Popp stepping down as coach?

CFL Talk
1

According to Justin Dunk - Als players have been told Popp is stepping down as coach.

[url=http://3downnation.com/2016/09/17/alouettes-players-told-popp-head-coach/]http://3downnation.com/2016/09/17/aloue ... ead-coach/[/url]
Montreal Alouettes players were told after Friday night’s loss that Jim Popp would not be returning as coach after the team’s bye week.

In the locker room after Montreal’s last-second defeat in Hamilton, special teams coordinator Kavis Reed gave Popp the game ball and told the team he was dealing with some personal issues at home and wouldn’t be coming back after the bye week.

There’s no word on who will take over for Popp but Reed and defensive boss Noel Thorpe could be likely interim candidates.

The Alouettes are 3-9 this season and don’t play again until a home date against Toronto on Oct. 2.

2

TSN690, Als broadcaster, says it is not true.

Might this be a reason for stirring the pot:

"[i]The CFL has parted ways with two prominent contributors to its website.

“3DownNation deputy editor and Sportsnet contributor Justin Dunk as well as Riders play-by-play man Rod Pedersen have both been informed their content will no longer be posted on the league’s site.”

"Dunk’s reporting of the roster violations in Saskatchewan on 3DownNation and other stories he’s broken this season were drawing complaints from clubs around the league. His status as a full-time employee of Sportsnet, the main rival to league rights holder TSN, was also a source of tension. During the last two CFL Drafts, his live Tweeting of the picks before they were announced by the league on TSN, caused quite a stir.[/i]…
http://3downnation.com/2016/09/16/cfl-p%20…%20n-website/

3

I doubt it. He could have gotten it from a source that wanted to stir the pot with Popp, though.

4

[i]It isn't true, unfortunately :roll:

Popp will remain to completely destroy the team. :thdn: [/i]

5

No, but he might have “gotten it” by choosing to misinterpret something if he was “annoyed”.

6

Or he was just early: https://twitter.com/garylawless/status/ … 5389342720

all things point to @MTLAlouettes announcing today that Jim Popp will not continue as HC for the rest of this season @cfl #cfl
7

Chapdelaine taking over :

[url=http://www.tsn.ca/popp-steps-down-chapdelaine-named-als-interim-head-coach-1.569696]http://www.tsn.ca/popp-steps-down-chapd ... h-1.569696[/url]
8

Good News for Als fans and the team. Popp can do what he does better, and that's be a GM.

Not sure about Chapdelaine, but at least he is actually a coach.

9

I think it's pretty obvious by now that if Dunk says it, you can take it to the bank.... :lol:

10

What a disaster in Montreal. Popp has tried to coach on several occasions now, and each time it ended in failure. Hopefully this time will be the last.

11

Chapdelaine as “interim” HC.

At this point, nothing to lose appointing him and allowing Popp to go focus on being a GM.
See what they have and evaluate for next season.

12

How long before Popp fires him for underachieving ? :lol:

13

LaPresse will love Chapdelaine because he speaks French! It does matter.

14

The first head coaching move of the season though not sure if someone gassing themself counts.

Glad this is finally done. Popp belongs in the GM spot and can focus on rebuilding the roster.

Chap has a good audition coming up and I don't think there's any pressure or expections to remove the interim tag. Though they're only 4 points out of the playoff picture...one never knows. Otherwise, the players that stick around are playing for next year's role.

15

What I wonder is , did Popp decide this or was he provided with the directive to do so ?

16

Popp has never made the decision to fire head coaches, nor has he ever made the decision to step in himself. Wetenhall has always held those powers. I’m sure W would have consulted Popp each time, but Popp does not have carte blanche to turf HCs and never has.

17

Popp's best before date for both the HC and GM appears to have long past.

18

by ArgoT » 19 Sep, 2016 - 11:55

Popp’s best before date for both the HC and GM appears to have long past.

Not sure on the G.M. part. With all his efforts going there, I don’t see who could come in and do better. It’s not like he lost all his contacts and scouting ability overnight. He’s just been to busy being H.C. to give G.M. job full attention.

19

OK thanks. Good to know.

20

It’s a weird situation, to be sure, and not obvious if you’re not an Als fan. I don’t think any other team in the league has this kind of setup.