Coach of the Year Scott Milanovich

[bluto]

He was a rookie HC.
He brought a new (and very complex) offence to a team which had nearly 50% personnel turnover.
He had a new DC with a new defence.
He released the team's star runningback while he still lead the league in rushing.
There were highpoints. (like labour dayand the rematch a week later)
There were lowpoints. (like losing bad in Saskatchewan and Winnipeg)
But through it all he maintained an even keel and demonstrated belief in his team and his system.
They caught fire at the right time and went on a 5 game roll of dominance...
...that ended in this:

237

and now, coach Scott can cap off his 2012 season with this:

238

Onwards and Upwards.

[bluto]

34 out of 45 first place votes.

[1argoholic]

You gotta love it! Let's do it all again this year. haha.

[294life]

well deserved congrats. trestman for one would be proud.

those low points were actually in toronto. just getting through that 3 game home losing streak was the real turning point for me.

[bluto]

only one way to top this...

#101GC

[294life]

that's going to be a toughie for sure. but if it happens i'll be in regina to see it. with the wind at my back is where i chose my end zone seat.

[1argoholic]

You'll have plenty of wind. I've sat through two chilly Grey Cups in the land of gang green.

[ArgoRavi]

well deserved congrats. trestman for one would be proud.

those low points were actually in toronto. just getting through that 3 game home losing streak was the real turning point for me.

This forum was like a funeral home after that three game home losing streak late in the season. What happened after that can always be used for inspiration as to how a season can be turned around even when everything looks bleak.

[bluto]

This forum was like a funeral home after that three game home losing streak late in the season. What happened after that can always be used for inspiration as to how a season can be turned around even when everything looks bleak.

Well said Double-R. They believed in themselves and each other when most of us had lost faith and that will serve as a rallying point for years to come when things look bleak.

I'd imagine that like many others here, I wasn't counting on a GC last season... especially when you look at how it was often a case of one step forward one step back... but i always saw the potential in this team. i believed that if there would ever be a game where they put it all together and played up to their potential that they could play and beat anybody. Then they surprised me by doing it for 5 straight weeks... and that is a well coached team.

[Will]

It would seem that CFL haters are trying to use Milanovich's victory to label the league "bush league" because the team wasn't above .500.

[ArgoRavi]

It would seem that CFL haters are trying to use Milanovich's victory to label the league "bush league" because the team wasn't above .500.

When you include the postseason, they were three games over .500.

[294life]

My only beef is that he didn't mention trestman in his speech. sure he didn't have to but that still rubbed me the wrong way.

[294life]

You'll have plenty of wind. I've sat through two chilly Grey Cups in the land of gang green.

do they have seat belts? lol.

[argotom]

This forum was like a funeral home after that three game home losing streak late in the season. What happened after that can always be used for inspiration as to how a season can be turned around even when everything looks bleak.

Granted though we as Argo fans were very concerned early on.
What's the saying, the season is a marathon not a sprint.

[Rich]

I was extremely critical of Coach M early last season, and I'm happy to admit how wrong I was. I said he was aloof and too inexperienced to hold the room together. I accused him of being more interested in his vaunted offensive system than he was in the greater good of the team. I accused him of not taking advantage of the particular strengths of each player. I said he didn't know how to scheme a good running play.

I could not have been more wrong. I think the guy will one day be seen as one of the great Argo coaches of all time. By the end of last season, he had transformed that offence into a unit that, when at the top of its game, will be very difficult for anybody to stop. He had three offensive players who could, and did, take the ball at any point on the field -- from a QB handoff to a deep post pattern and everything in between -- and create some serious YAC. This speaks to the creativity of the OC as much as it does to the exceptional abilities of those three players. That's an offence that will give any defence fits, and it can only perform at a higher level in 2013.

And beyond the the Xs and Os, Coach M showed great leadership and obviously proved to be a coach who earned the respect of his players. He's got what looks like a perfect balance of intensity and calmness for a coach, and I think he's close enough to the players in age, and a good enough guy, that the lines of communication looked fantastic. There was one great vibe coming from that dressing room last year.

My prediction is we will win a Cup every year of his contract (what's left two more years?), he'll be seen as a genius and some desperate NFL team will sign him as a prodigy head coach.

[294life]

My prediction is we will win a Cup every year of his contract (what's left two more years?), he'll be seen as a genius and some desperate NFL team will sign him as a prodigy head coach.

I was drinking coffee as I was reading this and some squirted through my nose.

[Rich]

I was drinking coffee as I was reading this and some squirted through my nose.

You're doing it wrong. You're supposed to swallow the coffee.

