The time is right, says Wally Buono.
Now the ol’ football coach feels good about making his way to centre field Sunday at McMahon Stadium to accept commendation from the Calgary Stampeders.
Not like two other times before, when he turned down the same offer to be saluted by the CFL organization.
“To tell you the truth, that’s my fault,” said Buono, when asked if he’s surprised it took so long for the franchise to welcome him to the much-heralded Stampeders Wall of Fame.
“The story is when I was coaching the BC Lions, I was approached twice by people in the Stampeders organization to do the honour, OK?,” continued the former Red and White head coach and director of so many successful squads in CFL annals. “And no disrespect and no ill feelings — nothing of that nature — but I just didn’t feel that it was appropriate. I just couldn’t see myself being at centre field in essentially a home game for the Stampeders while being the head coach and GM of the BC Lions.
“I couldn’t separate the two.”
Now, of course, he can, since the 74-year-old is no longer walking the sidelines or signing talent in the CFL.
Buono retired from the game — from the Lions — in 2018 and is now enjoying time split between places in Arizona and the West Coast with loved ones.
So it’s a perfect occasion — third time’s a charm and all that — to accept the invitation to have his name stitched to the facade of McMahon alongside so many other Stampeders legends.
“I remember (then-Lions owner) David Braley thought I was nuts for turning down the Stampeders,” Buono said. “He said, ‘They’re giving you a great honour. They’re giving you a great opportunity. You should accept it.’ And I said, ‘David, I understand how you feel and I respect what you said. But in my heart, I can’t do that.’”
On Sunday, he’ll feel the moment in his heart, for sure.
In a special halftime ceremony during the game between the host Stampeders (2-3) and the West Division-leading Lions (5-1) at McMahon (5 p.m., TSN, QR Calgary), Buono — the architect of one of the most dominant runs in CFL history — becomes the 50th member of the Stampeders Wall of Fame.
Instituted in 1985, the wall of fame recognizes the great players and important off-field contributors in Stamps history.
Stampeders president Jay McNeil — one of Buono’s former players from 1994-2002 for the team — serves as emcee, and other notable alumni will be in attendance.
“It’s not just the people on the wall in Calgary,” said Buono, a native of Potenza, Italy, who went on to become a 10-year CFL player with the Montreal Alouettes. “I think it’s just the greatness of the CFL in every city. You know, they have their honour system for excellence and what they’ve done for the community, what they’ve done for the organization and what they’ve done for the CFL.
“When you walk out and you see the names, it’s just a constant reminder of great people that are and were involved in the CFL.”
Buono was certainly one of them.
In 1990, he was handed the head-coaching reins in Calgary by then-GM Normie Kwong. The Stampeders hadn’t been to the Grey Cup or finished first in the West Division since 1971. But under Buono’s leadership, the Red and White finished first seven times, went to the championship game on six occasions and won three titles, in 1992, ’98 and 2001.
Buono, who added the general manager’s duties to his job description in 1992, coached the Stampeders for a total of 13 years and holds the franchise records for most games coached (234), most victories (153), most playoff victories (12) and most championships (three).
After leaving the Stamps, Buono joined the Lions in 2003 and became that franchise’s leader in wins with 162. He became the winningest coach in CFL history on Sept. 19, 2009, as he surpassed Don Matthews’ previous mark of 231.
Buono has a total of seven Grey Cup rings — two as a player and five as a head coach. He was named the Annis Stukus Trophy winner as CFL coach of the year four times and was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
“You don’t get your name up there by yourself,” added Buono. “I have yet to see anybody do that. Even the great players need other great players around them sometimes.
“And so for me, it’s a reflection on the longevity of the CFL and the greatness of the individuals that are all connected. The CFL’s been around for 100-plus years, and hopefully, we’ll be around for another few years.”
http://www.x.com/ToddSaelhofPM