Popp stars

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/10/2011 (5156 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE numbers both boggle the mind and beg the question: What is it that the Montreal Alouettes have been doing so very right for so very long now?

Consider: With a victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Canad Inns Stadium this afternoon, the Alouettes would clinch their 10th East Division regular-season title since 1999 — a span of just 13 seasons.

That’s crazy, of course.

Even given the small number of teams in the East, it is almost incomprehensible that one team has been so utterly dominant for so many years.

Indeed, the Bombers will have the full weight of history working against them today. Only three times since 1999 has a team other than Montreal won the East and advanced straight to the East Final: In 2001, when Winnipeg won the division and in 2005 and 2007 when Toronto won.

In stark contrast, the West Division title has been distributed much more evenly during that same period, five times going to the B.C.

Lions, three times apiece to the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos and once to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

So what is it? Is it simply a function of the fact that Anthony Calvillo — widely regarded, and now with the record-setting numbers to back it up, as the greatest quarterback in the history of the CFL — has been the Montreal pivot for that entire period, joining the Als in 1998?

Or is it something deeper and more systemic in the Als organization that consistently breeds excellence even as the players change from year to year — and is therefore something Winnipeg could learn from?

Calvillo laughs at the idea that it’s all about him. “It’s definitely not all about me because we’ve had a lot of great players on this team over the years,” Calvillo said during the Alouettes media availability at a downtown hotel on Friday.

“And I think that’s because players want to play for us because they want to compete for championships. I think we’ve earned that. Guys who can’t get it done somewhere else or are new to the league say, ‘OK, let’s see what this organization is all about.’ Our reputation has allowed us to get great players — and great coaches as well.”

One of those coaches is Als field boss Marc Trestman, who joined Montreal in 2008 and has led his team to the Grey Cup game in each of those three seasons, winning the last two.

But Trestman gives the credit to his boss. “The only commonality in our organization the last 15 years has been (GM) Jim Popp,” said Trestman, also citing the support of Als owner Robert Wetenhall. “That’s where it all begins for me.”

Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice also cited Popp’s consistent presence in the Als organization over the years as a major factor in the team’s success. “You have his philosophy, his beliefs and he’s obviously good at what he does. And everyone in that organization knows what to expect from him and how to help him do his job.”

So what is expected from you as an Als player?

Winning, says a couple of current Bombers standouts who used to ply their trade in Montreal.

“They’ve been winning for such a long time over there, it’s almost become a tradition,” says Clint Kent, who played the 2006 and 2007 seasons in Montreal. “They’re like the New York Yankees — everyone just expects them to win.

“It all starts at the top over there and works its way down,” said Bombers slotback Terrence Edwards, who played the 2005 and 2006 seasons in Montreal. “And they keep guys around and mould them into how they want them to play and how they want them to be.

“Look at (receiver) S.J. Green — he didn’t play for the first couple of years, look at him now.

(Running back) Brandon Whitaker didn’t play for the first few years — look at him now. It takes awhile to get adjusted to the CFL game and those guys have been really good about being patient.”

The good news for Bombers fans is their club now has a GM in Joe Mack who’s also willing to be patient — witness the minimal changes Mack made after last year’s 4-14 season.

Mack’s patience has already paid huge dividends this season, but the question heading into today is whether Winnipeg’s time has finally come, or do the faithful have to be patient for yet another year?

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca