Article content

This is how the end came for Alouettes head coach Tom Higgins — a decent, caring and dignified man. Sitting on the team bus, returning home from the airport following a victory the night before at Vancouver, owner Robert Wetenhall advised Higgins he was being relieved of his duties.

The call lasted 15 seconds and was one-sided.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or New coach Popp looks to tweak, not wholesale change, the Alouettes Back to video

And so begins the fourth instalment of general manager Jim Popp’s coaching reign. As someone so succinctly noted: Why don’t the Als simply hire another GM? Or promote one of their assistants? Special teams coordinator Kavis Reed was a former head coach at Edmonton. Defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe generally is highly regarded throughout the Canadian Football League.

“This is what (owner Robert) Wetenhall wanted and this is what we’re doing,” Popp said Sunday, following his first practice with the team at Stade Hébert.

Other than keeping the players on the field for what seemed like an inordinate amount of time — although they weren’t overworked — Popp did little hands-on coaching. He spoke with injured players, other coaches, even the equipment managers. But he was fully aware at all times of everything that was transpiring.