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Fans split on coach's firing
Blue Bomber fan Rick Bezditny figures it's not Paul LaPolice's fault the Bombers "don't have a quarterback." (RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
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There is a split between Blue Bomber fans when it comes to Paul LaPolice and the fact he was fired as head coach Saturday.
"I am a Bomber season ticket holder since 1998," said David Thompson, as he stood near the Bombers store at Canad Inns Stadium dressed in a team hoodie. "The fact that (Quarterback Joey) Elliott didn't have a chance to start during the first part of the season is an indictment on the coaching staff," he said, noting he comes to see games all the way from his home in Grand Forks, N.D. "I think firing LaPolice was the right move."
"Are you serious?" asked Rick Bezditny upon hearing LaPolice was axed. "To me the biggest issue is we don't have a quarterback, and I don't know if that's his problem," said Bezditny, referring to LaPolice.
"Elliott's been playing good, you gotta give 'em some games," he said as his son, Nick, nodded his head in agreement.
"I didn't think he should be fired, but I guess let's see what happens now. If we do worse, he was doing the best he could," said Nick.
Darryl Unrau referred to himself as someone who "used to be" a fan until the Bombers performance this season. He explained that he thinks changes within the team — not LaPolice's coaching — are hindering the team's success.
"How's the coach supposed to engrave his touch to a team when there are always changes in the season? I mean, the team changes too much," he said, before heading into the Bombers store. "Until you have a certain group of guys sticking together year in and year out, you're not going to get that chemistry. It takes time to build. You can't do that with a new group of guys each year," he said.
LaPolice had coached the Blue Bombers since February 2010 and defensive co-ordinator Tim Burke was named his replacement.
kristy.hoffman@freepress.mb.ca
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