Chapdelaine Will Call the Plays as Receivers Coach
Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 9:31 am
Chapdelaine's full circle
Return-to-B.C. dream coming true for coach
Lowell Ullrich The Province
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
The dour reality of unemployment brought out emotions ranging from hope to disbelief when Jacques Chapdelaine thought about the future with his better half.
Kim Chapdelaine took several contemplative walks with her husband in November after he was fired as offensive co-ordinator of the Edmonton Eskimos. He had job offers. But the place Chapdelaine really wanted to work had no openings, or so he thought, and surely the Lions wouldn't take him back after a year away.
"We had talked about relocating to a place in Canada where it's best for our family regardless of football. That place was Abbotsford," Chapdelaine said.
"When I closed my eyes and thought about the best fit for me, I kept thinking about B.C. My wife said, 'You're dreaming.' What's happened has been divine intervention."
It became reality when the former offensive co-ordinator of the Lions sat in the empty office of departed defensive signal caller Dave Ritchie and discussed his improbable return.
Coach Wally Buono will outline specifics of Chapdelaine's job at a news conference to introduce his coaching staff Thursday. Previously, The Province reported Chapdelaine would be named receivers coach.
Several players say they expect Chapdelaine will be flashing signals as he did in the past, however, and regardless of title it is clear he will have input into the offence.
Call it a marriage of convenience and necessity. Chapdelaine needed the Lions as much as the club needed him.
Eventually, it may well seem as if Chapdelaine never bolted for Edmonton days after he was offered a two-year contract as assistant head coach and assurances by the Esks he would be considered a candidate to eventually replace Danny Maciocia.
It may already seem as if Chapdelaine never took a shot at the Lions, when he said that among his reasons for taking the Edmonton job was the fact he wasn't brought in on some personnel matters, remarks he did not deny but claimed were taken out of context.
And it may someday feel as if he was never openly mocked by the Eskimos after he was fired in November.
"In a way, that was so funny. The day before a game you'd see Jacques rehearsing his hand signals," Esks quarterback Ricky Ray told the Edmonton Sun.
Chapdelaine said he is beyond feelings of betrayal or surprise over his firing, though he paused when asked if he was a scapegoat for the Esks' second straight non-playoff finish. He also accepted some blame for his failings.
"The theory of going [to Edmonton] was good; nothing ventured, nothing gained. The practicality of it wasn't quite as good. Edmonton was looking for [results] and when you go in with a two-year contract you think you have a two-year window. But it became clear it was a lot more immediate," he said.
"What I've learned is it's always good to go where people know you as a person, not on reputation. You have to be aware of the differences in culture when you join an organization, and I'm not sure if I adapted quickly enough."
Buono was stung hard by the loss of his offensive co-ordinator weeks after winning the 2006 Grey Cup, and the remarks that followed. But when his offence last year suffered sizable drops in first downs, passing yards, touchdowns and completion percentage, he found it easy to turn the other cheek.
"One of the reasons it was important to bring Jacques in was [that] I felt we need a strong influence in the throwing game," Buono said.
And so he's back, trying to put his career back where it was a year ago, looking to relocate his family in Abbotsford one more time.
Chapdelaine still wants to be a CFL head coach some day and still is a believer in the Lions offensive scheme, though opponents have defended it with increasing success, making him a human piñata in fan chat rooms.
But he hardly lost any passion for the Lions. Buono was in Hawaii and hadn't even formally tendered a new contract in December, but Chapdelaine had already flown to Vancouver and begun breaking down game film.
It may have been his only way to be sure he wasn't dreaming.
lullrich@png.canwest.com
:lol: 8)
I agree Orange