Matthews: 'We're doing nothing illegal'
TSN.ca Staff
7/21/2004
Don Matthews wants to know what all the fuss is about.
A day after reports surfaced accusing the Montreal Alouettes of videotaping other coaches to steal signs, the team's head coach has pleaded his innocence.
"We're doing nothing illegal," Matthews told the Montreal Gazette. "The preparation of my team is as it has always been, and I will continue to do it that way."
The accusations stemmed from an incident in Friday's game between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Ottawa Renegades. Bombers assistant coach Less Browne alleges a spectator, who turned out to be a volunteer with the Alouettes, was seen videotaping the Bombers coaching staff from the stands at Frank Clair Stadium.
The league is investigating the incident.
According to the Gazette, this is not the first time the Alouettes have been accused of stealing signs from opposing coaching staffs with the Edmonton Eskimos among the teams suggesting some wrongdoing.
But Matthews poked fun at the accusations.
"People should start checking the visitor's dressing room, seeing if there's a bug," Matthews told the newspaper." Crank open their phone to see if there's a phone tap in there."
Ironically, a recent Alouettes practice was halted when an unidentified spectator was seen videotaping the happenings on the field. It turned out to be a tourist who, when he could not produce the necessary press credentials, was told to stop taping.