Esks to interview Hall
Rob Vanstone, The Leader-PostPublished: Saturday, November 29, 2008
The Edmonton Eskimos received permission Friday to interview Richie Hall for their vacant head-coaching position.
Hall has been a Saskatchewan Roughriders assistant coach for 15 CFL seasons -- the last eight as defensive co-ordinator.
The 48-year-old Hall is among the candidates to replace Danny Maciocia, who stepped down as the Eskimos' head coach on Thursday. Maciocia is the Eskimos' general manager and director of football operations.
"I think (Edmonton) would be a great opportunity,'' Hall told Mario Anniccharico of the Edmonton Journal on Friday.
"They have a good team, the organization is solid and they have a tremendously successful history. There are nothing but positives there. Anyone going in there is in a win-win situation."
Hall was interviewed by the Eskimos after the 2004 season, but Edmonton ended up promoting Maciocia.
The Eskimos' job was the first of six head-coaching positions for which Hall has been interviewed over the past four years. Most recently, Hall was interviewed Tuesday by the Toronto Argonauts' brass. As of Friday, the Eskimos had yet to begin interviewing candidates.
"Richie, since I've been out West and we play him three or four times a year, he's a pain to play against," Maciocia told the Journal on Thursday. "He does an outstanding job with what they do on defence. They are very active, very physical. They buy into what he's trying to do and they're disciplined.
"I know every time there is a job open, his name comes up. He's been given endless amounts of interviews. Unfortunately he's come up short, but he's a viable guy out there."
Other candidates could include recently fired Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Doug Berry (a close friend of Maciocia's), Calgary Stampeders defensive co-ordinator Chris Jones, Winnipeg defensive co-ordinator Greg Marshall, B.C. Lions defensive co-ordinator Mike Benevides, Eskimos special-teams co-ordinator and defensive backs coach Noel Thorpe and University of Oregon offensive co-ordinator Danny Langsdorf (a former Eskimos assistant coach).
Hall's contract with the Roughriders is to expire at the end of January. The deal contains a professional-advancement clause that allows him to accept a head-coaching job. He has spoken with Roughriders general manager Eric Tillman and head coach Ken Miller about extending the deal if a head-coaching job does not materialize.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Rider Fever
Just had to post these here, to keep the Rider Prider fever alive although the season is over:
Dad can we change the template of the blog so that we can make it all green?
Dad can we change the template of the blog so that we can make it all green?Weston Dressler - after the Rookie of the Year Award
Go to Ridervision.....it is pretty good interviewhttp://www.saskriders.com/
Rod Pederson Blog
So I'm sitting in the coffee shop here reading the CFL News email and I laughed out loud at this excerpt from columnist Jack Evans of the Cobourg (Ontario) Daily News:"Like the Cobourg gang, I was dressed in my Roughrider green. One ardent Calgary fan, assuming I was from Saskatchewan and my team didn't make it urged: "Deep down, you're really going to be rooting for Calgary aren't you?""No, I'm rooting for Montreal," I replied."How could anyone from Saskatchewan root for Montreal?" was the followup."I'm not from Saskatchewan; I'm from Ontario," I told the then-confused Calgarian."Saskatchewan fans are everywhere," I added. "Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.Another columnist, in Victoria, absolutely ripped apart the Calgary Stampeders for their behaviour after winning the G.C. on Sunday, and Jermaine Copeland's repeated use of the "N" word on live national TV.I'd love to share this email from the CFL with you but I've been informed it's strictly for league personnel. If it's okay, I'll continue to pass along the best tidbits to you.----The news today: Matt Dunigan's inline to become the offensive coordinator in Winnipeg, Jim Fassel and Richie Hall interviewed for the Toronto HC job and George Cortez has taken his name out of the running.Speaking of George, I got a voicemail from him on Tuesday "Hey Rod it's George Cortez here in the Spirit of the West, Calgary Alberta. Give me a call sometime!"I'm sure he read the shout-out on Monday. Hey George, I've been travellling! I'll catch up with you today or tomorrow!!----
NEW BLOG
THIS IS A TEST TO SEE IF YOU RECEIVE AN EMAIL AND THE LOCATION OF MY NEW RIDER BLOG. THOUGHT I MIGHT TRY THIS INSTEAD OF BY EMAIL.....LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
RICHIE HALL TO ARGOS ??
