Madferret
11-07-05, 11:01 PM
Gregg, Jenkins begin new era in Ottawa
Canadian Press
OTTAWA (CP) - John Jenkins arrived for his first news conference sporting a garish pinstriped suit that looked more appropriate for a 1920s gangster than the new head coach of the CFL's Ottawa Renegades.
It was fitting in one sense, however, since the likeable Texan, with his dyed blond hair and red reptile-skin western boots, is being viewed as something of a public enemy in the nation's capital after he was officially introduced Monday as the successor to Joe Paopao.
''It doesn't surprise me,'' said Jenkins, whose contract terms were not disclosed. ''There's been an awful lot of frustration here and I understand that. ''That's generally what happens when there are changes made.''
Paopao and his staff were let go after the Renegades finished 7-11 and out of the playoffs for a fourth year in a row.
While executive vice-president of football operations Forrest Gregg moves into Paopao's other role as general manager, the 53-year-old Jenkins faces the unenviable task of trying to replace a popular coach.
Despite a 23-49 record during his tenure in Ottawa, Paopao was immensely popular with the players, fans and media and was also seen as a sympathetic figure in a city that's weary of Act 2 of the Glieberman family's ownership.
''It's going to be tough, especially with the quality guy that Coach Paopao was,'' said free-agent linebacker Jason Kralt, who was among many players in attendance at the news conference.
Not helping matters was Jenkins' role in all of this. He was hired by the Renegades as their director of U.S. scouting in July presumably to help Paopao.
While Paopao had a clause in his contract that guaranteed him an extra year if the team finished with eight wins, Jenkins, meanwhile, reportedly had a clause in his own contract that promised him a coaching position once the existing staff moved on. Team president Lonie Glieberman denied the latter clause took effect for the 2006 season.
News of the coaching change leaked more than two weeks ago, while Paopao still had a shot at reaching the eight-win mark and making the playoffs. While Paopao went out a martyr, Jenkins has been lumped in as the one of the bad guys in the whole mess.
On Monday, Jenkins distanced himself from accusations of a conflict of interest.
''That was clearly a business decision and the prerogative of the ownership,'' Jenkins said, adding he felt he fulfilled his duties to Paopao. ''That was not my job to say, `you need to have this guy (to win).'''
The hiring is just another in a long line of PR disasters for father-and-son majority owners Bernie and Lonie Glieberman, whose club ranked last in the CFL in average attendance at 18,490 per game and likely faces an even-tougher sell job now.
''The announcement today is probably not the politically correct choice, but it is the best choice,'' Lonie Glieberman said. ''Yeah, there's a public-relations challenge here. Anytime a quality, popular guy leaves, there's a public-relations challenge.''
''We don't necessarily go down the safe path,'' added Gregg, a friend and adviser of the Gliebermans who admitted to not interviewing other candidates for the job. ''I'm confident with the decision we made.''
Jenkins has a 30-year coaching history that includes stops in the NCAA, the USFL, arena football and the CFL. Most notably, he won a Grey Cup as offensive co-ordinator with the Toronto Argonauts in 1997 when they went 17-3 with Doug Flutie as the star.
His most recent stint was as offensive co-ordinator for the Calgary Stampeders in last year's disastrous campaign. He was fired by Matt Dunigan after the Stamps got off to a 1-5 start.
Jenkins will immediately get to work hiring assistants, but trying to make Ottawa a winner won't be easy.
''I've taken on many, many difficult tasks in the past, things that I thrive on,'' Jenkins said. ''And most of them have turned out to be, gosh, fairy tale success stories. Some haven't.
''They're not getting no virgin here. I've been through a lot of experiences and I've got a lot of experience that I bring to the table so I'll pour my heart and soul into doing anything possible to give these fans a big winner.''
Jenkins said he'll likely handle the offence in Ottawa. He's been known in the past to favour an aerial attack instead of the ground game. That poses a few questions since one of the Renegades' best players is running back Josh Ranek, who had three straight 1,000-yard seasons under Paopao and is eligible to become a free agent.
Quarterback Kerry Joseph is also a better on his feet than with his arm, becoming just the third quarterback in CFL history to run for 1,000 yards in a season. The Renegades hold the option on his contract that, if they choose to exercise it, will cost them a whopping $300,000 next year.
Jenkins and Glieberman insist Joseph remains the team's QB, but Joseph said Monday he's had no indication he'll be back.
The Renegades had 15 players eligible for free agency and, if last winter is any indication, Ottawa doesn't appear to be a popular destination when it comes to re-signing old players and signing new ones.
Ottawa did announce that three players agreed to long-term deals Monday. Punter Pat Fleming (four years), linebacker Donnavan Carter (five years) and cornerback Bo Rogers (four years) all inked new deals, so it appears the Renegades' strategy may be to offer players a measure of job security to attract them in a league not known for it.
''They're go-getters to me and I think that's important,'' Carter said. ''That go-getter approach is the way you're going to succeed in this league.''
http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20040731/Jenkins_64746.jpg
Who the f is this fruitcake, and why is he coaching the Renegades?
