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The Alouettes have Don Matthews on their side
If any team could use a morale boost in the run to the CFL playoffs, it's the Montreal Alouettes. The team changed coaches after five games, spent most of the year without injured star quarterback Anthony Calvillo (who won't be back in the playoffs and may retire after this year) and gave a game away against Hamilton last week, ending their chances to host a playoff matchup. Fortunately for the Alouettes, a Hall of Fame coach and one of the CFL's most legendary figures has returned to their camp as a consultant. Here's CFL.ca's Rick Moffat on how Don Matthews is helping the team:
It has to be therapeutic for Matthews.
The health battles that forced a hasty departure from Montreal in 2006 and that would force him off the CFL sidelines again several years later can no longer prevent him from the joy of X’s, O’s and the club’s comradery.
The former winningest coach in league history has lingered several weeks at Popp’s invitation. He’s sat in on meetings, and walked the sidelines at practice.
Like a PhD student reunited with his favorite professor, [defensive coordinator Noel] Thorpe is all the wiser in his appreciation.
“Don is a great resource for our players and other coaches,” says Thorpe, hired as defensive coordinator just before Marc Trestman left for the Chicago Bears.
“He watches film, offers insightful ideas. He’s great at identifying weaknesses in opponents and self-scouting.”
One recent Molson Stadium gameday, I only half-jokingly asked Popp if The Don would get to send in a play on offence, or dial up an all-out blitz for Thorpe.
“If he wants to,” Popp chuckled.
“No,” claimed Matthews. But after a pause, he offered “maybe I’ll draw something up for special teams next week.” ...
Coach Matthews hasn’t just been fraternizing with the Montreal coaching staff; he’s worked directly with certain players.
“They’ve gone to see him,” admits Thorpe. “He’s a fresh set of eyes. He offers little tidbits to make them better.”
That's pretty remarkable that the 74-year-old Matthews (who has been fighting cancer recently) is willing and able to return to the CFL as a consultant, and it's a great move by the Alouettes to invite his input. As Moffat writes, Matthews has been a CFL legend for so long that current coaches like Thorpe asked him for autographs growing up. His 231 CFL career wins are second-best only to Wally Buono, and he found success almost everywhere he went, from Edmonton to B.C. to Saskatchewan to Baltimore to Toronto to Montreal. Matthews also was the man who brought the current Alouettes' franchise their first Grey Cup championship in 2002. He's one heck of a coach, and having him on their side seems like some of the best news the Alouettes have received in a while.