Richie Hall the perfect candidate for the Argos
Rob Vanstone, The Leader-PostPublished: Thursday, November 27, 2008
The 2008 Toronto Argonauts were the CFL's runaway leaders in coaching chaos.
The abbreviated head-coaching tenures of Rich Stubler and Don Matthews were disasters. But what else should people expect from a team that in 2005 fired Kent Austin as offensive co-ordinator.
However, the Argos have a chance to atone for past gaffes by making an inspired choice. Opportunity knocked for all parties Tuesday when Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall was interviewed for the Argonauts' head-coaching position.
The Argonauts reportedly intend to interview 15 to 20 candidates to replace Don Matthews, who replaced Stubler, who succeeded Michael (Pinball) Clemons, who fired Austin.
According to Sportsnet's Perry Lefko, Hall is among a slate that includes (inhale) former New York Giants head coach Jim Fassel, erstwhile Roughriders bench boss Danny Barrett (who is now an assistant coach at the University of Buffalo), Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements, legendary quarterbacks Doug Flutie and Damon Allen, Fresno State offensive co-ordinator Doug Nussmeier, Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive co-ordinator Greg Marshall and CFL warhorse Dave Ritchie (exhale).
The Argos can shop around all they want, but they will not find a better candidate -- or a better person -- than Hall.
Consider the classy manner in which Hall punctuated Tuesday's meeting with the Argos' brass -- general manager Adam Rita, assistant GM and director of player personnel Greg Mohns, director of Canadian scouting Nick Volpe and player personnel assistant Miles Gorrell.
"What I told them when I left was, 'Regardless of what happens from here on out, thank you for the opportunity, and it was an enjoyable experience,' " Hall said Wednesday at Mosaic Stadium.
Hall knows the routine. This is the sixth time in four years that he has been considered for a head-coaching position.
"Six?'' he said with a laugh. "Has it been six?''
1. The Edmonton Eskimos interviewed Hall after the 2004 season before hiring Danny Maciocia.
2. Hall was also interviewed by Winnipeg three years ago before Doug Berry was appointed. Berry was recently axed.
3. The Montreal Alouettes chose Marc Trestman last December after interviewing a list of candidates that included Hall.
4. Hall was on the Roughriders' short list before Austin was named the head coach in December of 2006. Austin received CFL coach-of-the-year honours after guiding Saskatchewan to the 2007 Grey Cup title.
5. Roughriders GM Eric Tillman also considered Hall after Austin left in January to become the offensive co-ordinator at the University of Mississippi.
6. Now the Argonauts are interested.
"Whether I get it or don't get it, the sun's still going to come up tomorrow and I'm still going to have a smile on my face,'' the perpetually pleasant Hall said. "Yeah, you experience disappointment, but life goes on. I guess it's a perspective that we have about things.''
Hall is blessed with a refreshing perspective. Too many football coaches are militaristic and paranoid. Hall is militaristic only in the sense that his father used to serve in the U.S. Air Force.
Any interview with Hall -- be it with the media or with a prospective employer -- quickly branches off into a conversation. He has that way with people, much like Clemons (who left the sidelines to become the Argos' CEO).
But football is not charm school. That is especially true on the defensive side of the ball, where an attack mentality is a prerequisite. Hall's congenial nature has not prevented him from masterminding one of the CFL's elite defences for a number of years.
What more does he have to do?
If anyone has earned a shot at a CFL head-coaching job, while possessed with the requisite attributes for prosperity in that role, it is Richie Hall.
"I'd love the opportunity to be a head coach,'' Hall said. "Do I feel that my career's not validated? No. If it happens, it's great. If it doesn't happen, it's good. That's the approach that I take. Maybe that's my defence mechanism to handle disappointment if it's still to come, but that's life.''
