CFL.ca
One of the best things about winning is never, ever having to say you’re sorry.
Unfortunately, when a team has won just once in 12 tries and not since mid-July, well sometimes, people want answers and the Ottawa REDBLACKS decided at 1-11 that maybe their loyal following deserved at least an explanation.
So as REDBLACKS head coach Rick Campbell still searched for ways to get the ball over the goal line from one-yard out and answers to how to defeat teams his club holds to no offensive touchdowns and wonders how the centre can snap the ball on the final play of the game while the quarterback isn’t lined up, the ever-steady Campbell was moved to put pen to paper and give REDBLACKS fans a unique perspective of what’s going on.
At the urging of Ottawa Sports and Entertainment partner and president of sports Jeff Hunt, Campbell sent the REDBLACKS fans – the ones who have sold out TD Place six straight times this season – some reassurances that better days are ahead.
Campbell’s letter began with “I wanted to take a moment to update you on our football team as we head into the final third of our inaugural season.”
Finally, a member of the REDBLACKS felt free to point out this is the first season. Campbell stopped short of using that terrible word “expansion”, the one the organization has steadfastly avoided using since they first assembled for training camp. But it should be the first word in explaining much of what has gone on.
The ever even-keel Campbell has not wavered week-in and week-out, offering reporters and his players, an honest assessment of things, never once losing his cool as the losses mounted, and always defending the youth of his roster. Campbell continues to praise his players for their ability to keep working towards what they hope will be some late-season success that could carry over to 2015.
The letter was just another assurance that the losing won’t change the head coach.
“I was just trying to write what I see and what I feel,” said the newest scribe as the REDBLACKS prepped for a Winnipeg Blue Bombers team headed in much the same direction with a losing streak numbering four games to drop below .500. “I was trying to give our fans and insiders’ view.”
“It’s tough when you go this long without a win. But I have to give our guys credit. They’re not pointing fingers, blaming others or making excuses.”
“Football is hard. There are a lot of complexities to it and that’s why people like it. We are frustrated but it’s not an effort issue.”
Nine seasons of no pro football in the Nation’s Capital may have completely bypassed a generation of fans who never knew how difficult it is to win in this league.
This wasn’t the all-import expansion rosters of the 1990s that made the Baltimore Stallions Grey Cup-worth from the get-go and competitive teams in Sacramento, California, Birmingham, and Alabama.
The old rule in the CFL is that a team is only as good as its homegrown talent and the REDBLACKS began with very little in the way of experience with its Canadians with plenty of potential and a lack of professional eperience among their Canadian youngsters.
“Another thing people just don’t understand is that a lot of these guys have never played this much football in a single season,” said REDBLACKS GM Marcel Desjardins. “They might have played an eight-game CIS schedule and now here we are after 12 games and they’re starting to wear down a little.”
“In some areas, maybe the progress has not been a steep as we would like. But you have to show patience.”
“A lot of the positives going on out there have not translated into wins. And it’s too easy to look at just wins and losses. But we have good, young Canadians here and that how you build the foundation for a winner.”
So his head coach took to writing trying to explain to fans that they must be patient too.
Somehow, longtime Ottawa sports fans can’t imagine legendary hockey coach and Hockey Hall of Fame member Brian Kilrea, still a senior consultant with Ottawa Sports and Entertainment’s other jewel (the Ottawa 67’s) doing similar. Then again, Kilrea only had six losing seasons in 26 in becoming Canadian Junior Hockey’s winningest coach.
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And Campbell’s father Hugh certainly had no explaining to do in six season as head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos from 1977-82, winning six West Division titles and five straight Grey Cups his last five years.
Now maybe Campbell, the older, should have tried the letter-writing once he got to Houston as head coach or a terrible Oilers team.
But give the rookie head coach credit for reaching out to fans.
Campbell goes on to explain: “So far this season has been a season of missed opportunities. The good news is we are capable of competing with all the teams in the CFL.”
“Over the past several weeks we have consistently put ourselves in a position to win football games against some very good teams.”
“What has been frustrating is our inability to find a way to make the one or two more plays to close the deal and win the game.”
“We will continue to work hard as coaches and players in order to get our ourselves over the hump and get the wins that our loyal supporters deserve.”
Realistically, the REDBLACKS have been competitive in eight of the first dozen games they have played, losing seven by 10 points or less.
If they could, perhaps, pull off two or three wins down the stretch, the club would have something to build on in the off-season ahead.
There has been one overwheliming positive though, and that has been the fan support for a team that has only one win and Campbell closes out his letter by expressing that the team realizes the level of suport they are receiving.
“Our fan support is something we will never take for granted,” wrote Campbell. “We all get excited for our home games because the atmosphere in the stadium is awesome. Last Friday night we could feel you urging us on. Your patience and support is commendable. We appreciate it more than you could ever know. The wins can’t come fast enough for any of us, but they are coming.”
“Keep the faith.”
Signed: Coach Rick.
