2004 CFL Western Preview - Calgary Stampeders
From The Sports Network
Dan Ralph, CFL Editor
FACTS & FIGURES: Division - East. 2003 record - 5-13-0-0. Playoff result: Missed playoffs. Stadium - McMahon Stadium. Capacity - 35,967. Club Colors - Red, white and blacmc
The Calgary Stampeders will be sporting a new look in 2004.
The CFL team will still don its red-and-white colors and galloping horse logo, but the Stampeders will sport a new face on the sidelines with head coach/general manager Matt Dunigan and also boast a new look atop the organization with president Ron Rooke.
Rooke was promoted to president late last season, replacing Mark McLoughlin, the former Stampeders kicker who retired in mid-season to take over those duties from Stan Schwartz. And just before Christmas, Rooke unceremoniously dumped head coach Jim Barker and replaced him with Dunigan, a former CFL all- star quarterback who had spent time as a television analyst. Dunigan's appointment was a huge surprise, considering he had no previous experience at the pro level doing either job.
But Dunigan wasted little time putting his stamp of approval on the franchise.
Shortly after being hired, Dunigan orchestrated an eight-player trade with the Ottawa Renegades.
Calgary landed linebacker John Grace, offensive tackle Seth Dittman, defensive lineman Fred Perry and quarterback Romaro Miller, all imports. The Stampeders gave up defensive back Anthony Malbrough and middle linebacker/defensive end Kai Ellis (both imports), the negotiation rights to both Canadian kicker Sandro Sciortino (who completed his senior season at Boston College this year) and import defensive tackle Jerry Johnson as well as the second overall pick in the 2004 CFL Canadian college draft.
It wasn't the first time Dunigan had been involved in a multi-player CFL trade.
In 1988, the Edmonton Eskimos dealt Dunigan to the B.C. Lions as part of a deal that involved five players and a draft picmc Then in 1990, the Lions sent Dunigan to the Toronto Argonauts for six players, including linebacker Willie Pless. Dunigan guided the Argos to a Grey Cup title in '91.
The addition of Miller certainly fills a need for Calgary, which struggled to get production from its quarterbacks last season. The Stampeders came into training camp with Miller, veteran Marcus Crandell and youngsters Heath Smith and Cory Paws.
But Dunigan's decision to deal Sciortino came back to haunt him as McLoughlin retired, leaving Calgary without a proven kicker. The Stampeders' special teams were dealt another blow when punter Duncan O'Mahony signed as a free agent with the Lions.
Dunigan also sent veteran cornerback Davis Sanchez, a former CFL All-Star, to Montreal for receiver Andrew Noel, linebacker Joe Bonaventura and a 2004 second-round picmc Dunigan also informed stalwart offensive lineman Fred Childress, a six-time West Division All-Star and former teammate, that he didn't fit into the club's future. That prompted Childress, 37, to retire.
And the difficult decisions didn't stop there, either, as during training camp Dunigan released linebacker Alondra Johnson, a 15-year veteran who was the heart and soul of the Stampeders' defense.
But with the likes of Willie Fells, George White, John Grace, Brian Clark and Scott Coe at linebacker, Dunigan felt it was time to give the younger players a chance to play. Grace was Ottawa's MVP in 2002 and Clark led Winnipeg in interceptions last season.
Also gone is veteran defensive lineman Demetrious Maxie, but a notable returnee is defensive tackle Joe Fleming, who was named the CFL's outstanding defensive player last season.
The skinny: During an illustrious CFL career, Dunigan was a master of living on the edge on the field, willing to take big risks for big gains.
But there are simply too many question marks with the Stampeders this year to think Dunigan will be able to get the club into the CFL playoffs. And the questions aren't just about Calgary's talent. There are many people around the league who feel Dunigan is too unqualified and too inexperienced to pull off guiding a young squad to a playoff berth in the ultra-competitive West Division.
