the field. They may have been volleyballs, same colour but looked a bit bigger. Now add two contestants with the object being to put more balls into your garbage can than the other guy puts into his. Simple enough right? Not quite because the 2 contestants are hooked together by about 5 yards of bungy cord! It was hilarious watching them going back and forth in a bungy cord tug of war.

Buono in each game, stands on the sidelines, arms crossed, lip twitching. He has no head set, he usually isolates himself from his players and coaches, usually has no idea what offensive play has been called or what defensive formation or play call we are making on defense either. He just stands on the sidelines, tense, like a cobra, waiting to bite and keep biting.

I have no problem with questioning a coaches call, it’s what us armchair athletes do. What I do have a problem with is personal attacks on coaches, be it making fun of how they speak, how they stand on the sideline, a facial twitch or whatever. I also think is crosses the line saying a coach has no class. It’s one thing to think we know more about football than the Head Coach, but totally another to mount what is nothing short of a personal vendetta. Time we all showed some class! ziggy

Blitz wrote: Sun Jul 22, 2018 12:48 pm

I have no problem with questioning a coaches call, it’s what us armchair athletes do. What I do have a problem with is personal attacks on coaches, be it making fun of how they speak, how they stand on the sideline, a facial twitch or whatever. I also think is crosses the line saying a coach has no class. It’s one thing to think we know more about football than the Head Coach, but totally another to mount what is nothing short of a personal vendetta. Time we all showed some class! ziggy

I have read your posts Ziggy regarding the types of comments I make and others make regarding Buono. I respect your opinion, but I don’t agree that comments should be limited to Buono’s play calls.

A Head Football Coaching position of a professional football team is obviously much more than play calls (Buono doesn’t make many play calls during a game) or his technical knowledge. He is the face of the franchise and in the case of Buono, with our B.C. Lions, as GM and HC for most of his time here, he has not only been the prominent face of the franchise but quite often, the only face that is interviewed.

When a Head Football coach is hired, the process involves everything from his ability to develop players, motivate players, select players to start, to how he treats players and creates positive morale. The job position involves his public speaking abilities, as well as his availability in dealing with media. The job relates to his philosophy, coaching style, his coaching background, his personal background, his ability to work in a team concept with others, etc. etc.

In almost all Head Coaching position vacancies, the criterion most wanted from a Head Coach is Leadership Ability and Character - ability to build relationships – positive attitude– integrity – humility – selflessness – accountability – purpose – flexibility – thick skin – ability to connect – passion – integrity.

Therefore, a Head Coach is not only judged by his play calling but by his leadership skills, his character, how he deals with adversity, stress, and disappointment.

It is often said, to a certain degree, a team is a reflection of its Head Coach, or at the very least, a coach’s demeanor on the sidelines impacts his team in various ways. If he is poised, he helps to induce poise. If he is stressed, he creates more stress in his players, etc. etc. If he is accountable, he teaches his players to be more accountable too. In other words, he is supposed to be a role model to his players.

Should Wally Buono he held to a certain standard regarding the above. Yes, I believe that he should. In fact, I believe he should be held to the highest standard. Why? A number of reasons.

First of all, he is not only a Head Coach but a very experienced Head Coach. He was awarded the Order of Canada in 2015 and he inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

Secondly, he is sometimes referred to as legendary and has self-referred as a ‘legend’. With that, there is increased accountability.

Thirdly, his salary is paid for, mostly due to Lion fans who pay for tickets to attend games and by advertisers, who pay for commercials based on the numbers of viewers who watch Lions games. In other words, he is our Head Football coach.

Finally, Buono is also identified as a ‘public Christian who balances his visibility as a public person, a celeberated figure in professional sports, and his life as a person of faith’.

For example, in an interview with Peter Stockland on July 17, 2017, titled ‘God Promises More’ Buono states the following:

1)“True success is God changing your heart” and that means he doesn’t separate his public visibility, his celebrity as a sports figure, and his faith. Buono said “My little theme is every day is Sunday. I don't separate them. Your life, your family, your work, everything you do, your faith is a part of it in some way”.

2) That his players know how, and on what he bases his decisions. “They know how I deal with people based on what I believe from the Biblical point of view”.

3) That he recognizes that he is more than just a football coach. In Buono’s own words: “When people ask you to speak at an event, whether it's a prayer breakfast or another event, then obviously your reputation is grown in the sense that people now realize that you're not just a football coach, or you're not just a businessman. There's more to you. I believe that when you're put in this position, that's a responsibility”.

4) Buono evaluates his players on performance but he also evaluates them on attitude and behavior going forward. In Buono’s words:

“My thing is that I don't judge you. I evaluate you. My job is very cut and dried. I’ve got to put the best product on the field, and build the best team. Those are two really different criteria. The best talent is not always the best person. With these players, I want them to help me feed my daughters, not marry them. If their behaviour is not appropriate, I can deal with that. If it's an attitude issue, I can deal with that. If it's a discipline issue, I can deal with that”

Therefore, since attitude and behavior are factors that Buono uses to evaluate his players, he should also be ‘evaluated’ in those areas by a high standard too.

5 In terms of his players Buono said, in this interview “You want to show them that you care about them as more than just athletes. If you treat them as just athletes, then you're just using them to achieve your goals. But there’s also trying to help them to develop as men, and deal with issues that are very difficult”.

6. Our B.C. Lions and Buono himself, do not only focus on Buono, the 'play caller'. One example is 'Wally Wednesdays', where we get interviews with Wally on fascinating topics like Halloween and how he spent his vacation - an attempt to package the man as a person and personality (and not just play calls) and therefore, his personality is deemed to be a factor in selling tickets or endearing him (or not) to Lions fans.

