Dickenson pours coldd water on speculation about Lions coaching job

Dave Dickenson has ruled himself out as the next coach of the B.C. Lions, but it probably won't take long for other candidates to emerge.
Just when speculation on the likelihood of the Calgary Stampeders offensive co-ordinator replacing the fired Mike Benevides was heating up, Dickenson threw cold water on it.
“I’m going to be back in Calgary next year,” said Dickenson during a Stamps luncheon Thursday in advance of Sunday’s Grey Cup against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
“That’s my answer to that question – and it’s going to be the same answer tomorrow, the same answer next week.”
Dickenson’s comments came a day after Calgary general manager and head coach John Hufnagel hinted that the 41-year-old Great Falls, Mont, native would be his successor. Hufnagel pointed to a new three-year contract that Dickenson signed in November 2013.
Without getting into the specific job titles, Dickenson said he planned to honour the deal, which runs until after the 2016 season, while also pointing out that he loves being the offensive co-ordinator and getting a chance to call plays, like he did as a standout quarterback with the Stampeders and Lions.
Dickenson has a strong desire to be a head coach, but he also wants to make sure that he gets the right opportunity.
“I want to be a head coach, there’s no doubt about it, but I really just want to have fun,” Dickenson said. “I want to be part of a team, I want to work with people I like and enjoy, and be part of a system and a team that’s going to win. I think we work too hard to not enjoy things. I’m not going to coach if I’m miserable. A lot of stresses come with a head coaching position. It’d be a challenge, and I love challenges.”
Stressing that he is a loyal guy, Dickenson also, basically, ruled himself out as a candidate for the head coaching post at his alma mater, the University of Montana, following the retirement of Grizzlies field boss Mick Delaney.
“I love college — I think it’s great — and I love Montana, but for me, it’s about having stability with your family, making sure you have time with your family and, basically, don’t try to put yourself above what’s important,” Dickenson said.
“Sometimes, that’s what’s important, instead of just always trying to get to the top of the ladder.”
By ending some speculation, Dickenson has likely started more.
Many observers believe that former Winnipeg Blue Bombers coach Paul LaPolice, who is working the Grey Cup for TSN, has a chance to replace Benevides. During an interview with TSN 1040 Radio on Thursday, LaPolice said he also likes being an offensive co-ordinator.
He seems a better fit for that position with the Lions, although Khari Jones still has the OC post for now.
It says here that LaPolice is not a good fit as the next head coach of the Lions. He lacks natural ties to the organization that would attract fans when it is in danger of losing season ticket holders. While he led the Bombers to the 2011 Grey Cup, which the Lions won, LaPolice lost his job the next year and reportedly turned down a chance to become B.C.’s offensive co-ordinator last season.
Despite his increased profile due to his TSN gig, LaPolice does not stand out as an icon or exceptional leader the way Calgary’s Hufnagel, Hamilton counterpart Kent Austin and Lions general manager Wally Buono do. Austin, a former Lions quarterback, would be a better fit, but he is unlikely to leave Hamilton.
Recently, I suggested that Lions defensive co-ordinator Mark Washington could be a prime candidate, and fellow former defensive back Barron Miles, an assistant with Saskatchewan, might also get serious consideration. I still think Washington is in the running, and would be a good choice. So would Miles, but I’m starting to believe the Lions will lean more to an iconic type who is not necessarily a former B.C. player or coach.
On that note, I would not be surprised if, as some have suggested, former Stampeders quarterback Jeff Garcia, who was brought to the CFL by Buono, gets on the short list. Garcia joined the Montreal Alouettes in mid-season as an assistant of sorts and, tutoring quarterback Jonathan Crompton, helped the Als get to the playoffs and hammer B.C. 50-17 before they were ousted unceremoniously by Hamilton.
Although he does not have ties to B.C. or the team itself, Garcia is a high-profile type that the Lions need and, being the son of a coach, he understands the game thoroughly.
Another possibility seems unlikely, but makes at least some sense.
Former Lions receiver Geroy Simon, now an ambassador of sorts with Saskatchewan, has a desire to run a team within 10 years. He has strong ties to B.C., living here while commuting to work for the Roughriders. Despite his lack of coaching experience, he is used to mentoring young players – of which the rebuilding Lions have many. He is also a natural leader, a fan favourite, and extremely knowledgeable about the game. Simon would likely also be willing to keep most of the current assistants, he did commendable jobs in the face of considerable adversity this season, if he were allowed to choose one or two.
Alas, Dickenson threw cold water on speculation for a while, but it won’t take long to heat up again.