Sports Network predicted finish: Fifth
From The Sports Network
Dan Ralph, CFL Editor
FACTS & FIGURES: Division - East. 2003 record - 5-13-0-0. Playoff result: Missed playoffs. Stadium - McMahon Stadium. Capacity - 35,967. Club Colors - Red, white and blacmc
The Calgary Stampeders will be sporting a new look in 2004.
The CFL team will still don its red-and-white colors and galloping horse logo, but the Stampeders will sport a new face on the sidelines with head coach/general manager Matt Dunigan and also boast a new look atop the organization with president Ron Rooke.
Rooke was promoted to president late last season, replacing Mark McLoughlin, the former Stampeders kicker who retired in mid-season to take over those duties from Stan Schwartz. And just before Christmas, Rooke unceremoniously dumped head coach Jim Barker and replaced him with Dunigan, a former CFL all- star quarterback who had spent time as a television analyst. Dunigan's appointment was a huge surprise, considering he had no previous experience at the pro level doing either job.
But Dunigan wasted little time putting his stamp of approval on the franchise.
Shortly after being hired, Dunigan orchestrated an eight-player trade with the Ottawa Renegades.
Calgary landed linebacker John Grace, offensive tackle Seth Dittman, defensive lineman Fred Perry and quarterback Romaro Miller, all imports. The Stampeders gave up defensive back Anthony Malbrough and middle linebacker/defensive end Kai Ellis (both imports), the negotiation rights to both Canadian kicker Sandro Sciortino (who completed his senior season at Boston College this year) and import defensive tackle Jerry Johnson as well as the second overall pick in the 2004 CFL Canadian college draft.
It wasn't the first time Dunigan had been involved in a multi-player CFL trade.
In 1988, the Edmonton Eskimos dealt Dunigan to the B.C. Lions as part of a deal that involved five players and a draft picmc Then in 1990, the Lions sent Dunigan to the Toronto Argonauts for six players, including linebacker Willie Pless. Dunigan guided the Argos to a Grey Cup title in '91.
The addition of Miller certainly fills a need for Calgary, which struggled to get production from its quarterbacks last season. The Stampeders came into training camp with Miller, veteran Marcus Crandell and youngsters Heath Smith and Cory Paws.
But Dunigan's decision to deal Sciortino came back to haunt him as McLoughlin retired, leaving Calgary without a proven kicker. The Stampeders' special teams were dealt another blow when punter Duncan O'Mahony signed as a free agent with the Lions.
Dunigan also sent veteran cornerback Davis Sanchez, a former CFL All-Star, to Montreal for receiver Andrew Noel, linebacker Joe Bonaventura and a 2004 second-round picmc Dunigan also informed stalwart offensive lineman Fred Childress, a six-time West Division All-Star and former teammate, that he didn't fit into the club's future. That prompted Childress, 37, to retire.
And the difficult decisions didn't stop there, either, as during training camp Dunigan released linebacker Alondra Johnson, a 15-year veteran who was the heart and soul of the Stampeders' defense.
But with the likes of Willie Fells, George White, John Grace, Brian Clark and Scott Coe at linebacker, Dunigan felt it was time to give the younger players a chance to play. Grace was Ottawa's MVP in 2002 and Clark led Winnipeg in interceptions last season.
Also gone is veteran defensive lineman Demetrious Maxie, but a notable returnee is defensive tackle Joe Fleming, who was named the CFL's outstanding defensive player last season.
The skinny: During an illustrious CFL career, Dunigan was a master of living on the edge on the field, willing to take big risks for big gains.
But there are simply too many question marks with the Stampeders this year to think Dunigan will be able to get the club into the CFL playoffs. And the questions aren't just about Calgary's talent. There are many people around the league who feel Dunigan is too unqualified and too inexperienced to pull off guiding a young squad to a playoff berth in the ultra-competitive West Division.
Sports Network predicted finish: Fifth
