May
Als invite Proudfoot to camp
Courtesy Vancouver Province:
Although he’s suffering from a debilitating disease and has lost his ability to communicate verbally, Tony Proudfoot’s mind remains sharp – especially where the Canadian Football League and his beloved Alouettes are concerned.
Montreal head coach Marc Trestman, about to embark on his second season with the team, wants to draw on some of that wealth of knowledge. And so, for the second consecutive year, Proudfoot has been invited to the Als’ training camp, The Gazette has learned. The team begins workouts June 7 at St. Jean.
“He knows the league and understands the rules,” Trestman said. “He’s a brilliant man with playing experience. It will be unbelievable to have him here, in a coaching capacity, and bounce ideas off him.”
Proudfoot, 59, will serve as a guest coach at camp, which lasts three weeks. The former defensive back will watch practices while sitting in on meetings and film review. And he also will be somewhat of an unofficial adviser to Trestman, serving as a conduit between the coach and players. Health permitting, Trestman said it’s possible the situation will extend into the regular season, but suggested such talk is premature for now.
“I think he can bring a tremendous value to the program,” Trestman said. “He can also help the team win.”
It has been almost two years since Proudfoot announced he was suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) – better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease – at an Olympic Stadium news conference before Montreal’s 2007 opening game.
It’s a disease of the motor-nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that causes progressive loss of control over movement. Death often occurs within three to five years of diagnosis, although there are rare cases of patients living decades. Indeed, up to 10 per cent survive a decade or more.
Proudfoot continues to remain physically and mentally active, although he can communicate only through the use of computer speech software. He’s on a fishing expedition in Manitoba, but is excited over this latest opportunity and plans to be at the Fort St. Jean campus by June 5.
“I’ll provide another experienced set of eyes,” Proudfoot said in a text message. “I’ll work with (defensive coordinator) Tim Burke … providing overall feedback on how I see things. I’ll also focus on the players’ point of view.
“I want to thank Marc for providing me with this opportunity,” added Proudfoot, who spent 12 seasons in the CFL, including time with the Als between 1971 and ’79.
In attempting to lay a foundation last season, and considering he had no CFL experience at the time, Trestman not only relied on input from the players, but also surrounded himself with coaches who have knowledge of the league. Trestman also said it was paramount he, along with the players, had an attachment to the past while understanding the Als’ tradition.
Not only was Proudfoot a guest coach at camp, Trestman invited the legendary Marc Levy to spend two days with the team. Levy coached Montreal to two Grey Cup titles in the 1970s.
Proudfoot attended most, if not all, Als home games last season and watched road games on TV. He also came out to practise periodically. A bond formed between Trestman and Proudfoot, who was presented the game ball after Montreal’s East Division final win over Edmonton.
Proudfoot was asked by Trestman to produce an evaluation of the team’s strengths and weaknesses, along with ways it could improve, at season’s end. Trestman decided to continue the working relationship into 2009.
“He’s open-minded and doesn’t mince words,” Trestman said. “He did a great job at the end of the season. I know there has been some deterioration in his speech, but he has the ability to communicate and knows the game.
“He has eyes and a head on his shoulders.”
Trestman said Proudfoot will help in technical, personal, positional and team morale aspects. Proudfoot also will likely serve as inspiration to the players, especially those returning. He’ll be under no parameters or restrictions and can return home, if necessary, during camp.
“He’ll have access to a computer and can take notes. And I can ask questions of him,” Trestman said. “He’ll have a great perspective from standing back and watching. He brings value and has a good sense. I don’t see any downside, although I don’t know his entire health situation.”
Claudine Cook, the executive-director of the ALS Society of Quebec, said she saw a twinkle in Proudfoot’s eyes last week, when he informed her of the coaching position.
“Going to training camp is a natural for him,” she said. “He doesn’t want anyone to feel sorry for him. And he’ll expect to be treated like any other coach. He has so much to give, yet players and coaches will have so much to learn from him – whether it’s about football or, even more importantly, about the game of life and how to best fight any opponent … head on.”
Proudfoot established a fund in his name in August 2007, and has helped to raise $400,000 for ALS research.
