Montreal Alouettes Thread

[OV Argo]

I am not a proponent of someone having to speak French to get a job in pro sports, but in Quebec it matters. You can bet if Jacques has any success this year, he will be named head coach next year. Huge win from a public relations standpoint, and the Als need it.

Have to agree - it would help in the Quebec pro sports scene to have a HC or others on the staff who can speak French - if only for PR.


We'll see how Chapdelaine does the rest of this season - still time to rally the troops to win the ultra mediocre East this year ? And if he does well, maybe he will get named HC (without the interim) - anything would be better than Poop who is clueless as a HC; though a lot of the BC fan forum did NOT like Chappy when he was their OC; but he is only going to run same old, standard, basic, simple CFL offence - with an inexperienced coach of an OC in AC.

I wonder if the Garden Gnome Danny Macocia is going to get another CFL call ? - didn\t think much of him as an HC with the Esks (but hey - won a GC !); but he has built the Montreal Carabins into a CIS football powerhouse - 2 straight Vanier trips and looking strong again (inspite of losing lots of star players from those Vanier years).

Poop punted out of town; new local owners would be ideal IMO. New GM ? Chappy as HC - names Macocia as DC (Thorpe moves on, and maybe best Calvillo does too) - 2 French speaking but very experienced Canadian football guys running the Als (and they could maybe hire some quality coaches from the Laval or Carabins staffs - i believe ex-Esk fullback/Laval QB Matt Bertrand is coaching there for example) - might be a nice fresh change for Montreal football after years and years of deep in Poop there, and some lagging CFL interest maybe. No more need to sign Michael Sam or Ochocinco or other washed-up/has-been over-rated ex all-American/NFL heroes; maybe sign or draft some more young Quebec football talent instead (they have some already - might not hurt to add a few more).

[Argo57]

You're all assume Thorpe even wanted the HC job.

You may be correct, he wanted the job 2-3 years ago but tried to leave and go to another organization after that, (Can't recall who)??

[PullTogether73]

Indeed, it's not enough to be a linguist - a cunning linguist is required for the head coaching position.

Seriously?
What grade are you in at school right now?

[PullTogether73]

It makes sense that Chapdelaine was named head coach. The Montreal Canadiens would never hire a HC who could not speak French and the Alouettes should do the same.

Why?

AFAIK, the Alouettes have never had a French speaking head coach in their long history.

[Argo]

Seriously?
What grade are you in at school right now?

You'll be less perturbed if you avoid commenting on every post you disapprove of.

[OV Argo]

Why?

AFAIK, the Alouettes have never had a French speaking head coach in their long history.

Yeah - so what ?

[R.J]

Continue hearing #Als are $300,000 over the salary cap - money that can't be made up this late in the season. Time will tell.

— Herb Zurkowsky (@HerbZurkowsky1) October 14, 2016

Not the first time I've heard/read about this. If true Wetenhall could end up playing a lot of money ($2 for very dollar between $100-300k and $3 for anything over $300k), plus potential loss of draft picks. Interesting to see what could happen there as Popp traded their first rounder in 2017. Maybe 2nd rounder in 2017 and 1st rounder in 2018 ?

[PullTogether73]

Yeah - so what ?

Just saw this.

My point is that, if the Alouettes have made it through their entire history, including periods of separatist referendums, separatist terror bombings, and government by a separatist party, without having a french-speaking head coach, apparently without any attendance or PR consequences, why do they need to have a french-speaking coach now?

It is a bonus if they do have one imo, but it has never been a requirement.
If they appointed another english-speaking head coach instead of Chapdelaine, I don't think there would have been any comment anywhere about the spoken language of that coach.

[R.J]

#AlsMTL HC Jacques Chapdelaine says Vernon Adams Jr will be starting QB vs #Riders. Cato will back him up. #CFL via @JGuayJDM

— CFL News (@CFL_News) October 17, 2016

May as well give Adams some reps, not like Cato was lighting it up, and it's not as if the Als are fighting for a playoff spot.

[OV Argo]

Just saw this.

My point is that, if the Alouettes have made it through their entire history, including periods of separatist referendums, separatist terror bombings, and government by a separatist party, without having a french-speaking head coach, apparently without any attendance or PR consequences, why do they need to have a french-speaking coach now?

It is a bonus if they do have one imo, but it has never been a requirement.
If they appointed another english-speaking head coach instead of Chapdelaine, I don't think there would have been any comment anywhere about the spoken language of that coach.

Ummm, the old Montreal Als folded back in the 80s due to sagging attendance and lack of fan interest in Montreal.

Nope - a billingual coach is not required there, and agreed it could be looked at as a bonus - but a very big bonus perhaps - in both marketing the team and getting along with the media there; AND, maybe in identifying with some of the very good football players coming out of that province/right in their back-yard for some time now, and getting them to sign perhaps (Als draft pick of a couple of seasons back - David Foucault - comes to mind - spent some time in the NFL and now a FA - maybe Chapdelaine has a better shot of convincing him to play in Montreal?)

[PullTogether73]

Nope - a billingual coach is not required there, and agreed it could be looked at as a bonus - but a very big bonus perhaps - in both marketing the team and getting along with the media there; AND, maybe in identifying with some of the very good football players coming out of that province/right in their back-yard for some time now, and getting them to sign perhaps (Als draft pick of a couple of seasons back - David Foucault - comes to mind - spent some time in the NFL and now a FA - maybe Chapdelaine has a better shot of convincing him to play in Montreal?)

Completely agree, especially the latter point about drawing French Canadian players to the Alouettes.
I wonder if the relatively recent success of schools like Laval and Montreal may supply French Canadian coaches in the future?

[doubleblue]

You never know sometimes about people until they get in charge. Chapdelaine to me just has the look and demeanor of a HC who is in charge and knows what he's doing. That he is French is a big plus in Montreal IMO. Give him a good QB and things could turn around very quickly for the Als.

[R.J]

Jim Popp was supposed to meet the media today. Now, it'll be tomorrow with #Als' president Mark Weightman. Must be big news.

— Herb Zurkowsky (@HerbZurkowsky1) November 6, 2016

[Argoknot]

Big news all right. Jim Popp is history.

[R.J]

Good move by the Als IMO - Popp's ego, cap mismanagement, and lack of backup plan for AC (After Calvillo) was his undoing. I hope that if Barker is fired, our new owners don't go after Popp because he's a big name. Maciocia and Sunderland will probably receive phone calls from the Wetenhall's.

[R.J]

Kavis Reed ???

http://www.tsn.ca/reports-reed-darkh...ls-gm-1.627861

[gilthethrill]

Kavis Reed ???

http://www.tsn.ca/reports-reed-darkh...ls-gm-1.627861

I like it!

[R.J]

http://3downnation.com/2016/12/09/al...ations-report/

Similar structure that Lawless believes Copeland is looking into - Football "czar"/President of football operations to over see coach and GM.

[R.J]

It has been confirmed. Danny Maciocia will not join the Alouettes and will remain as HC with the Carabins. @CFL

— Didier Orméjuste (@DidierRDS) December 10, 2016

Danny Maciocia has decided to remain head coach at Université de Montreal. Spurns #Als in the process.

— Herb Zurkowsky (@HerbZurkowsky1) December 10, 2016

[R.J]

http://montrealgazette.com/sports/fo...all-operations

Until the #Als can get their act together, I'm afraid more and more executives won't want to work for them. Players, too.

— Herb Zurkowsky (@HerbZurkowsky1) December 10, 2016