Article content

THE BLUE MOUNTAINS, Ont. — When Michael (Pinball) Clemons looks at empty seats at the Toronto Argos’ BMO Field home, he says he sees opportunity.

Clemons, a CFL legend dating back to his Argonaut playing days, which began in 1989, is now the team’s GM, hoping to help turn around the team’s fortunes on and off the football field. Over the years, he’s also been the team’s president, head coach, CEO and vice-chair. But now he’s locked in on establishing consistency and long-term success, with a new head coach.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Empty seats for Argos? GM Pinball Clemons sees that as opportunity Back to video

The Argos announced nearly a month ago that former Calgary Stampeders quarterbacks coach Ryan Dinwiddie would replace Corey Chamblin, who was fired following Toronto’s 4-14 finish to the 2019 season (three of those wins came against Ottawa).

“In talking about why there is optimism, that can be a bit like trying to sell something. I’m not trying to sell it, I’m trying to build it,” said Clemons at the CFL coach/GM meetings being held this week at a ski resort north of Toronto. “That’s why we chose a young guy (Dinwiddie) we can grow with. This is a young guy who half the league was looking at as their offensive co-ordinator. The thought was he would be the next great offensive co-ordinator. He was the quarterback coach with Dave Dickenson, the guy who when I was coaching I thought was the next great guy. Before we got Damon Allen in Toronto, I was courting Dave Dickenson. My sale to him was, ‘I don’t just want your body, I want your mind. After you’re done playing, I think you can be a great coach.’ That was the landscape I drew up for him.