7. Buono has almost unlimited access to the media and press and can control who talks to the media and who doesn't. Sports reporters travel with the team and rely on access to Buono for their jobs and also risk the wrath of Buono when they write something he doesn't like. Buono also has a paid publicity and public relations department that works diligently to present and package Buono in the best possible light.

I don’t see how Buono chewing out his offence and Travis Lulay, after the delay of game penalty, and then publicly stating that the play was sent in on time ‘developed Travis Lulay as a man’ or helped teach him to ‘deal with an issue that was difficult’.

To me, it seems that Buono’s response was more in the line of ‘Wally only wanting to achieve his own goal of a successful season before hanging them up’ and Travis’s feelings didn’t matter.

I don’t see how embarrassing your starting quarterback (who has just fought his way back from serious reconstruction surgery and is playing his heart, in front of his peers and on national television helps to develop Lulay’s character, manhood, or deal with a difficult issue, in any positive way. I only use Wally's own words.

Whether Wally wears a head set, or whether he appears uptight and nervous on the sidelines, or whether he is detached or involved with his players during a game, whether he encourages his players, advises them, ignores them, or chews them out, are all factors impacting a football team.

If a Head Coach takes responsibility and is accountable or whether he blames his players in post-game press conferences has impact – perhaps even more impact than a play call in a game.

How a Head Coach presents in press conferences, whether he appears articulate and knowledgeable and accountable or whether he is condescending, avoiding, or blaming either inspire confidence in players and fans or doesn’t.

Jim Mora was fired for his famous “Playoffs, what playoffs?” post-game interview in which he also undermined Peyton Manning’s game performance led to his firing. Don Matthews was let go because of his media relations.It had nothing to do with his game calls. Mike Ditka, who renewed pride in the Chicago Bears franchise was let go because he couldn’t hold his temper with his players on game days and because it became more about him than his players.

As a public figure, as a celebrated and very experienced Head Coach, and as the Head Coach of our Lions, as well as a person who says its about developing young men and not just his own goals, Buono should be held to a high standard as well as his own public words and statements.

Everything that Buono does and says, along with his demeanor and behaviors on the sidelines, his public comments, his example or non-example, his leadership abilities and not just his play calls, are there for public scrutiny. He understands that as every Head Coach does. I highly doubt that he himself, would say that a Head Coach should only be scrutinized for his play calls.

Wally Buono had a choice after the loss to the Red Blacks. When asked about the delay of game penalty, he could have said that they would need to figure out what had gone wrong and make sure it didn’t happen again in the future.

Instead he was eager to hang Travis Lulay out to dry while avoiding stating the fact that we had a 3-point lead, with less than 2 minutes to go and our defense should have come through.

To me, leadership is more than just game calls. Its about character and behavior in the myriad of situations that a Head Coach needs to deal with, at practices, during games, in press conferences, in releasing players, in signing contracts, and especially when dealing with stressful or disappointing situations.

Buono had the choice to ask Travis what happened, after the delay of game penalty and he had the choice of how to deal with the situation in the press conference after.

Instead he lost his temper during the game, he didn’t focus on the next task at hand, which was to prepare Travis for his next series with a positive mindset, and he certainly ensured that Travis was made to feel responsible for the ‘lost opportunity’ after the game.

If this was a ‘one off’ it would be different. But it’s a pattern of behavior from Buono, over a long period of time. Travis Lulay has always been responsible and accountable. Buono has not.

Nor can Buono’s behaviors be given a free pass because they are not a ‘play call’.

As mentioned earlier in this post, Buono has all kinds of ways, including a paid public relations department and a website to present and package him in the best possible light and he works diligently to do the same.

I'm just a measly old die hard Leos fan writing some posts, amongst many other posts, that hardly have any impact, if at all, in terms of Buono's image.

My suggestion, ziggy, is that if you find my posts or others' posts that are upsetting to you, because they focus on other things other than Buono's play calls or you see them as a personal vendetta by me (its not personal) or a personal attack, perhaps it would be a good thing to put my posts or others that tend to do the same, on ignore.

Toppy Vann wrote: Sat Jul 21, 2018 11:12 pm Blitz:

Buono in each game, stands on the sidelines, arms crossed, lip twitching. He has no head set, he usually isolates himself from his players and coaches, usually has no idea what offensive play has been called or what defensive formation or play call we are making on defense either. He just stands on the sidelines, tense, like a cobra, waiting to bite and keep biting.

Spot on! Never a criticism of his favourite coaches.

I'm not a Wally hater but I said when this idiotic arrangement was set up that the new GM who has proven twice he can hire HCs should have hired his own HC and fans wouldn't be be bringing up the long tail of mediocre teams that's hanging on Wally despite having the most wins ever by a CFL HC.

As Hugh Campbell used to say - it is never one play or one player to credit for a win or a loss and Lulay was not the guy who lost this game.

Wally ragging on Odell was something that I'd have done if my player pulled his stunt off and took a penalty for it. I don't agree with Wally ripping on his starting QB as that's the one player who can't play with too much adrenaline.

ziggy wrote: Sun Jul 22, 2018 1:49 pm Thanks for the advice, I will take it and leave you with your half dozen followers. I have always thought you posted some good info on football, but if you can’t see you are personally attacking Buono, over and over again, it’s best I get my info elsewhere and leave you to it. Sadly by moving on, I feel like I’m accepting behaviour that I know should not be accepted, but I take heart in the fact as you say, hardly anyone reads them!