On Saturday, 3DownNation’s Justin Dunk reported that Montreal Alouettes players had been told after Friday’s loss to Hamilton that Jim Popp wouldn’t be returning as head coach after the team’s bye week.
Then all hell broke loose.
There were multiple reports from TSN and Montreal-based media that refuted the story. Special teams coordinator Kavis Reed, who gave Popp the game ball after the loss and told the team that Popp had been coping with personal issues, addressed the issue in a story by Gary Lawless.
“Jim Popp has not stepped down as head coach of the Alouettes nor has he indicated to the staff that that is coming. I’m flabbergasted and disappointed that inference has been drawn from me giving Jim the game ball after the tough loss in Hamilton. Jim has done everything in his power to keep this team focused and to try and get wins for this organization. Jim is dedicated and loyal to the Alouettes and [owner Bob] Wetenhall. Jim has had some family issues this week that he wanted kept private. I know what he went through this week and that’s why I gave him the game ball. I’m sorry that my actions, which were meant to be supportive of Jim, have come out in this negative way.”
Of course, Dunk didn’t report that Popp was out as coach: he reported that’s what the team had been told. It’s a subtle but important distinction.
Dunk spoke to several sources before publishing his story and re-checked with them after the team refuted elements of his reporting: they remain emphatic they were left with the impression, based on what Reed did in the locker room after the game – it is exceedingly rare for a team to hand out a game ball after a loss – that Popp was stepping down as coach.
Subsequent reporting from Montreal media all included some kind of qualifier about Popp’s status.
It’s clear that Jim Popp has not stepped down as head coach. But it’s clear from the content and tone of the reporting that nobody is exactly sure what will happen next.
