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Winnipeg Blue Bomber Report Record: 7–11–0

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It's good to be blah

Blue Bombers' quiet, steady head coach LaPolice a welcome change

By: Ed Tait

6/02/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 10

If Winnipeg Blue Bomber fans want flash -- a funny or controversial quote or a whole lot of bold promises and proclamations -- they'll need to look elsewhere.

Truthfully, there wasn't a whole lot about Paul LaPolice's introduction as the as the 28th head coach in the team's 80-year history that instantly jumped off the page or had the assembled masses ready to knock down walls for the man.

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Not that that's a bad thing, given this team has gone through four head coaches and enjoyed just one winning season over the last six years...

"We want this to be a 'we' organization not an 'I' organization," began LaPolice. "'I' is not a very strong word; 'we' is a very strong word.

"We are going to do what's right for this organization. It's not going to be about Paul LaPolice or any of the players individually, it's going to be about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers."

Speaking straight from the unofficial coach's manual, the 40-year-old New Hampshire product stressed a team-first approach. He talked about being well prepared, professional and organized, about being detail-oriented and working hard. In many ways he sounded like the perfect winger if your plans called for heading out and painting the town beige.

But all of this is partly by design, too. In naming LaPolice as boss, new VP and GM of football operations Joe Mack selected a man who will not only be the youngest head coach in the CFL, but one not likely to grab off-the-field headlines for all the wrong reasons.

This is a man whose best and most creative work is recognized across the CFL as being in the Xs and Os of a game plan, not in a sexy sound bite. And if you're thinking that sounds a lot like Greg Marshall, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive co-ordinator and the runner-up -- again -- good call.

But the fact LaPolice comes from the offensive side of the ball shouldn't be overlooked.

"The more feedback I was getting about our offence over the last couple of years, it just seemed like it was obvious it was something that had to be addressed," said Mack.

"I knew nothing about Paul when I first got into this process. I started with, 'OK, who's doing well in the league? What are the best teams doing?' And when I started to ask around, ask people what teams were giving them problems, the Roughriders' offence and their formations kept coming up. And when I asked for names, I kept getting, 'You may want to talk to this young guy Paul LaPolice.' His name just kept popping up.

"And when he was here before, Khari Jones and Milt Stegall were very, very successful. I spoke to Milt and he couldn't say enough good things about Paul."

The son of working-class folk, LaPolice followed his older brother Matt -- a kicker at Boston University -- to the game. But while he was intrigued by business and is still a voracious reader of leadership and business books, he was drawn to coaching and teaching after playing at Plymouth State College.

Sitting alone after the initial swarm of interviews on Friday, LaPolice admitted he's much more comfortable devising a game plan and being in the meeting room with the troops rather than addressing the media.

And that, in a nutshell, is what the man is all about.

"I'm ready because I came into this league at 29 and I've lasted," LaPolice said. "I'm ready because I became an offensive co-ordinator at 31 and we had success. I've adapted to situations and I'm confident in my abilities. Don't get me wrong, I'm going to have help. We'll get a good staff and we'll come to play.

"One of the things (Mack) asked me in the interview was about my goals. I said I'd like to live somewhere for a long period of time. I want to try and build something here and be consistent as an organization and be consistent as a team."

Again, that's not exactly win-one-for-the-Gipper type stuff. But it is honest.

And with that LaPolice motioned to get up, then paused, looked at his inquisitor and asked:

"We're done? Good. I've got to get going because we've got a lot of work to do."

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

 

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 6, 2010 D1

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10 Commentscomment icon

larksexpress....what's done is done. You and I have opinions but we are not experts so I say let's give Mack and LaPolice the opportunity to show their stuff...

by the way, one does have to question why Marshall, who has been a lead candidate for a number of head coach openings with the Bombers and elsewhere, has never gotten the nod....maybe there is nothing to it...but it does cause one to wonder...

stay thirsty

Can we please stop bringing up the name Dinwiddie, the back-up who did nothing with the chances he was given? God, he won a single game for us and failed miserably consistently afterwards. Enough already, lets move on.

I to would like to see Dinwiddie come back to training camp. I though that when he was focused, he was a very accurate and mobile player. What he needed was more experience and a coach with confidence in him.

We need a good Oline and QB. After that it looks not too bad.

Well...all I have to say is the 'PEG has made the biggest mistake yet in BOMBERVILLE...I said when MACK was hired as the G.M.if he didn't hire as the head coach GREG MARSHALL he should be fired A.S.A.P...they also hire the head of scouting/player personnel a man that for the last 4 years was scouting for ESPN a USA sports network...what's up with that MR. NOLL?...and you still haven't released the bum BISHOP while your QB sits on your roster...RICKEY SANTOS who you obtained from the ALOUETTES last year...BARRIN SIMPSON should at the right price be re-signed after the roller coaster year he had because of your terrible management last year...but that was last year so move on and do the right thing now...and as my friend in the 'PEG...GORDIE DAVIS said to me...and you thought MAD DOG MIKE KELLY was fired and gone from the 'PEG...foolish you.

Sun is reporting Mark Nelson and Campbell are fired and if the said information is correct then what are their options? Are they going to make Harris the DC or bring in someone like Rich Stubler (former Argos defensive Guru) as the Bombers defensive head? When we don't have a high rated QB then it's best to improve our defence (front 7 and secondary). If we trade Bishop for Joseph the latter has more skills to offer LaPolice. If LaPolice thinks he is comfertable working with a young QB then may I suggest Adrian McPherson would be a better choice. LaPolice can make Santos and DiMichele good QBs and that's going take some time. If he thinks that way then it's better to work with Bishop or Joseph.

Ryan Dinwiddie was not given a fair chance in the last year's training camp and infairness to Ryan, he should be asked to report to the 2010 TC. Who knows may be with LaPolice's training he might end up as a proven backup. While the long term search is on, some of my thoughts may be of help to the Bombers. On the other side of the court we should make sure our secondary is the best in CFL. As repeated we should bring in Byron Parker. The guys gone to the NFL may or may not come back and we should go all out to field a good team to atleast win 5 out of first 9 games. This is a must. The guys if they come back it won't be until late August and by that time it's too late to anticipate any progress. Mack should give LaPolice the players he needs to compete in our 8 team league.

i'm gonna wait and SEE before i judge ths year, but i do wish him well! and hope he know's what he got into coming here if the out look is grim!!

One of the multitude of negative posters on various sites (why do young people think that negativity equates with intelligence/knowledge of the subject?) said yesterday that Mr. LaPolice used the word 'okay' many times in his introductory address, and labeled him a moron. I only heard it once. And he used none of the other catch phrases currently popular with our youth. Sounds like an intelligent, dedicated young man to me. Here's hoping he works out well.

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I can't wait until the season starts. I'm hoping That LaPolice takes phone calls in his weekly Radio show. This year will be better than last I'm sure :) GO BLUE !!

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"One of the things (Mack) asked me in the interview was about my goals. I said I'd like to live somewhere for a long period of time. I want to try and build something here and be consistent as an organization and be consistent as a team."

I love that quote, because it would be awesome if we were to become a consistent organization, one that is a lock to make the playoffs, and certain to make some noise there, too. Organizations like the BC Lions and Montreal Alouettes should definitely be the benchmark we're trying to reach. And it would be great to have a long-term coach stick in this city for a number of years, like we USED to have.

I'm cautiously optimistic.

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