Tears welled in Wally BuonoB次元官网网址檚 eyes as he contemplated what itB次元官网网址檚 meant to be part of the CFL for nearly half a century. The 68-year-old, whoB次元官网网址檚 seldom at a loss for words, took time to compose himself before answering.

B次元官网网址淲hy me?B次元官网网址� the B.C. LionsB次元官网网址� longtime coach and vice-president of football operations said simply, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been blessed guys. God has been good to me. I keep asking him B次元官网网址榃hy me?B次元官网网址� And I still donB次元官网网址檛 know why.B次元官网网址�

It was an emotional farewell for Buono on Thursday as he took questions in his last press conference as a CFL head coach. But he says he leaves the Lions in good hands under general manager Ed Hervey.

B次元官网网址淚 thought I was driven, I thought I was focused. But I think in a lot of ways, he surpasses even myself,B次元官网网址� Buono said. B次元官网网址滺eB次元官网网址檚 is going to work tirelessly to make this organization into a championship organization.B次元官网网址�

The LionsB次元官网网址� season ended Sunday with a crushing 48-8 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Division semifinal. The defeat marked the end of an era for the organization, as Buono is retiring from football after 46 years in the CFL as a player, coach, general manager and vice-president.

Scouring the league for BuonoB次元官网网址檚 replacement as head coach will be just one task on HerveyB次元官网网址檚 to-do list this off season.

The general manager said heB次元官网网址檚 looking for someone whoB次元官网网址檚 committed to winning and creating a championship environment. HeB次元官网网址檇 also like the next coach to come from the CFL.

B次元官网网址淚 believe that we cut our teeth in this league for these opportunities,B次元官网网址� Hervey said. B次元官网网址淭here are guys in this league that are committed to this league and deserve the opportunity to grow in this league.B次元官网网址�

Despite SundayB次元官网网址檚 loss, Hervey said the Lions beat expectations this year, coming back from a 3-6 start to clinch the crossover spot and secure a playoff position.

The ups and downs of the season will help the players who stay on to grow and develop an expectation to win, he added.

Hervey doesnB次元官网网址檛 expect a B次元官网网址渕assive overhaulB次元官网网址� of the Lions roster, but said there are areas where the team needs to improve.

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B次元官网网址淪peaking candidly, we need to be more dynamic in some areas, we need more speed in some areas, and IB次元官网网址檇 like to be longer and more athletic in other areas,B次元官网网址� he said.

Some empty spots will be filled during free agency, during which the club will be B次元官网网址渆xtremely aggressive.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 like the B.C. Lions to be the first choice for ever free agent,B次元官网网址� Hervey said.

The Lions will also keep a B次元官网网址渃ore groupB次元官网网址� of players and build a foundation around them.

B次元官网网址淎t the end of the day, itB次元官网网址檚 the players that we feel can help us build a championship culture, which will eventually turn into championship-level play, and hopefully by the end of all of it, there will be championships won,B次元官网网址� he said.

The general manager declined to say which players heB次元官网网址檚 looking at hold on to and whether that group could include current Lions quarterbacks Travis Lulay or Jonathon Jennings.

The pair will be free agents and both say they have not yet discussed their futures with the LionsB次元官网网址� front office.

Lulay, who battled injuries this season, said on Tuesday that he needs to sit down and think about whether he still wants to play football.

B次元官网网址淚t does take a toll, putting in all that extra time and energy and effort into just being on the field,B次元官网网址� said the 35-year-old. B次元官网网址淩ight now, the energy levels are depleted. I mean, I really left it all out there and a lot of guys feel that way.B次元官网网址�

Lulay threw for 2,494 yards, 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 12 games this season. Jennings put up 1,628 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions in 10 games.

The potential to upgrade at quarterback could be made in free agency, especially if stars Bo Levi Mitchell and Mike Reilly hit the market. Hervey has a connection to Reilly from the GMB次元官网网址檚 time in Edmonton.

The core of the roster knows what it takes to win, said wide receiver Bryan Burnham who led the Lions in receiving this season, with 67 catches for 1,029 yards and nine touchdowns.

The 28-year-old is headed to free agency and said heB次元官网网址檚 looking for an opportunity to win a championship.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 why we all play the game,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 have faith that Ed (Hervey) is going to put together a championship team and itB次元官网网址檚 something I would love to be a part of, but things donB次元官网网址檛 always work out the way you want it to. So weB次元官网网址檙e going to see how this goes.B次元官网网址�

Linebacker Solomon Elimimian still has a year left on his contract with the Lions, but noted that unexpected things can happen in the CFL off season.

B次元官网网址淩egardless of who you are, itB次元官网网址檚 always a one year deal,B次元官网网址� said Elimimian, who spent much of the season on the sidelines with a wrist injury. B次元官网网址滻 donB次元官网网址檛 think anyoneB次元官网网址檚 secure, regardless of what they may think.B次元官网网址�

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press

ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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