BUONO’S STILL GOT IT
Lions prevail at McMahon
Going in, Wally Buono could walk away from Saturday night’s CFL game at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium knowing he’s a winner.
His B.C. Lions actually did knock off the powerful Stampeders 26-21, but really, how could he lose when the two teams on the field are the result of his passion for football and the success that comes along with that?
The same can be said of the ol’ coach once he walks away from the league at season’s end.
Buono, who was feted with a pre-game video tribute Saturday by the Stampeders, will be remembered not only as the league’s winningest coach but as a chief architect in bringing respectability and success to both the Stamps and later the Lions.
If you’re into math, that’s a pretty large impression left on a league sporting as few as eight franchises during his career. (This doesn’t even take into account his effect as a star and leader with the Montreal Alouettes, winners of both the 1974 and ’77 Grey Cups, during his playing days some 40 years ago).
That was Buono’s most important contribution during his 41 years of playing, coaching and GMing in the CFL, says Calgary football legend Stan Schwartz.
“I would think the important thing is that he’s still been involved with the league — the mother ship is the Canadian Football League, and Wally has been a solid contributor to the league over the years,” Schwartz said. “Whether they’re with the Stampeders or the Lions or whomever, I thank them for their contributions to the Canadian Football League. I think that’s what’s important.
“And Wally certainly personifies the true passion for our great league.”
Schwartz certainly knows Buono well having shared in helping mould the Stampeders into the juggernaut it is today.
“I certainly consider it an honour and a privilege to have worked with Wally,” Schwartz said.
“Although we always didn’t agree on everything, we always agreed to do what was best for the Stampeders. We always worked with a well thought out plan that resulted in success, and I’m happy to say we were a couple of guys who certainly complemented each other over his time with the Stampeders.”
Schwartz was first an executive with McMahon Stadium and later the Stamps vice-president and president during the Buono tenure in Calgary — one that saw the club secure Grey Cup wins in 1992, 1998 and 2001.
“There’s nothing like winning the Grey Cup,” said Schwartz, who also served as an assistant coach in the late ’70s and early ’80s with the Stamps and as a general partner with the club when the new ownership group took over from Michael Feterik in early 2005.
“Just by relying on common sense and understanding, we were able to certainly accomplish a lot,” Schwartz said. “And Wally was certainly a big part of the success of this organization for a long time, so I don’t think his success and contribution to Stampeder football will be soon forgotten.
“I think we came through some pretty difficult times, but his knowledge of the game and his vision and his ability to create ongoing stability was what got us through them. He certainly deserves a lot of credit for the success of the football club in the ’90s and in the early 2000s.
“Although he’s now with the B.C. Lions, he’ll be remembered as a Calgary Stampeder forever.”
On this night it was Buono and the Lions walking off with the win before 23,563 fans (OK, so not quite that many).
But the outcome in his last regular-season visit to McMahon (remember he may return here with the Lions for a playoff tilt) doesn’t take away from the football life he helped breathe into Calgary when he assumed the reins here 28 seasons ago.
Certainly, Schwartz, a Calgarian through and through, has never cheered against Buono. So why should anyone else who loves the league?
“I certainly appreciate my journey with Wally,” Schwartz said. “You don’t accomplish much by yourself, so you thank people like Wally who’ve shared your journey.
“He certainly inspired me during my time with the Calgary Stampeders. He always did things in a positive way. He certainly was an inspiration to me in my life.
“My admiration for him really has no boundaries.”
The CFL should feel the same way.