A brick and a bouquet

[MoneyGuy]

First off, I’ve never played pro football, so I guess that according to Ed Hervey I’m not entitled to express this opinion. But there have been some pretty good coaches in different sports who then are also not entitled, so I guess I’m in good company. But, pfft, I’m a fan and by golly I’m going to say what’s on my mind. I know that Hervey has a friend on this board but I’ll still say that I totally disagree with what Hervey said and that he said it to the mediam instead of taking it into the coach's office.

Hervey said last week that Danny was out of line criticizing the players’ pride. Danny hasn’t played football so he’s not entitled, according to Hervey. Well, I think that Danny was right. This team was much better than a 4-9 record. I don’t think it’s entirely coaching either, nor was it entirely personnel. If the talent is there, then yes I think that pride was lacking. For most of this season, this team has shown a serious lack of pride.

For those who have been critical of Danny, calling these players out is sometimes what a good coach needs to do. I say, props to Danny. It seems to have had the desired impact.

Having said this, I think that the team – Hervey included - showed a complete reversal in the pride department in Regina. Everything was stacked against them. They almost never win in Regina and the Riders had a great opportunity to put the hated Eskimos away and almost certainly end our playoff hopes with a win, so the motivation was certainly there. They hate us and their fans showed their dislike for the Eskimos, booing at every turn. We got down 14-3 and the Riders could have pretty put us away then. Additionally, we were hobbled by several key injuries. Guys were playing on guts (Jason Tucker comes to mind). Other players in key positions were put out with injuries (Braidwood and both corners). Other players were forced into positions they don’t otherwise play and they played well. With two cornerbacks out, the Riders had every opportunity to nail that coffin shut. You can’t win in this league without really cornerbacks, but our guys managed to pull it out. Our offensive line provided yeoman service against a great D line.

An out-of-position J.R. Larose covered one of the most dangerous receivers in the league and did great. I think this guy will develop into a star. I can’t believe that we could play a lineman at safety and in the game. It happened before this season and it was hilarious to see Mobley telling a confused-looking Dalton where to stand.

So, I’m giving a brick to Ed Hervey for his ill-timed comments and a big bouquet to Hervey and company for getting it done when they absolutely had to. I really hope that I’ll have to drink a beer out of Diesel’s sneaker.

A brick to Ed Hervey and a bouquet to Hervey and his Eskimo mates.

or ?

[Muley69]

Re: A brick and a bouquet

I think everyone is blowing this WAAAAY out of proportion.

Just like "Curtis" today on the Team 1260.



I listened to the Hervey interview. To me, it was as though he was simply asked a question and he answered it. I never got the sense that he was being malicious or anything...for once, we had an athlete provide an open and honest answer without (IMO) being overly critical or overly cryptic.

[Opus]

Re: A brick and a bouquet

I think you're also taking out of context what Ed was saying as well.

DM undressed the whole club about the pride thing. Well, let me tell you, there are a few guys in that locker room that know a thing or two about it. Not only do they know about pride, they know about what it means to be an Eskimo and they've been here far longer than coach 'Cioach. So when DM brought it up for the second time, it was not well recieved by some of those players as it questioned not what they were putting forth right now, but what they've done for the club throughout their careers. Let me preface that with the fact that for these type of players, they always put the club's accomplishments far before their own personal acheivements.

Now beyond that, they talked with DM and got it squared away, it seems 'Cioach was trying to convey the message to those who might not have known about what being an Eskimo is about......in short, it was sentiment that was misconstrued and it seems the misunderstanding has been cleared up.

[eskimojones]

Re: A brick and a bouquet

All I have to say is that I finally saw some emotion on the Eskie sidelines.

What Hervey did brought this group together as a team for the first time this season. Controversy aside, DM was just trying to motivate his team. A vet stepped up and the team responded by going out and winning in a stadium where they haven't beat the Riders in a LONG TIME!

Let's see if this team can ride this wave into the playoffs.

[Beerfish]

Re: A brick and a bouquet

Comments about having been a player or not been a player always rankle the hell out of me. Having said that, if coaches want to tell their players to have pride, work harder, execute better and be smarter then they better hold themselves up to the same standard. I've been upset that I have not heard any of our coaches admit to their screw ups or coaching faults at all this year.

One of the best qualities as a coach Don Mathews has is that he rarely if ever throws his players under the bus. If a guy is not playing up to standards he will get rid of the player but he and his coaching staff will always take the heat when things are not going well (declaring that we have to coach better and put our guys in a better position to succeed) and will deflect the praise to the players when things are going well. I'd like to hear a few of those kind of statments come from our coaching staff.

