Apology To Hawkins

[HfxTC]

@"disciplineandpunish"

@"HfxTC"

For me what's important

1- They work hard
2- Are willing and capable of learning
3- They respect the city and its fans when here.

If they do that, the rest will take care of itself.

1-Hawkins hasn't proven that. He has very little to do but what little has to do he hasn't been able to do effectively.
2-They've demonstrated the opposite: arrogance and condescension as if "the science of football" (more Hawkins cliché) is some objective branch of knowledge irrespective of the Canadian game.
3-By virtue of not doing the first two, they are not doing the third either.

I hope they get their act together.

If they don't do those 3 things they won't last. That's what I meant. But to fire the guy after five games is not something you do unless you have absolutely no choice. It came very close to that...

[Tridus]

@"AlsPhil"

I don't see it as a choice. Popp clearly wants both.

In a hockey city like Montreal, we probably all care that fans actually show up at Molson stadium and, once or twice a year, at the Big O. Matthews made fun of francophone reporters. Trestman, due to his introverted nature, was a poor salesman of the team and the game for that matter.

Hawkins has a chance to reach out and make contact with existing fans, and to help make new ones. He's started with his radio show, he gives lots of interviews, and if his team can be decent on the field, I think this will help to ensure there are fans in the stands.

You want both. Both is ideal. Not everyone has both.

If you can only have one, you take the coach that wins. Outside of Toronto, it's always easier to sell a winner. Particularly when all you're doing is being mean to reporters for asking stupid questions (as Matthews often was to TSN).

I mean if your choice is Matthews or Trestman and playing for the Grey Cup, or a nice guy like Kavis Reed and playing like the Eskimos, the choice is pretty obvious for most fans.

[disciplineandpunish]

And the thing is, Trestman was never an a-hole. He was just bland and boring. Hawkins is actively contemptuous of reporters on top of being incompetent.

[Johnny_all_italics]

@"oldpro"

I would like to personally apologize to Dan Hawkins. Over the past few weeks I have made comments eluding to Hawkins being the main reason why the Als have stumbled so far this year. After being at the game yesterday and watching this man on the sideline, I have to admit I was wrong. I cannot blame Hawkins, because the man has nothing to do with anything that goes on the field. He walked over to the bench area when Miller was speaking to the offense, he listened for a minute then left without anyone even acknowledging his existence, including Miller. He actually threw the challenge flag after an apparent Alouette fumble, throwing the flag after the referees had confirmed that it was still Alouette ball. The man is clueless, he has no place in football at any capacity. Can anyone explain to me how this man has coached in the NCAA and now in the CFL ? He is absolutely comical.

Great post!!!! Well done, very well done :thup:

[foreverCFLfan]

The Als had a solid offensive playbook, now with Hawkins in the picture the whole team has to regress. Because HE, Hawkins, doesn’t understand it.

As far as PR goes, I just laugh. He probably cannot speak nor understand one word of French. Even when he speaks English he sounds like a damn clown.

NO apologies to Hawkins. He has to get that American junk-food sludge out of his brain. Did he not have a chance to learn the playbook in the off season? Did the Als check if there was a Canadian coach available instead of that joker?

[disciplineandpunish]

@"Tridus"

You want both. Both is ideal. Not everyone has both.

If you can only have one, you take the coach that wins.

Bang on. Both is ideal, but if you can only have one or the other take the winner, not the PR guy.