COOKIE GILCHRIST AT LARGE

Well, Toronto Sun sports columnist Steve Simmons supplied the answer the exact same day. Years of both of us following the CFL must have been a melding of minds, or something.

As Simmons revealed, it seems former CFL quarterback Mike McCoy is the odds-on favourite to become the next head coach of the Miami Dolphins. He is just one of several U.S.-trained college players who came to Canada and learned about the 12-man game, backfield motion, throwing on first down and designing running plays for athletic quarterbacks.

As Simmons suggested, it is interesting how many coaches there are with CFL playing or coaching connections that are now in positions of importance in the NFL and the U.S. college game.

McCoy played for new Hamilton coach George Cortez in Calgary and is currently Tim Tebow's offensive coordinator in Denver. Cortez coached Aaron Rodgers while at the University of California. Rodgers is coached in Green Bay by former CFL star, Tom Clements.

Among others, Steve Sarkasian and Jeff Tedford, head coaches at major U.S. schools, were former CFL backups and the recently fired, Turner Gill, was a CFL starter. Also from the list of former CFL QBs or QB coaches -- Dallas head coach Jason Garrett formerly played with the Ottawa.

Cortez was first Wally Buono's and then John Hufnagel's offensive coordinator with the Calgary Stampeders. Until he got his first head-coaching job with the Tiger-Cats at 60, he had been quarterback coach with the Buffalo Bills in 2010 and '11.

The numbers of coaches who had come to the CFL for pro football experience and returned to the NFL or the college game is innumerable, of course. All of them would have taken something away that has contributed to a more exciting NFL game.

You're welcome, NFL.

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Kent Gilchrist, originally from Souris, Man., was a former Vancouver Province Sports Editor and Columnist who covered Olympic Games, Stanley Cup finals, the Kentucky Derby, The Masters, U.S. and Canadian Opens, PGA Championships and many Grey Cups. For more than a decade Gilchrist was the Province beat reporter with the BC Lions. In 2005 he was inducted into the CFL's Football Reporters of Canada Hall of Fame. Now semi-retired, Cookie is a freelance journalist for a variety of major publications and a globe trotting commentator for BC Golf News.

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Tweet Cookie: @cookiefore or Email him at: hkgilchrist@yahoo.com