Who’s in line to replace Benevides?
BENEVIDES FIRED: GM Wally Buono declares he wants to ‘start fresh;’ won’t step back into the role himself
The perfect candidate to coach the B.C. Lions is out there somewhere, even if the best person who might be able to work with the general manager now responsible for picking a successor to Mike Benevides is the guy Wally Buono sees in a mirror.
But Buono said after firing Benevides Thursday and putting an end to a three-year experiment that the 25th coach of the CFL team must be something he is not.
“I’m not fresh,” the 64-year-old Buono said.
And because the Lions did not ultimately succeed with a succession plan that involved bringing Benevides up through the ranks, the man in charge also warned even tougher times potentially await a franchise that has experienced its share since last winning the Grey Cup for owner David Braley three seasons ago.
“The decision to relieve Mike was a need to reestablish a tradition and expectation. The only way to do that is to start fresh,” said Buono. “I just believe to be fair to Mr. Braley and to our fans we need to be fresh. That might mean a year or two of stumbling.
“I’m not promising we’re winning the Grey Cup next year. I wouldn’t be real smart to do that. But we have to be fresh and reinstitute new blood. I’m not of a new age. I have a hard time understanding young people, much as I love them.” Typical Buono, candid as usual. A horrific performance in the East Division semifinal Sunday was the final game for Benevides, who may have known what was coming when he asked Buono and president Dennis Skulsky for a quick resolution of his status.
“When you don’t win your last game, it feels like you die a little bit,” Benevides said in a season-ending video on the team’s website that was taken down within minutes of his firing.
If it was clear to him he was having problems sorting through a season highlighted by uneven quarterbacking and a string of injuries, Benevides wasn’t alone. Claims by players that they weren’t sure if Buono or Benevides was coaching the Lions continued to surface as the season came to an end.
“Sometimes he does stuff that’s like, that’s not him,” one player said of his former coach late this year.
“I’m not shocked,” said the team’s oldest player, kicker Paul McCallum, after hearing of the firing. “It’s a business and we didn’t win the last game this season.”
Buono continued to insist he had only minimal impact on the team’s lineup, stating he pushed now released offensive lineman Cory Brandon over Andre Ramsey for one game, while admitting he wasn’t initially as bullish on Hunter Steward as Benevides, whose assessment of the rookie tackle proved to be accurate.
The road to a 33-21 coaching record for Benevides, who turned down a chance in 2010 to coach the Toronto Argonauts, was not easy. Benevides gamely tried to do things his own way, insisting on added creature comforts at the team’s practice facility and handing out ice cream to players at training camp. But operating under the shadow of Buono was too much.
“He knew the pressure he would be under,” said Buono, who gave Benevides a two-year extension prior to training camp. “I’m not sure it’ll ever be as difficult for him (in the future). It’s always hard to follow the steps of a legend and that was said way before I came to B.C.
“If being too involved means I care too much and wanted to help the coaches and players, then I’m going to say I was at fault.”
And by indicating that Benevides’ successor is not currently under contract to the Lions, it’s clear a different approach is coming, and Buono will have to rethink how players view his relationship with a new coach.
That’s because not even Buono has a permanent grip on the top job in football operations, even though Braley previously said he had a job with the Lions for life.
“At one time you would say (Buono had a job) for as long as anyone wants,” Skulsky said earlier this week. “But I don’t think you can say that anymore about anyone.”
Benevides knows that only too well.