Lord help us next season it will be a long one..
:curse:
Canadian Press
OTTAWA (CP) - John Jenkins arrived for his first news conference sporting a garish pinstriped suit that looked more appropriate for a 1920s gangster than the new head coach of the CFL's Ottawa Renegades.
It was fitting in one sense, however, since the likeable Texan, with his dyed blond hair and red reptile-skin western boots, is being viewed as something of a public enemy in the nation's capital after he was officially introduced Monday as the successor to Joe Paopao.
''It doesn't surprise me,'' said Jenkins, whose contract terms were not disclosed. ''There's been an awful lot of frustration here and I understand that. ''That's generally what happens when there are changes made.''
Paopao and his staff were let go after the Renegades finished 7-11 and out of the playoffs for a fourth year in a row.
While executive vice-president of football operations Forrest Gregg moves into Paopao's other role as general manager, the 53-year-old Jenkins faces the unenviable task of trying to replace a popular coach.
Despite a 23-49 record during his tenure in Ottawa, Paopao was immensely popular with the players, fans and media and was also seen as a sympathetic figure in a city that's weary of Act 2 of the Glieberman family's ownership.
''It's going to be tough, especially with the quality guy that Coach Paopao was,'' said free-agent linebacker Jason Kralt, who was among many players in attendance at the news conference.
Not helping matters was Jenkins' role in all of this. He was hired by the Renegades as their director of U.S. scouting in July presumably to help Paopao.
While Paopao had a clause in his contract that guaranteed him an extra year if the team finished with eight wins, Jenkins, meanwhile, reportedly had a clause in his own contract that promised him a coaching position once the existing staff moved on. Team president Lonie Glieberman denied the latter clause took effect for the 2006 season.
News of the coaching change leaked more than two weeks ago, while Paopao still had a shot at reaching the eight-win mark and making the playoffs. While Paopao went out a martyr, Jenkins has been lumped in as the one of the bad guys in the whole mess.
On Monday, Jenkins distanced himself from accusations of a conflict of interest.
''That was clearly a business decision and the prerogative of the ownership,'' Jenkins said, adding he felt he fulfilled his duties to Paopao. ''That was not my job to say, `you need to have this guy (to win).'''
The hiring is just another in a long line of PR disasters for father-and-son majority owners Bernie and Lonie Glieberman, whose club ranked last in the CFL in average attendance at 18,490 per game and likely faces an even-tougher sell job now.
''The announcement today is probably not the politically correct choice, but it is the best choice,'' Lonie Glieberman said. ''Yeah, there's a public-relations challenge here. Anytime a quality, popular guy leaves, there's a public-relations challenge.''
''We don't necessarily go down the safe path,'' added Gregg, a friend and adviser of the Gliebermans who admitted to not interviewing other candidates for the job. ''I'm confident with the decision we made.''
Jenkins has a 30-year coaching history that includes stops in the NCAA, the USFL, arena football and the CFL. Most notably, he won a Grey Cup as offensive co-ordinator with the Toronto Argonauts in 1997 when they went 17-3 with Doug Flutie as the star.
His most recent stint was as offensive co-ordinator for the Calgary Stampeders in last year's disastrous campaign. He was fired by Matt Dunigan after the Stamps got off to a 1-5 start.
Jenkins will immediately get to work hiring assistants, but trying to make Ottawa a winner won't be easy.
''I've taken on many, many difficult tasks in the past, things that I thrive on,'' Jenkins said. ''And most of them have turned out to be, gosh, fairy tale success stories. Some haven't.
''They're not getting no virgin here. I've been through a lot of experiences and I've got a lot of experience that I bring to the table so I'll pour my heart and soul into doing anything possible to give these fans a big winner.''
Jenkins said he'll likely handle the offence in Ottawa. He's been known in the past to favour an aerial attack instead of the ground game. That poses a few questions since one of the Renegades' best players is running back Josh Ranek, who had three straight 1,000-yard seasons under Paopao and is eligible to become a free agent.
Quarterback Kerry Joseph is also a better on his feet than with his arm, becoming just the third quarterback in CFL history to run for 1,000 yards in a season. The Renegades hold the option on his contract that, if they choose to exercise it, will cost them a whopping $300,000 next year.
Jenkins and Glieberman insist Joseph remains the team's QB, but Joseph said Monday he's had no indication he'll be back.
The Renegades had 15 players eligible for free agency and, if last winter is any indication, Ottawa doesn't appear to be a popular destination when it comes to re-signing old players and signing new ones.
Ottawa did announce that three players agreed to long-term deals Monday. Punter Pat Fleming (four years), linebacker Donnavan Carter (five years) and cornerback Bo Rogers (four years) all inked new deals, so it appears the Renegades' strategy may be to offer players a measure of job security to attract them in a league not known for it.
''They're go-getters to me and I think that's important,'' Carter said. ''That go-getter approach is the way you're going to succeed in this league.''
http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20040731/Jenkins_64746.jpg
Who the f is this fruitcake, and why is he coaching the Renegades?
Lord help us next season it will be a long one..
:curse: