Toronto Argonauts head coach Jim Barker gives instruction to his players against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats during the first half of their pre-season CFL game in Toronto, on Sunday, June 13, 2010.Adrien Veczan/The Canadian Press
After the game, when the all second guessing began, it was one of Jim Barker's daughters who asked the question he had never considered: "Dad, what were you thinking?"
Thinking? The head coach of the Calgary Stampeders was thinking of only one thing: going for the win. It was why he allowed quarterback Marcus Crandell to throw a pass on third down at the Montreal Alouettes' two-yard line. In overtime. With Calgary trailing by three points.
Because Barker wanted his players to know he believed in them; wanted them to believe in him and what he preached.
So when Crandell's pass to Don Blair fell incomplete, and the Stamps were tagged with a season-opening 23-20 loss, Barker was stunned to hear his daughter's question. "It never dawned on me I made the wrong call."
Seven years later, Barker is opening another CFL season and while some things have changed - he is now the older, wiser head coach of the Toronto Argonauts - one thing is constant: Barker will cut against the grain. He'll start a 30-year-old CFL rookie at quarterback (Cleo Lemon) and he'll gamble on third down. Whatever is necessary.
"That year in Calgary, we were playing Montreal, the Grey Cup champs, and I had preached to the players, 'Don't be afraid to make a play. Don't be afraid to be successful,' " Barker said. "To play safe is against what I believe in. It's been the same message here."
Barker's return to Calgary to help kickoff the 2010 season on Thursday, is appropriate on many levels. This is where his football life crashed only to be reborn. From that opening loss to Montreal in 2003, to his firing months later just two days before Christmas, Barker looked done, finished. He spent a year away from the game operating a football camp and teaching younger players.
When he was asked to rejoin the Stampeders under new ownership, it was as general manager and not coach. That job went first to Tom Higgins then to John Hufnagel. With Barker helping scout and screen players, the Stampeders went from last place to CFL champions.
When the Argonauts said they wanted him as their coach, Barker knew he could have stayed in Calgary virtually as long as he wanted. But that would have been the safe call and Barker has never taken to that approach.
"In 2005, I wanted to divorce myself from coaching. I wanted to immerse myself in scouting. I wanted to learn the other side of things," Barker said. "With [Calgary part-owner]Ted Hellard, I learned about the salary management system. With [head coach]John Hufnagel, I learned how to firm up an organization, bring in good people and make strong decisions.
"That's what I've brought here," he added. "If there isn't success, there's no one look at but Jim Barker. It's the ultimate challenge."
There is little doubt of that. The Argonauts were the worst team in the CFL last season (3-15), and that was with quarterback Kerry Joseph, once the league's pre-eminent player. Lemon's CFL exposure consists of his preseason play. How he'll respond in the face of a Calgary defence, schooled by co-ordinator Chris Jones, is anyone's guess.
Naturally, Barker is exuberant and brimming with faith. His players are feeding off that as they ready for their trip west to McMahon Stadium.
"I think players in general like a coach like Jim because [his style]lets the players know that he's not afraid when times are hard or when times are good," said Jeremaine Copeland, a former Stampeders receiver who was traded to Toronto in the off-season. "Playing this game is all about the moment. And which coach plays the moment will be the one to come out on top - and we all want to be on top."
Barker was reminded about what happened after his 2003 decision to go for the touchdown in overtime. The Stampeders hit the skids and won just five of 18 games. By season's end, some of the players suggested losing their season opener was a telltale blow. Even now, years later, that possibility has never dawned on Barker.
Where others see risk, he sees reward. For the Argonauts, he sees boundless possibilities.
"I know these guys are excited about what we're building," he said. "Professionally, this has been the time of my life. A lot of people hate training camp; I hated to see it end."