EDMONTON — John Hufnagel’s career as a head coach in the Canadian Football League didn’t have a story book ending.
Hufnagel and the Calgary Stampeders were unable to defend their 2014 Grey Cup championship — losing 45-31 to the rival Edmonton Eskimos on Sunday.
The Eskimos will now play the Ottawa Redblacks next Sunday at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg in the 103rd Grey Cup while Hufnagel will hand over the head coaching job for next season to offensive co-ordinator Dave Dickenson.
"When we were unable to score touchdowns in the first half, and they did, that really was a big factor in the overall outcome of the game," Hufnagel said. "In the third quarter we didn’t do anything offensively and they did some really good things.
"If we had scored some touchdowns in the first half, it would have been a better football game."
Hufnagel, who has been running the show with the Stampeders since 2008 when Calgary won its other previous Grey Cup during his tenure, is dropping his head coach title, but will keep the general manager job description in 2016.
The 64-year-old Hufnagel said it wasn’t the ideal way to leave the sidelines.
"I’m disappointed that we lost," he said. "We lost a very important football game."
Although he will no longer be on the field, Hufnagel said it is not like he is leaving the game altogether and that the decision to move upstairs is best for Calgary.
"I’ll find out if I miss it," he said. "I’m not riding away into the sunset. I’m still going to be in the building and at the games and a part of it. I made a decision that I thought was the right one for the organization and I have no qualms or regrets about it."
When asked if rumours that they Saskatchewan Roughriders may be looking to lure him away, Hufnagel responded that he is still under contract with the Stampeders.
He did, however, confirm that Calgary assistant GM/Director of player personnel John Murphy is a candidate to become Saskatchewan’s G.M.
Hufnagel led the Stampeders to a 14-4 record this season. In 2014, he was named CFL coach of the year for a second time after Calgary went 15-3 and won its seventh Grey Cup in team history.