[Diesel]

Re: A brick and a bouquet

I called into Total Sports to give my opinion that I thought the whole thing was being blown way out of proportion, between CC's comments and Swerve's comments.

The first thing we don't know in reading Ed's comments is what was the question that Ed was responding to and what was the underlying tone set by the reporter. All we hear is his reply, and while taken on the surface they do seem quite inflammatory, however, without trying to speak for Ed, it's my opinion that his comments weren't intended to throw anyone under the bus, but I believe that he may have reacted emotionally to a question that was most likely phrased in such a way to illicit such a response.

Ed's always been a very proud professional and wears his heart on his sleeve when it comes to his pride in being an eskimo. He will go down in team history as one of those rare few who truly 'get's it' in terms of understanding what it means to wear green and gold and does so in a way that as much as well all try, we can never truly understand on our own.

In the midst of at that time a 4-9 record, I would expect frustrations to bubble to the surface from time to time but I don't think for a moment that Ed was purposely trying to inflame a situation, but again, in my opinion, I believe he simply reacted to the challenge put forth by a reporter that he, along with other vets, haven't been playing with the pride required to wear green and gold, and I think as someone who has done nothing but do his job day in and day out with nothing less than the utmost of pride, dedication, and most importantly, a complete lack of selfish attitude, I would expect him to get a little hot when someone's shoving a mic in his face challenging his commitment and dedication.

As I mentioned to Stauffer last eve, I didn't believe there was any sort of fallout between Ed and Danny, and later on in the show when CC was being asked just that, he basicly backed up my position in general by saying how he and Ed have a great working relationship and he has no issue with the comments.

[Diesel]

Re: A brick and a bouquet

I think you're also taking out of context what Ed was saying as well.

DM undressed the whole club about the pride thing. Well, let me tell you, there are a few guys in that locker room that know a thing or two about it. Not only do they know about pride, they know about what it means to be an Eskimo and they've been here far longer than coach 'Cioach. So when DM brought it up for the second time, it was not well recieved by some of those players as it questioned not what they were putting forth right now, but what they've done for the club throughout their careers. Let me preface that with the fact that for these type of players, they always put the club's accomplishments far before their own personal acheivements.

Now beyond that, they talked with DM and got it squared away, it seems 'Cioach was trying to convey the message to those who might not have known about what being an Eskimo is about......in short, it was sentiment that was misconstrued and it seems the misunderstanding has been cleared up.

[Diesel]

Re: A brick and a bouquet

Just like "Curtis" today on the Team 1260.

That guy is a freakin TOOL.

[devolution]

Re: A brick and a bouquet

I'm not even gonna touch this thread...nice post though Diez.

[Diesel]

Re: A brick and a bouquet

I'm not even gonna touch this thread...nice post though Diez.

This from the guy who confronted the whole Nicole Lewis situation with a bag of grenades in one hand and the keys to the bulldozer in the other?

[moontoscott]

Re: A brick and a bouquet

DM had every right to say what he did and Hervey must accept responsibility (like many of his teammates) for a disappointing season.

Good coaches in any league or sport let players know when their performance is sub-par and it shouldn't be any different with the Eskimos. If Fleming and Hervey object then they can best voice those objections by playing great football in the last 4 games.

[Diesel]

Re: A brick and a bouquet

I think cc might have gone to the "pride" well once too often. No matter, it's water under the bridge between those two.

[Esks4ever]

Re: A brick and a bouquet

Dm said last night that the "pride" thing wasn't just him talking.. it was all the coaches who felt this way..

[Beerfish]

Re: A brick and a bouquet

DM had every right to say what he did and Hervey must accept responsibility (like many of his teammates) for a disappointing season.

Good coaches in any league or sport let players know when their performance is sub-par and it shouldn't be any different with the Eskimos. If Fleming and Hervey object then they can best voice those objections by playing great football in the last 4 games.

As I said in my earlier post, the players will listen and take things to heart if the coaches lead by example and admit they have been underacheiving. If you are going to nail the players for poor performance look in the mirror 1st.

[EEfan]

Re: A brick and a bouquet

I think given all the play opurtunities given to Herve, he has performed quite well. As did Fleming and Ray and Tuck. I think these guys have loads of pride, look at Mobes and Gass. I agree with Hervey.

We do have talent, just not enough. Those handful of vets cant do it alone. Its up to the coaches to bring in more talent, don't take it out on the players, especially the good ones.