Rob Vanstone, The Leader-PostPublished: Thursday, November 27, 2008
The 2008 Toronto Argonauts were the CFL's runaway leaders in coaching chaos.
The abbreviated head-coaching tenures of Rich Stubler and Don Matthews were disasters. But what else should people expect from a team that in 2005 fired Kent Austin as offensive co-ordinator.
However, the Argos have a chance to atone for past gaffes by making an inspired choice. Opportunity knocked for all parties Tuesday when Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall was interviewed for the Argonauts' head-coaching position.
The Argonauts reportedly intend to interview 15 to 20 candidates to replace Don Matthews, who replaced Stubler, who succeeded Michael (Pinball) Clemons, who fired Austin.
According to Sportsnet's Perry Lefko, Hall is among a slate that includes (inhale) former New York Giants head coach Jim Fassel, erstwhile Roughriders bench boss Danny Barrett (who is now an assistant coach at the University of Buffalo), Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements, legendary quarterbacks Doug Flutie and Damon Allen, Fresno State offensive co-ordinator Doug Nussmeier, Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive co-ordinator Greg Marshall and CFL warhorse Dave Ritchie (exhale).
The Argos can shop around all they want, but they will not find a better candidate -- or a better person -- than Hall.
Consider the classy manner in which Hall punctuated Tuesday's meeting with the Argos' brass -- general manager Adam Rita, assistant GM and director of player personnel Greg Mohns, director of Canadian scouting Nick Volpe and player personnel assistant Miles Gorrell.
"What I told them when I left was, 'Regardless of what happens from here on out, thank you for the opportunity, and it was an enjoyable experience,' " Hall said Wednesday at Mosaic Stadium.
Hall knows the routine. This is the sixth time in four years that he has been considered for a head-coaching position.
"Six?'' he said with a laugh. "Has it been six?''
1. The Edmonton Eskimos interviewed Hall after the 2004 season before hiring Danny Maciocia.
2. Hall was also interviewed by Winnipeg three years ago before Doug Berry was appointed. Berry was recently axed.
3. The Montreal Alouettes chose Marc Trestman last December after interviewing a list of candidates that included Hall.
4. Hall was on the Roughriders' short list before Austin was named the head coach in December of 2006. Austin received CFL coach-of-the-year honours after guiding Saskatchewan to the 2007 Grey Cup title.
5. Roughriders GM Eric Tillman also considered Hall after Austin left in January to become the offensive co-ordinator at the University of Mississippi.
6. Now the Argonauts are interested.
"Whether I get it or don't get it, the sun's still going to come up tomorrow and I'm still going to have a smile on my face,'' the perpetually pleasant Hall said. "Yeah, you experience disappointment, but life goes on. I guess it's a perspective that we have about things.''
Hall is blessed with a refreshing perspective. Too many football coaches are militaristic and paranoid. Hall is militaristic only in the sense that his father used to serve in the U.S. Air Force.
Any interview with Hall -- be it with the media or with a prospective employer -- quickly branches off into a conversation. He has that way with people, much like Clemons (who left the sidelines to become the Argos' CEO).
But football is not charm school. That is especially true on the defensive side of the ball, where an attack mentality is a prerequisite. Hall's congenial nature has not prevented him from masterminding one of the CFL's elite defences for a number of years.
What more does he have to do?
If anyone has earned a shot at a CFL head-coaching job, while possessed with the requisite attributes for prosperity in that role, it is Richie Hall.
"I'd love the opportunity to be a head coach,'' Hall said. "Do I feel that my career's not validated? No. If it happens, it's great. If it doesn't happen, it's good. That's the approach that I take. Maybe that's my defence mechanism to handle disappointment if it's still to come, but that's life.''
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
RIDERS PRIDE
To those faithful Saskatchewan Rider fans, who get my emails everyday, I am going to try something new.
Tiger
Tiger
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