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| https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2019/11/04/desjardins-goudie-speak-to-media/ |
This is a shocking development in Ottawa football, but not unforseen.
In my previous RedBlacks blog written back in January, I suggested that if 2019 was a losing season, either Campbell or Desjardins would be gone.
What bothers me most is how Campbell left. While it seems all amicable and lovey-dovey, I'm sure it was anything but! Both RedBlacks GM, Marcel Desjardins and (former) Head Coach, Rick Campbell are on the same page, saying similar things. This is a sure sign that Campbell doesn't want to burn any CFL bridges and that the separation speeches were written by the same writer, or at least scripted by someone at OSEG head office.
Desjardins is quoted as saying, “Rick (Campbell) thought our relationship wasn’t strong enough for him to continue.” Then Rick Campbell said, “Sometimes relationships have to jive (…) it makes things tougher (...)”
Kumbaya; Everybody’s happy! We are all just one big happy RedBlack family!
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| By Ottawa RedBlacks - https://www.cfl.ca/, Public Domain, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56153483 |
I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!!
This debacle of a season may have been dropped on Campbell’s proverbial shoulders – and he may be accepting the blame for the season but, we really know Campbell is too classy to bad mouth the organization in public. Let's face it - you can't win a war if you have arrows and the opponents have bombs.Desjardins simply made too many errors in too short a time this season. Unfortunately, Campbell is the one footing the bill for this ineptitude. From allowing five top players to get away and be signed by opposition teams to signing a washed up QB with a history. Desjardins got caught with his pants down and wasn’t able to recover in time.
Desjardins has done a great job getting players to come to Ottawa - starting in the expansion drafts and free-agent signings over the next two years. He made a serious commitment error between Henry Burris and the later signing of Trevor Harris, and then letting Harris get away after such a short span of time. In sports, sure history is important, but fielding such a weak team, 8 months after being close to a second Grey Cup, is inexcusable.
There was also the (speculative) treatment of Henry Burris after the Grey Cup win. Trevor Harris was supposedly promised the starter's job in 2017, which would have meant Burris had a choice of being a back-up QB or to retire. He chose to retire - after all he had done in Ottawa, this treatment was simply not cool!
Was is overconfidence? Was it pure coincidence? Were quality free agents simply not available last year? Maybe all of the above, and maybe an issue with forking out the dough for these 5. Perhaps if he had made a serious effort to keep 3 of them, the team would be in the playoffs right now.
So what happened Saturday?
Canadian Press reports that there was simply too much animosity between Campbell and Desjardins. When Mark Goudie (OSEG Executive) reportedly told Campbell that Desjardins was coming back in 2020, the coach then tendered his resignation.According to Goudie, after the game Saturday was over, Campbell, Desjardins and him met to discuss the future. Campbell said he felt like there was not enough communication between the GM and head coach and it would be best for the organization if he stepped aside.
I think the meeting might have gone more like this:
Campbell: "Things have to change next year! I want to pick the assistant coaches, have a top notch OC, get some top players, including a quality QB, and run the team like a coach, not a paid lackey. This season was a joke, and I won't go through this again. I need some players and a QB, get them for me guys." Open the wallet up and let's get a Grey Cup next year!"
Goudie: "Rick we want you back, but we'll choose the players and assistant coaches and you go win games. And remember, I have a budget to keep... I learned how to budget a sports team from my friend Eugene."
Desjardins: "Dear Rick and Mark, I'm not going anywhere, and I'll sign the free agents with or without your consent. I don't answer to the coach."
Campbell: "Go suck on a Tiger Cat, I'm outta here."
Just me speculating!
We can all read between the lines here.
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