Stamps prevail as B.C. offence fizzles until late in second half

For 2 1/2 quarters, the B.C. Lions had a quarterback and a defensive secondary that they could almost count on. But then Calgary running back Jon Cornish, a native of the Vancouver suburb of New Westminster, bolted for a 51-yard gain to set up the decisive touchdown as the Stampeders handily beat the B.C. Lions 48-35. The Lions suffered their seventh straight CFL loss as they dropped to 1-7 while the Stampeders improved to 7-1. Calgary coach John Hufnagel claimed his ninth straight win over B.C. boss Wally Buono, who mentored him while he was in Calgary. “I think we played well in all three phases (offence, defence and special teams),” said Hufnagel.
Despite some rust and inconsistency after missing four games, quarterback Casey Printers kept the score close and the defensive backs provided three interceptions in the first half, two by rookie Stanley Franks and one by veteran Dante Marsh. Franks' picks did not produce any points, but Marsh set up a one-yard touchdown run by Jamal Robertson late in the first half to draw the Lions within four points at 24-20. But receiver Arjei Franklin's three-yard touchdown on a reverse running play after Cornish's big gain early in the third quarter, which put the Stamps ahead 34-20, erased any doubt. The quick turning point spoiled an improved offensive effort, strong defensive play and excellent punt and kick-off returns by rookie Yonus Davis, who repeatedly gave the Lions good field position, although he fumbled a missed field goal that led to Calgary’s first touchdown.
"We were able to overcome some adversity,” said Calgary quarterback Henry Burris, who threw two touchdown passes and ran for another. “Some things happened, it's nothing to worry about. We will get those things right. We will get better."
Burris has now thrown a league-leading 12 interceptions. Hufnagel praised Marsh for making a great play, but the coach was not willing to give Burris the benefit of the doubt on Franks’ picks until he had seen the video.
“I think Henry Burris is a professional,” said Hufnagel. “He won the game. That’s all I ask him to do.”
“We had a few turnovers, but we were able to persevere and put points on the board,” said Calgary running back Joffrey Reynolds.
Printers impressed at times in the early going, despite completing just six of 14 passes in the first half, when he also plunged in for a touchdown. But he fizzled in the third and fourth quarters, resulting in a tired B.C. defence that was kept on the field way too long. As a result, backup Calgary quarterback Drew Tate provided two insurance touchdowns that the Stamps wound up needing as he plunged for one major and threw 19 yards to Ken Yon Rambo for another.
"I don't think we played to the highest of our ability," said Rambo, who made two touchdown catches. "We still have to be better yet."
Printers made the score more respectable as connected with Emmanuel Arceneaux for a late 54-yard touchdown that was a gift as a Calgary defensive back missed an easy tackle. Then B.C. backup Travis Lulay connected with Geroy Simon on a 38-yard TD and a successful two-point conversion attempt to make the score closer than it should have been.
“We looked good at times and at times we didn’t execute like we should have,” said Printers.
He felt there were plenty of reasons for optimism. But Simon, one of the better Lions on the night, was less than impressed.
“We still have a long season left but it’s getting shorter and shorter every week,” said Simon. “I don’t know when we as a team are going to say we are tired of losing, we’re tired of mistakes. We played Calgary, but the B.C. Lions beat B.C. again.”NOTE: Darius Passmore was wheeled off the field on a stretcher and taken to hospital after colliding with a sign on Calgary's sideline. Both Stamps and Lions training and medical staff attended to Passmore, who lunged for a pass that went incomplete. Passmore gave cheering fans the thumbs-up sign as he was taken to an ambulance … The Stamps lost receiver Romby Bryant after he was upended by Davis Sanchez in the third quarter.