Surely you can't deny the possibility of the Argos repeating or even three-peating as Cup champs?

And you don't think winning a championship in his first three seasons as a head coach would attract any interest from down south?

[OV Argo]

You're doing it wrong. You're supposed to swallow the coffee.

Surely you can't deny the possibility of the Argos repeating or even three-peating as Cup champs?

And you don't think winning a championship in his first three seasons as a head coach would attract any interest from down south?

Both are possible Rich; but i wouldn't bet on either; with some decent odds - I might bet on the repeat, but a 3 peat hasn't happened since when in the CFL (= decades); straight to the NFL as a HC without some assistant coaching gig first = real long odds (hey happened with Hughie Campbell though - ties in with that decades ago 3 peat).

[ArgoRavi]

Both are possible Rich; but i wouldn't bet on either; with some decent odds - I might bet on the repeat, but a 3 peat hasn't happened since when in the CFL (= decades); straight to the NFL as a HC without some assistant coaching gig first = real long odds (hey happened with Hughie Campbell though - ties in with that decades ago 3 peat).

Edmonton winning those five in a row really was quite remarkable, wasn't it, OV? They were the team everyone loved to hate. Also, when they came into your city to play your team, it was a big event. The Argos drew close to 50k for a couple of those Edmonton visits. I am not sure that any of us will see such a dynasty again in our lifetime but if anyone is going to do it, let's hope that it is the Argos over the next few years.

One thing to keep in mind about those '78-'82 Esks is that they had to win 10 do or die games during that time - five West Finals which they hosted and five Grey Cups. They were almost knocked off a few times - there were close calls in the '81 West Final against B.C. and the '82 West Final against Winnipeg and Ottawa came oh so close to knocking the Esks off in the '81 Grey Cup - but the Esks always seemed to have a bit too much for the opposition.

[argonaut11xx]

straight to the NFL as a HC without some assistant coaching gig first = real long odds (hey happened with Hughie Campbell though - ties in with that decades ago 3 peat).

Im pretty sure Hugh Campbell coached in the USFL (LA Express), after the Eskimo's, and before he became coach of the Houston Oilers...so technically he didnt jump directly...

BUT who cares.....i want Milanovich to win multiple cups in Toronto...but wouldnt want him to jump ship.

[OV Argo]

Im pretty sure Hugh Campbell coached in the USFL (LA Express), after the Eskimo's, and before he became coach of the Houston Oilers...so technically he didnt jump directly...

BUT who cares.....i want Milanovich to win multiple cups in Toronto...but wouldnt want him to jump ship.

Yep - coached in the USFL, but still a rare example of a CFL HC going straight (minus that USFL short stint) to an NFL HC job - and arrived at the Houston Oilers with Warren Moon.

[gilthethrill]

Yep - coached in the USFL, but still a rare example of a CFL HC going straight (minus that USFL short stint) to an NFL HC job - and arrived at the Houston Oilers with Warren Moon.

I loved those Oiler uniforms...did Hugh have the pleasure of coaching #34, the great Earl Campbell?

[KCargosfan]

I was extremely critical of Coach M early last season, and I'm happy to admit how wrong I was.

I was extremely critical of releasing Boyd and of our OL personnel. I was wrong on both there as Kackert is a stud and the OL performed well in the playoffs and down the stretch in the regular season.

[OV Argo]

Yeah - I'm guilty too of being mighty skeptical that Coach M would be a good one; proved a bunch of us wrong I guess; now time to prove that his rooke HC season was no fluke or that is was more on landing Ricky Ray or a smart DC like Jones.

Arrrrrrrrrgooooos !!!

[294life]

You're doing it wrong. You're supposed to swallow the coffee.

Surely you can't deny the possibility of the Argos repeating or even three-peating as Cup champs?

And you don't think winning a championship in his first three seasons as a head coach would attract any interest from down south?

pinball said it. the only thing harder than winning a grey cup is repeating. trust me when i say that 2010 was no cakewalk.

[Midnight Blue]

pinball said it. the only thing harder than winning a grey cup is repeating. trust me when i say that 2010 was no cakewalk.


Piece of cake. To repeat in 2013, all we have to do is sign Adriano Belli for the last two games (to warm up, and be available for the playoffs). If nothing else, he could keep the field goal kickers and punters in shape, by chasing them round and round the field after a successful kick, trying to kiss them. But humour aside, Adriano is a spiritual leader on this team. It would be good to have him around, no matter what his role or capacity on this team. Even if he only serves the after-game lasagna, and makes sure the beer is cold.

Ka' Pla !