CFL 2024

Behind Enemy Lines

Registered User
Feb 19, 2003
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18,536
Vancouver
Amongst those qualities as CEO does he have the business acumen? Maybe not fully needed given the approach.

Sounds alike the owner and CEO are co-chairing this venture. Given the situation for the Elks and as a new owner that might be the most successful approach for the enterprise.
I speculate that might be one of the big difference under private ownership. I assume their new owner is going to be overseeing/supporting the financial and business side as it's likely the biggest value being brought to the table along with the capital required in the purchase.

The BC Lions executive structure might be a reference point: Lions Staff - BC Lions

From my outsider perspective there seems to be two critical functions required. Re-establish the EE profile and business engagement to drive revenue while building a competent football operations group that drives success on-field ... which then also fuels the business side success.
 
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rboomercat90

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Mar 24, 2013
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Edmonton
Stepping into this President's role would be an ugly job.

Come on in! Now fix all of the following:

- Completely disinterested and dwindling fanbase
- Pissed off season seat holders that face large price increases this year
- Poor game day presentation and product
- A team name and brand that is divisive (imagine that) that a large portion, if not a majority of the fanbase despises
- Fan demographic that currently doesn't lend itself well to long term sustainability
- Potentially changing back the team name and brand, opening up the can of worms with the mob again and being the face of it
- A football ops department in shambles
- A team that can't find a way to be competitive
- The one player that the fans like and identify with is probably gone because of how he's been dicked around
- An organization that is a financial mess
- Functioning and succeeding in a basket case of a league
- Stiff competition from other popular discount summer sports franchises that didn't exist before (Riverhawks, Stingers) and are becoming more popular than the Elks with the general public
- Probably an owner that isn't interested in losing his shirt to accomplish all of the above

I probably missed another half dozen things. You need someone with a LOT of passion for the organization to take the chair for a job that frankly would absolutely suck to do.
This long list here is why I don’t think the new guy is going to be Sean Flemming or frankly anybody else not previously employed in the league in a front office position. The time to bring Flemming in would have been 15 rears ago when he could have made a difference. The CFL in 2024 is a sinking ship and it’s hard to see anyone new wanting to tie their name to it. It’s going to be a retread, somebody that’s already lost their proffessional credibility. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bone is right and Randy Ambrosie is the guy. If it’s not then does anybody know what Kavis Reed is up to these days?


Edit:apologies guys, I made this post before reading the final few pages of the thread to see Morris was hired. My main point still stands though that Flemming wasn’t talking this job.
One more question. Was Morris the guy that lost out to Macciocha for the Head Coach position and left the organization way back when or am I thinking of someone else?
 
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samiam

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Oct 4, 2010
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This long list here is why I don’t think the new guy is going to be Sean Flemming or frankly anybody else not previously employed in the league in a front office position. The time to bring Flemming in would have been 15 rears ago when he could have made a difference. The CFL in 2024 is a sinking ship and it’s hard to see anyone new wanting to tie their name to it. It’s going to be a retread, somebody that’s already lost their proffessional credibility. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bone is right and Randy Ambrosie is the guy. If it’s not then does anybody know what Kavis Reed is up to these days?


Edit:apologies guys, I made this post before reading the final few pages of the thread to see Morris was hired. My main point still stands though that Flemming wasn’t talking this job.
One more question. Was Morris the guy that lost out to Macciocha for the Head Coach position and left the organization way back when or am I thinking of someone else?

I believe you are thinking of Greg Marshall
 

rboomercat90

Registered User
Mar 24, 2013
15,647
10,690
Edmonton
I believe you are thinking of Greg Marshall
I’ll look it up. I was lazy and figured someone on here would remember.;) Whoever it is I’m thinking of was the defensive coordinator at the same time Maccioca was the offensive coordinator.



Edit: You are correct. That was Marshall. Been 20 years and I couldn’t remember. I’ve always wondered how differently things would have turned out had the team gone down that path instead. Those were the years where the club started making bad decisions after bad decisions.
 
