Lions’ Buono looking forward to final season, kicks off this week
There’s no sense of finality yet for Wally Buono.
The 2018 season will be the last of Buono’s Hall of Fame career, but the B.C. Lions’ venerable head coach says that fact hasn’t sunk in yet.
“No because there’s way too much to do and focus on,” Buono said. “If I stop focusing, then I shouldn’t be here because I’m already gone.
“If this was us going into the Grey Cup in Edmonton and it was going to be my last game, yes, I would be lying if I didn’t say there was probably some emotional attachment. But it’s too early in the process.”
B.C. kicks off Buono’s final campaign on Saturday, hosting the Montreal Alouettes as the Lions look to atone for a miserable 2017 season — missing the CFL playoffs after posting a 7-11 record.
“To me, it’s Week 1, we missed the playoffs last year, we hurt the organization, we’ve got to do a whole lot better than we did,” Buono said. “Say what you want, we won our two (exhibition) games.
“Professional football is about winning games. Winning always makes you feel better and more positive about yourself and always gives you, I think, momentum. This is what we want. We’re healthy, the guys are starting to buy into (GM Ed Hervey’s) and my philosophy and approach and part of that is they see the success we’re having.”
The regular season begins Thursday night with the Edmonton Eskimos visiting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Toronto Argonauts begin their Grey Cup defence on Friday in Regina against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The Calgary Stampeders also host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday, while the Ottawa Redblacks will play their opener June 21 at home to Saskatchewan.
Buono, 68, has won more games than any CFL head coach (273 and counting) and captured a total of seven Grey Cup titles as a player (two) and head coach (five).