MEDIA
Buono plants football seeds in Kelowna
2006-04-19 12:54:41
Jesse Booker had a pretty good hunch he might want to be a football coach one day.
Meeting B.C. Lions head man Wally Buono simply confirmed what the 17-year-old Mt. Boucherie Bears linebacker already knew.
It was great to meet a CFL coach and hear what he had to say about coaching, Booker said. "I like how he doesn't give up and always strives to be better. It makes me want to be a coach". Booker was one of about 200 people minor football players, coaches, fans, and members of the Okanagan Sun among them, who showed up at Trinity Baptist Church on Saturday to hear Buono's thoughts about football, the CFL, and the Lions prospects for the 2006 season.
Buono was joined by Sun head coach Jay Christensen for a 30-minute question-and-answer session with fans, players, and the media.
For Buono, it was a chance to continue developing and nurturing the relationship between the Lions and Kelowna's football community.
"Obviously the community teams support us and we try to support them as much as we can", said Buono. "One of things we've done is to try to recognize all the different aspects of minor football, whether it's individuals, the team, volunteers, or coaches. I think we've made tremendous head way. Football is thriving in B.C. right now, so hopefully we're headed in the right direction."
On the subject on the direction of the Lions, Buono said his club has moved on from the disappointment and frustration of 2005 when, after an 11-0 start, they stumbled to a 12-6 finish, then became a casualty in the Western Division final.
In addition, Buono doesn't expect the distractions caused by the team's seemingly unresolvable two-quarterback question to be an issue in 2006.
With the exit of 2004 CFL outstanding player Casey Printers, the No. 1 job is solely in the hands of veteran Dave Dickenson.
"You gotta say it's going to allow them to focus more, you know they're going to know who the quarterback is. Last year there was too much speculation by a lot of people and you know obviously the players tried to tune it out but it was all year long and I think eventually it got to them, he said." "From that aspect, it's going to help (to have a No.1). From a coaching perspective I think we've done a good job of tailoring the offense to fit what Dave does."
Also in attendance at Saturday's gathering was Jeff Halvorson's family, including his wife Leah and their children, Leah and Cheyne, who have a meaningful connection with the Lions head coach.
The Okanagan Sun running back, who died suddenly in September 2004, was posthumously named winner of the Wally Buono Award last year.
The honour recognizes the top junior football player in Canada, based on his football talents as well as his contribution to the community off the field.
"The unfortunate part about life is that we don't always know how long we're going to be here and I think Jeff lived it well in the short period of time that he did," Buono said. "Something like this (award) gives me hope that what I'm doing has some value and hopefully gives his family hope that he was recognized. Jeff, I believe, left a legacy here."
Meeting B.C. Lions head man Wally Buono simply confirmed what the 17-year-old Mt. Boucherie Bears linebacker already knew.
It was great to meet a CFL coach and hear what he had to say about coaching, Booker said. "I like how he doesn't give up and always strives to be better. It makes me want to be a coach". Booker was one of about 200 people minor football players, coaches, fans, and members of the Okanagan Sun among them, who showed up at Trinity Baptist Church on Saturday to hear Buono's thoughts about football, the CFL, and the Lions prospects for the 2006 season.
Buono was joined by Sun head coach Jay Christensen for a 30-minute question-and-answer session with fans, players, and the media.
For Buono, it was a chance to continue developing and nurturing the relationship between the Lions and Kelowna's football community.
"Obviously the community teams support us and we try to support them as much as we can", said Buono. "One of things we've done is to try to recognize all the different aspects of minor football, whether it's individuals, the team, volunteers, or coaches. I think we've made tremendous head way. Football is thriving in B.C. right now, so hopefully we're headed in the right direction."
On the subject on the direction of the Lions, Buono said his club has moved on from the disappointment and frustration of 2005 when, after an 11-0 start, they stumbled to a 12-6 finish, then became a casualty in the Western Division final.
In addition, Buono doesn't expect the distractions caused by the team's seemingly unresolvable two-quarterback question to be an issue in 2006.
With the exit of 2004 CFL outstanding player Casey Printers, the No. 1 job is solely in the hands of veteran Dave Dickenson.
"You gotta say it's going to allow them to focus more, you know they're going to know who the quarterback is. Last year there was too much speculation by a lot of people and you know obviously the players tried to tune it out but it was all year long and I think eventually it got to them, he said." "From that aspect, it's going to help (to have a No.1). From a coaching perspective I think we've done a good job of tailoring the offense to fit what Dave does."
Also in attendance at Saturday's gathering was Jeff Halvorson's family, including his wife Leah and their children, Leah and Cheyne, who have a meaningful connection with the Lions head coach.
The Okanagan Sun running back, who died suddenly in September 2004, was posthumously named winner of the Wally Buono Award last year.
The honour recognizes the top junior football player in Canada, based on his football talents as well as his contribution to the community off the field.
"The unfortunate part about life is that we don't always know how long we're going to be here and I think Jeff lived it well in the short period of time that he did," Buono said. "Something like this (award) gives me hope that what I'm doing has some value and hopefully gives his family hope that he was recognized. Jeff, I believe, left a legacy here."
