Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca
An impressive list of football greats on both sides of the border tutored John Hufnagel as both a coach and player.
At Penn State Hufnagel played for the legend Joe Paterno. In the CFL he coached under Wally Buono, who won more games than any other coach in league history. In the NFL he was on the coaching staff of Bill Belichick in New England and Tom Coughlin with the New York Giants.
But asked who cast the most influence on his career, Hufnagel spoke of Cal Murphy, the former Winnipeg Blue Bomber head coach and general manager. Hufnagel played for Murphy from 1984 to 1986.
“I have been very fortunate to work with some great people,” the Calgary Stampeders’ head coach and general manager said Wednesday during the head coaches’ press conference that kicked off Grey Cup week.
“I played under Cal. He was a tremendous football coach. I really respected how he handled the day-to-day functions of the team and also how he handled the players.”
This year Hufnagel’s Stampeders romped to a league-best 15-3 record, then crushed the Edmonton Eskimos 43-18 in the West Final. They are favoured to beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Sunday’s Grey Cup.
| Coaches speak on Pass Interference Rule |
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This year the CFL introduced a coach’s challenge for pass interference calls. Some have questioned the idea but both coaches believes it serves a purpose … Read More. |
Looking back, Hufnagel said working with Belichick “was a bonus” because of the “structure he brings to a football team.” He makes no apologies for using Buono as a blueprint for success.
“I based most of my organization and how we do things in the organization from Wally’s program,” Hufnagel said.
Like Buono, Hufnagel has put together some very good teams but probably should have more championships.
In his seven seasons in Calgary the Stampeders have an 89-36-1 record and a .712 win percentage. Prior to this year Calgary finished first or second in the West five times but advanced to the Grey Cup just twice. The lone victory came in Hufnagel’s first season, a 22-14 win over Montreal.
Questions about his playoff success brought out Hufnagel’s thorny side.
“I don’t judge myself,” he told reporters. “That’s what you guys do. I just go to work every day and try to do the best job I can.
“We’ve had a pretty good regular-season record. We’re batting one game over .500 in the playoffs. I’m not so sure there’s a lot of teams over the last seven years that can say that. We’ve lost some big games, we’ve won big games. We have a big game coming up and Sunday we’re going to try very hard to win it.”
Hufnagel and Kent Austin, Hamilton’s head coach, general manager and vice-president of football operations, both have the duel function of making decisions on the field and in the front office. The two jobs can be a burden but there are advantages.
“It gives you the ability to choose your team and to piece the puzzle together the way you and your staff believes gives you have the best chance for success,” said Austin.
For Hufnagel, doing both jobs means one less cook in the kitchen.
“It’s a little bit more singled-minded as far as the direction you want to take,” he said.
“Everybody that is working for you has that single direction. It’s a lot easier to get things that you want as far as the grocery list.”
Hufnagel and Austin crossed paths early in their careers.
Back in 1987 Hufnagel was supposed to be a playing coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders but tore up his Achilles tendon after only three quarters. The Riders brought in three more quarterbacks, all who were hurt.
“In that time frame Kent walks in and prepares himself to play,” chuckled Hufnagel.
“His first start was against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, in Hamilton. He won his first game.”
If the Stampeders sailed into this year’s final, the Tiger-Cats battled some rough seas. Hamilton started the year 1-7. Uncertainty over the completion of their new $145-million stadium resulted in the team playing its first three home games at McMaster University. Quarterback Zach Collaros was placed on the six-game injured list and backup Dan LeFevour was lost for the season after tearing up his left knee.
“Every team has challenges, and obstacles to overcome,” shrugged Austin.
“We weren’t very good to start. We had a lot of challenges and guys trying to figure it out. We decided to go really young when we took over and try to build something sustainable, try to keep long-term success and not just short term, which is a tough blend to arrive at.”
Austin will be coaching in his third Grey Cup. He led Saskatchewan to the 2007 championship and was named the CFL’s Coach of the Year.
Last year, in his first season in Hamilton, he guided the Tiger-Cats to a 10-8 record and the East Division title before losing 45-23 to Saskatchewan.
This year the CFL introduced a coach’s challenge for pass interference calls. Some have questioned the idea but both coaches believes it serves a purpose.
“It won some football games this year for some teams,” said Austin. “If it’s the right call, that’s a good thing.”
Hufnagel thinks a learning curve is involved.
“I think it was a growing process a little bit for the coaches and the officiating,” he said.
“Maybe it needs to be tweaked a little bit. Personally I hope it stays.”
At 51, Austin is still early in his coaching career. Many people wonder how much longer Hufnagel, 63, plans to remain on the sidelines.
Hufnagel moved quickly to dampen speculation Dave Dickenson, Calgary’s offensive co-ordinator and assistant head coach, might be lured to B.C. for the head coaching job with the Lions.
“I think last year when Dave signed a long-term contract with the Calgary Stampeders it was pretty self-explanatory,” Hufnagel snapped.
He was a little more coy when asked if a win Sunday might convince him to retire from coaching.
“Might have,” he said.
