ItB次元官网网址檚 not quite B次元官网网址楳ission AccomplishedB次元官网网址� just yet B次元官网网址� that would require a Grey Cup victory later this year B次元官网网址� but for BC Lions coach Wally Buono, last weekB次元官网网址檚 win over the Edmonton Eskimos was an important game, nonetheless.
The victory B次元官网网址� 42-32 win Oct. 19 at B.C Place B次元官网网址� improved the LionsB次元官网网址� Canadian Football League record to 9-7, and cemented for the team a playoff berth, ensuring that BuonoB次元官网网址檚 final season on the sidelines lasts just a little bit longer than the 18-game regular season.
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The goal of qualifying for the post-season has been front-and-centre for the Surrey resident and his Leos all season who, despite a 3-6 start to the season, have been among the leagueB次元官网网址檚 hottest teams of late.
That focus hasnB次元官网网址檛 waned, even if Buono is still peppered by retirement questions during his media scrums B次元官网网址� a fact of life since he announced prior to the season that 2018 would be his final year.
B次元官网网址淭his yearB次元官网网址檚 been up and downB次元官网网址� but at this point, no, I havenB次元官网网址檛 had a change of heart (about retirement),B次元官网网址� he explained after a recent practice at the teamB次元官网网址檚 Surrey training facility.
While the Lions are in the playoffs, their postseason path is anything but decided. They could play any number of teams depending on how the rest of the regular season plays out B次元官网网址� scenarios that include crossing over to the East Division.
The Lions play the Saskatchewan Roughriders Saturday .
And while Buono has been loathe to make this final season an overly sentimental farewell tour, there have been a few moments in which heB次元官网网址檚 had a chance to reflect on a career that will see him retire as the winningest coach in CFL history.
At training camp in Kamloops, his family B次元官网网址� including wife Sande, four children and six grand-children B次元官网网址� joined him for the teamB次元官网网址檚 Fan Fest event, and prior to the teamB次元官网网址檚 game in Calgary Oct. 13, the Stampeders honoured Buono, who coached in Cowtown from 1987-2002, with a pre-game video tribute.
For Buono, the opportunity to look back on his time in Calgary B次元官网网址� in which he led the Stamps to six Grey Cup games and three titles B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渨as niceB次元官网网址� but he insisted it was probably more fun for his current players to see video clips of their then-younger coach on the big screen at McMahon Stadium.
B次元官网网址淚 think it was nice for the players to see it allB次元官网网址� and I have a lot of good memories,B次元官网网址� he said.
Prior to kick off, the showed a tribute video for their former head coach, Wally Buono, who is coaching in his final regular season game in Calgary.
B次元官网网址� TSN (@TSN_Sports)
However, video tributes and media inquiries asides, the longtime football coach is focused on the rest of the season and, hopefully, a long playoff run.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about winning the next game B次元官网网址� thatB次元官网网址檚 my sole focus,B次元官网网址� he said.
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