Fiery Dickenson a CFL head coach in training
Ottawa REDBLACKS GM was surely watching win over Argos
Most bizarre sight of the week that was in the Canadian Football League: Dave Dickenson losing his mind on the Calgary bench in the middle of a 35-14 victory over the Toronto Argonauts.
Ask anyone and they’ll tell you Dickenson — a one-time honours student in molecular biology at Montana — is one of the most mild-mannered, polite fellows you’ll meet. As a CFL quarterback, he kept his emotions in check, even after late hits and untimely drops by his receiving corps.
In college, coach Don Read told Sports Illustrated: “Dave wears thick glasses and he looks like a nerdy guy, like he belongs in a chemistry lab. But when he talks, all of our coaches listen.”
On Friday night, Dickenson — now an assistant coach — went wild when the Stampeders were forced to blow a timeout.
According to the Stamps, the ref blew the whistle in spite of Calgary’s call for a measurement.
With Dickenson seething on the sidelines, his arms crossed in fury, head coach John Hufnagel cracked a smile as he went to check on the mental well-being of his offensive co-ordinator.
“I think Dave is more is more fiery as a coach than as a player,” said Stamps quarterback Kevin Glenn. “Because I played against him and I don’t think I’ve necessarily seen Dickie do that.”
That alter ego just happened to come out on the night Dickenson attempted to pull off the most difficult feat of his young coaching career — snapping a fivegame losing streak in Toronto minus the services of his starting quarterback (Drew Tate), starting tailback (Jon Cornish), top offensive lineman (Dimitri Tsoumpas) and four starting receivers (Nik Lewis, Maurice Price, Joe West and Johnny Forzani).
Thanks in no small part to the Dickenson game plan (and a first-quarter injury to Ricky Ray), the Stamps prevailed against all odds.
The game within the game featured the latest instalment of Dickenson vs. Chris Jones — two of the sharpest coaching minds on the three-down circuit. Best be sure, Ottawa REDBLACKS general manager Marcel Desjardins was watching as he readies himself to hire a head coach for the expansion team.
This round went to Dickenson — although it must be said Jones proved victorious in the one that counted the most last November in the 100th Grey Cup.
“I wanted to win really bad,” said Dickenson, 40. “It had been a while. Toronto had our number.
“With Chris, you’re not sure what you’re going to get, but you know you’re going to get some crazy looks. You’re going to get some pressure, then you’re going to maybe get 10 guys dropping.”
Jones worked under the legendary Don Matthews in Montreal and his defence would make the Don proud. Every time a Stampeder touched the ball, a swarm of blue jerseys roared into the picture — a hallmark of a Matthews defence.
“When you’re playing Toronto, it helps to be around the lead or in the lead against Chris,” said Dickenson. “Because when you’re behind, it’s a lot more trouble.”
At this time next season, Dickenson and Jones could very well renew their rivalry as head coaches. Two vacancies — perhaps even three — loom in the coming winter.
Ottawa is obvious. An expansion team needs a coach, and what better way to kick things off with a sharp young mind ready to take the next step.
In Montreal, general manager Jim Popp has moved onto the bench in place of the dearly departed Dan Hawkins. Popp is a career administrator and will no doubt want to hire someone new to avoid double duty in 2014.
As for Winnipeg, well, Tim Burke is perhaps one of the most genuine, straight-shooting coaches you’ll ever meet. He’s also a dead man walking when it comes to his job.
Bombers supporters hit Twitter during Friday’s Calgary-Toronto game to plead for their team to hire Dickenson away from Calgary at the end of the season.
On the subject of a promotion, Dickenson politely waves the question off.
“I’ll think about that some other time,” he said. “It’s just a lot of speculation. I don’t think people realize I’ve got a great situation here. I’m really focused on this year. I think this team that we’ve got right now — we’re as beat up as I’ve ever seen on offence — but there is that inner belief right now.
“I don’t worry about things I can’t control, anyway. I’m a very low-stress guy.”
Except, of course, when the officials ignore his calls for a measurement, but we digress ...
“I’m not a mover and shaker,” he said. “I’m just doing the best job I can. I like coaching and I like this city. My family is here. I’m close to Montana, too, which is important to me as well.
“There’s just lots of positives.”