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Blue recruit LaPolice again

Run out of town 7 years ago, he's returning as head coach

By: Ed Tait

5/02/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 3

He's young, energetic and has been called one of the bright and innovative minds in the CFL

But here's the funny thing about Paul LaPolice, the man who will be introduced as the 28th head coach in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' 80-year history at a noon press conference today.

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Seven years ago, he was not so politely ushered out of town as the team's offensive co-ordinator, but wisely -- especially now in hindsight -- bit down hard on his tongue rather than lash out against the organization.

And his sin way back in 2003?

He was thrust forward as the fall guy/scapegoat after the Bomber offence had -- gasp! -- fallen from first in scoring to fourth in his two years at the controls.

Just for the record, those two years saw Khari Jones throw for 71 touchdowns and Milt Stegall pull in 38 scores while Charles Roberts finished second and first in league rushing.

"The expectations were huge," recalled Jones, now the QB coach with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, on Thursday. "We did so much in 2001 and 2002, and then 2003 came along... I threw for 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns that year, we rushed the ball for a ton and were 11-7, but it was just going to be tough for us to be good enough in some people's minds.

"Plus, we lost some good players. We didn't have Mike Sellers, Arland Bruce, and those guys were a big part of what we did in 2002. But we adapted and made it work and found a way to make it successful.

"We all had heard that Greg (Marshall) might get that job out there," Jones added. "But LaPo knows his stuff. He's a real smart guy and we had some success. He's easy to talk to, and in 2002-2003 we did some good things together. The results speak for themselves."

Marshall, meanwhile, will be the runner-up for the Bombers' head-coaching gig for the third time in the last five years after losing out to Doug Berry in 2006 and Mike Kelly last year.

The Ticats' defensive boss is now considered the front-runner for the Toronto Argonauts' head-coaching vacancy and may wish to avoid all future phone calls from the 204 area code.

"This isn't the Olympics -- you aren't happy that you got a silver medal," Marshall told the Hamilton Spectator. "I'm disappointed, but now my focus goes back to the job at hand here in Hamilton. I would have liked a different outcome in Winnipeg, but I'm happy to be here."

Marshall said he spoke to Bombers vice-president and general manager of football operations Joe Mack on Wednesday and got the vibe the club was seeking more of "an offensive flavour."

Asked if he'd still be interested in the Argos job, given what has happened over the last few years, Marshall said: "I really don't have an answer for that at this moment. I'm still trying to come to grips with what just happened and sort some things out."

LaPolice, who at 40 is the youngest Bomber head coach since Jeff Reinebold, comes back to Winnipeg with 10 years of CFL experience under his belt, including the last two years as the Saskatchewan Roughriders' offensive co-ordinator.

He was a coach for seven years in the U.S. college ranks with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the University of New Hampshire, Western Connecticut State and Maine Maritime University before joining the Argonauts (2000-01), the Bombers (2002-03), the Ticats (2004-05) and Roughriders (2007-09)

In Saskatchewan, he was hailed for helping the Riders produce offensively despite a rash of injuries during the last two years. For the record, despite the fact that the shot of him throwing his hat in disgust at the end of the Riders' Grey Cup loss to the Alouettes last November is now infamous, as offensive co-ordinator, he was no way responsible for the 13th man on the field.

"He's an intelligent guy and he's one of the great minds in the Canadian Football League right now," said Bomber offensive tackle Glenn January, who played with the Riders in '08. "When I played under him as an offensive co-ordinator, the game plans he came prepared with were always really good. He does an excellent job of coaching and motivating his guys.

"The year I was in Saskatchewan (2008), they had a ton of injuries. I mean, everybody was hurt and we were still productive on the offensive side, even though half our starters were out.

"He's got a good personality, and that will fit the community. He's an honest guy. He doesn't sugar-coat things. You'll know how he feels about you because he's very straightforward in his approach."

BLUE NOTES: The Bombers have also filled their director of player personnel position with the hiring of Ken Moll. He'll replace John Murphy, who was fired last month. Moll has spent the past four years with ESPN.com as one of their NFL insiders and has extensive experience as a scout for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars (1994-98) and Cleveland Browns (1998-05). Before becoming a scout, he spent 15 years as a collegiate assistant... The B.C. Lions announced Thursday the signing of former Bomber WR Derick Armstrong, run out of town last year for refusing to take the field in the season-opening loss to Edmonton after a disagreement with then-head coach Mike Kelly.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 5, 2010 C1

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