Music: {allcanada} BLUE BOMBERS GM MACK DEFENDS HIMSELF AS SEASON GETS WORSE

Thursday, September 6, 2012

{allcanada} BLUE BOMBERS GM MACK DEFENDS HIMSELF AS SEASON GETS WORSE

Mission Against Terror, Free2Play FPS Game

WINNIPEG -- Joe Mack barely flinched as he faced a barrage of questions about his role in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' miserable season.

In fact, the team's vice-president and general manager cracked a joke to start his first press conference since the Bombers were blown out 52-0 by the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday.

"First I'd like to thank everybody for coming out to the biweekly Joe Mack fan appreciation day. Milk and cookies will be served afterwards," Mack quipped Thursday.

He was immediately asked what he wanted to say to fans who have been calling for his firing through social media campaigns on Facebook and Twitter that sprouted up after the loss dropped Winnipeg to a CFL-worst 2-7 record.

"I'd say, 'I understand that you're disappointed. So am I. And frustrated, so am I,"' Mack said. "That's something I can't control."

Mack has been on the hot seat since he fired former head coach Paul LaPolice on Aug. 25 and replaced him on an interim basis with defensive co-ordinator Tim Burke.

At the press conference announcing LaPolice's firing, Mack cited factors such as a lack of improvement in the offence, a losing record since a year ago, undisciplined play and his thought that LaPolice may have lost his players' confidence.

When asked whether he had any doubts about the controversial firing considering the Bombers didn't score a point against the Riders -- the first time the team has gone scoreless in a game since 1969 -- Mack stood by the move.

"Paul is a class individual, he was great for me to work with, but it was a very complex decision and so, no, I feel that was the right thing to do," he said.

"Obviously, the offence and the offensive staff is disappointed that they didn't perform better. They'll address it."

Earlier in the week, Bombers board of directors chair person Bill Watchorn said Mack's job was safe until the board does its annual review at the end of the season.

Mack and LaPolice were hired following the 2009 season and the firing of former head coach Mike Kelly. Mack was last in the CFL as Winnipeg's director of player personnel from 1984-87.

Mack was asked if he thought he needed the team to get into the playoffs to save his job.

"That's beyond my control," he said. "I really think everybody should have every confidence that this board will do whatever they think is necessary for the betterment of the club."

And he's confident the team has the talent and will to improve under Burke.

"(Players) came up to me and one of the things that they were most hurt by their performance on Sunday was they felt they let coach Burke down," Mack said.

"I have every confidence that Tim will put everything he can into changing the season around and we'll see how it progresses. It'll be an ongoing saga for all of us, I guess."