Ex-Als coach Joe Scannella had 60-yeAr career
Brash and unwavering, Joe Scannella did things his way in his 60-year career
If there’s one everlasting image of former Alouettes head coach Joe Scannella, it might be of him holding, and smoking, an omnipresent cigarette.
He’s photographed with one in the team’s 1980 media guide on his bio page. Indeed Gordon Batty, one of the Als’ equipment managers in 1979, would follow him around during practices and games to provide him with one that had already been lit.
“If he could live to 90, I’ve got hope, because he was a terrible chain-smoker. He might have been the last coach to be smoking on the sidelines for the Alouettes,” said Wally Buono, the head coach of the B.C. Lions who was a linebacker and punter on those teams.
Scannella, whose coaching career spanned more than 60 years and included a Super Bowl victory, died in his sleep last Thursday in Walnut Creek, Calif., following a long illness. Scannella, the Als’ head coach from 1978-81, would have turned 90 on May 22.
Born in Passaic, N.J., Scannella inherited a good team when he became the Als’ ninth head coach in franchise history in January 1978. He had the good fortune, and unenviable task, of following the popular and personable Marv Levy, who led Montreal to a pair of Grey Cup victories and three appearances in the big game over five seasons.
But while Levy was known for seeking input from his veteran team, Scannella was brash, unwavering and opinionated. He was an old-school coach who wanted things done his way. An army veteran, he worked the players hard in practices and it wasn’t long before many balked at his philosophy.
“Joe was a nice man, but he was very direct. He had a driving social style. He wanted to be the boss and that proved to be a difficult challenge,” said Larry Smith, a former Als fullback who would eventually become Canadian Football League commissioner and, later, president of the team.
“We had a tight-knit group of people who knew how to play together,” added Smith. “In a sense, that could be a negative for a coach. The coach wanted to implement his own style and he met with some resistance. He was in a no-win situation.”
Nonetheless, the Als reached the Grey Cup in 1978 and ’79 un- der Scannella, losing both games to Edmonton. But the head coach continued to battle with veterans who were upset with Scannella’s hard and rigid practices and impersonal approach. It soon became the players’ rallying cry. The veterans ran the team.
“Was Joe Scannella the players’ favourite coach? No. He had his ways. He was set in his ways and believed in his ways,” Buono said. “But he continued his ways, so you had to respect him, whether you liked him or not.
“There was confrontation . ... Joe said ‘you’re a player, you shouldn’t get tired or complain.’ There was mutiny. Scannella came in and wanted to beat everyone to death. He was your typical old-style coach with a gruff voice and manner.
“I learned from Joe how men respond to an authoritarian,” added Buono, the CFL’s career leader in coaching victories. “Joe could have been more benevolent towards his players.”
The Als went 8-8 in 1980, but lost the East Division final to Hamilton. Following the season, Sam Berger sold the team to Nelson Skalbania, who lured high-priced NFL players including quarterback Vince Ferragamo, receivers Billy (White Shoes) Johnson and James Scott, along with tailback David Overstreet to Montreal.
Fred Biletnikoff had played for Montreal the previous season, while linebacker Tom Cousineau completed a three-year stint in 1981. But Scannella never gained control of the high-powered offence.
After signing a two-year contract extension in July, Scannella was fired on Sept. 12, following a home loss to Hamilton. It was the Als’ eighth defeat in nine games en route to a 3-13 record. Scannella’s parting words to the media were “no comment.” He had an overall record of 28-28-2.
A former quarterback at Lehigh University, Scannella broke into the pros with the Als as the team’s offensive co-ordinator in 1969.
After being named head coach at the University of Vermont, he joined the Oakland Raiders as a special teams coach in 1972.
After his stint as head coach of the Als, he returned to the NFL as a running backs coach in Cleveland in 1982 before being promoted to offensive co-ordinator in 1984. He was the Los Angeles Raiders’ running backs coach from 1988-93.
Scannella, who won a Super Bowl with Oakland in 1976, served as a scout for Indianapolis in the early 2000s.
“He wanted to put his stamp on the team. To me, he wasn’t the same as the head man. Maybe he had too much pressure,” said Peter Dalla Riva, the Als’ tight end from 1968-81. “But I knew him from before and liked him.
“Some players revolted. He was a little different and it was tough to please everybody. But I didn’t mind his discipline. You need it in football.”
Scannella is survived by Lilian, his wife of 68 years, three children, a sister and four grandchildren.
He was predeceased by daughter Lisa.