Blue Bombers coach believes CFL will find a way to play in 2020
Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’shea is always one to look at the positive side of things.
When asked about players with nagging injuries during a season, he invariably says he expects them to play.
When a player is struggling, he makes it known publicly that he believes in him.
You could hear that same optimism in O’shea’s words as he spoke about the potential for a shortened CFL season in 2020.
“I believe it’s going to happen,” O’shea said. “Everybody I’ve run into around town, getting gas or groceries or whatever, they ask the same question. I wholeheartedly believe that we’re going to play football this year.”
Sunday was supposed to be the first day of training camps in the CFL, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they have been postponed indefinitely. The season is on hold, as well. Meanwhile, the CFL is struggling with financial burdens, and no one knows for sure if or when the players will be back on the field.
CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie has asked the federal government for a bailout of up to $150 million, and there are legitimate concerns about the viability of the league going forward, whether or not it stages games in 2020.
“I honestly can say that I’m not worried about the future,” said O’shea, who played 15 seasons as a linebacker in the CFL and has been a coach for the last 10 campaigns.
“I believe in the resiliency of our league. In terms of the toll it’s taking or going to take, that remains to be seen. I’ve put a lot of years into this league, seen a lot of different things, seen teams come and go, but I’ve also seen a league survive, and survive when the pundits said it wouldn’t.”
Ambrosie told a House of Commons standing committee on finance last month that the most likely scenario for 2020 was no season at all.
Since then, however, the idea of a shortened season, possibly with no fans in the stands, possibly in hub cities, has picked up steam. The league and the players association are working together toward some kind of acceptable solution, most likely an eightgame season that starts in early September.
“I don’t see that as being a problem,” O’shea said. “The bottom line is, players want to play, coaches want to coach, and fans want to watch. Whatever that looks like, somebody else way above me will decide whether it’s a possibility or not, whether it’s feasible. Of course I believe that would be a good thing.”
O’shea has managed to keep everything in perspective, even though it’s tough to not be on the field with his players.
“It’s obviously disappointing, but you can’t look past what the whole world is going through, which is far bigger than me and us starting training camp.
“This is one of my favourite times of the season, just because everybody’s getting in the room and those relationships take hold again, and you just witness it all for the first couple of days. It’s so exciting for the guys and the coaching staff, too. Sitting in our home offices now, working remotely, you realize getting players in the building is just one of the greatest days for any coach in any sport.”
I’ve put a lot of years into this league, seen a lot of different things, seen teams come and go, but I’ve also seen a league survive.
He’s had some contact with his players, who are itching to get back on the field, get games going, and receive the Grey Cup rings they earned last November.
A united front between the players and the league is going to be crucial going forward, although O’shea knows that alone won’t be enough to make things right.
“It’s important, but it’s also difficult when you’re dealing with the number of people involved,” he said. “There’s a lot to understand and a lot to grasp. This is far deeper than just a financial situation with our league. This is a country, a couple of countries and a border.
“There’s a lot more in-depth discussions that need to happen for everybody to even begin to understand the magnitude of these situations and the decisions that have to be made. I can’t say that I have a complete understanding of everything that goes on. I just trust that we have leaders, not only on our team, in our league, but also in government at the provincial and federal levels, that will work to get a solution, not just for our business but for businesses across the country.”