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brentashton

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Jan 21, 2018
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I speculate that might be one of the big difference under private ownership. I assume their new owner is going to be overseeing/supporting the financial and business side as it's likely the biggest value being brought to the table along with the capital required in the purchase.

The BC Lions executive structure might be a reference point: Lions Staff - BC Lions

From my outsider perspective there seems to be two critical functions required. Re-establish the EE profile and business engagement to drive revenue while building a competent football operations group that drives success on-field ... which then also fuels the business side success.
Given Chris Morris as the CEO hire then, I see it as a 2 headed monster with Larry. That can be a good thing. I guess we will see.

Ive been involved in large enterprise business (publicly traded)where the owner is deeeeeeeply involved in the business (as majority share owner), to its detriment.

Sometimes they can’t get the hell out of the way of the superior talent they have hired to run said business.
 
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Behind Enemy Lines

Registered User
Feb 19, 2003
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Vancouver
Given Chris Morris as the CEO hire then, I see it as a 2 headed monster with Larry. That can be a good thing. I guess we will see.

Ive been involved in large enterprise business (publicly traded)where the owner is deeeeeeeply involved in the business (as majority share owner), to its detriment.

Sometimes they can’t get the hell out of the way of the superior talent they have hired to run said business.
Definite risk. If the football side doesn't get figured out the whole house collapses. I don't know either man so can't comment about their personality types. The owner's on the hook for the team's accumulated debt so I just expect he's going to have a degree of hands on.

My CFL focus is on currently eating crow regarding the playoff Riders and their oldster QB! haha Steinberg: 5 Saskatchewan X-factors in the Western Semi-Final - CFL.ca
 

K1984

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Feb 7, 2008
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Definite risk. If the football side doesn't get figured out the whole house collapses. I don't know either man so can't comment about their personality types. The owner's on the hook for the team's accumulated debt so I just expect he's going to have a degree of hands on.

My CFL focus is on currently eating crow regarding the playoff Riders and their oldster QB! haha Steinberg: 5 Saskatchewan X-factors in the Western Semi-Final - CFL.ca

Didn't he buy the team via asset sale? Unless he acquired the debt in the sale, I think the only debt he'll have is what is created by the inevitable red ink or his own debt from the purchase.
 
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Stoneman89

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Feb 8, 2008
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Like the Edmonton football ties, but it's extremely concerning his first role in professional sports is as President and CEO while also having zero business background outside a bit of administrator experience as a Principal.
May as well try a greenhorn. The others that they've had, have had extensive business and admin experience and look how they turned out.
 
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brentashton

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Jan 21, 2018
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The Bears team was excellent. Rolled UBC in Vancouver to start the season and was poised for a strong season. Lost their excellent QB and top running back, both among Canada West best and the season slid away thereafter with an inexperienced backup QB.

Morris has done a real solid job with building a strong, competitive Bears program. This could be a real good hire especially with strong insight into USports Canadian talent.
Listen to Stauffer from his pod last night. Doesn’t sound like he’s a fan nor of the hire. And Stauffer knows his U of A sports
 

Behind Enemy Lines

Registered User
Feb 19, 2003
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18,536
Vancouver
I wasn’t trying to jab you. I was frankly surprised at Bob’s reaction to the hire.
All good, frankly I earned it. ;)

Part of my happiness of this hire is getting Morris out of U of A. He did a good job of retaining Edmonton talent that was a strong recruiting base for U of S Huskies. :)

We'll see how this decision makes out. Their big decisions will be how he/they build out the football operations leadership group.
 
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JordanGalhanth

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Apr 21, 2012
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Like the Edmonton football ties, but it's extremely concerning his first role in professional sports is as President and CEO while also having zero business background outside a bit of administrator experience as a Principal.
Victor Cui showed us that you can have a multi-million dollar business background and still be an unmitigated failure.

More than willing to give Morris a shot.
 

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