why their marriage survived and thrived for so long

Earlier this week, when it became apparent Marcel Desjardins would become the first general manager of Ottawa’s expansion Canadian Football League franchise, a website ran a story with a photo — identifying Hamilton owner Bob Young as Desjardins before it was eventually corrected. While Desjardins once worked for the Tiger-Cats and, like Young, wears glasses, there’s virtually no physical similarities between them.

“I did see it. I cringed, on multiple levels,” Desjardins said, without malice, his stab at humour. “You know me. It’s not about being front and centre.”

Were Desjardins to walk down Bank St. in this city, directly in front of Frank Clair Stadium, currently being refurbished but soon to be the home of the latest incarnation of Ottawa professional football, it’s doubtful anyone would recognize him. As the Alouettes’ assistant general manager for nine seasons, including the last four since his return from Hamilton, there likely hasn’t been a CFL figure more unknown and nondescript. But that has gone with the territory of being in the shadow of the garrulous Jim Popp who, thankfully for us media wretches, never met a camera, tape-recorder or notepad he didn’t embrace.

If Desjardins was the antithesis of Popp, it’s likely why their marriage survived and thrived for so long. Desjardins was quite content being the supporting actor — a role that increased, along with his responsibility, two years ago, when Popp moved back to North Carolina. If Desjardins was the student, he had no better teacher than Popp.

Desjardins, 46, has been given the responsibility of building this Ottawa franchise, still without a name but scheduled to begin play in 2014. It will be refreshing for him to put his stamp on a team, starting from scratch on the ground floor. And it will be in stark contrast to his 15 turbulent months as Ticats’ GM, from August 2006 until the end of the next season, fired by president Scott Mitchell, who inherited him following his hiring.

“I wasn’t sure I’d get another shot, but it didn’t consume me,” Desjardins said. “I was in a good situation in Montreal. I was comfortable in what I was doing. I didn’t need this. But I wasn’t going to sit and let them come to me. I reached out so they would know I was out there.

“I enjoyed doing my job. There were times that were frustrating,” he admitted. “It sounds hokey, but I don’t need to be front and centre. We all want to be recognized. In this environment, it’ll come from our success — not from being front and centre, like people in this league want to do.”

With a four-year contract, Desjardins has time on his side, both to prove himself and put the building blocks in place. There will be time to hire personnel and scout CFL players, some of whom Ottawa will have opportunities to select next December, when it participates in a three-round expansion draft.

Jeff Hunt, the president of the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, made it clear Desjardins eventually became the leading candidate. Hunt was thorough and detailed in the process, talking to CFL GMs and executives. If Desjardins was nothing more than a name to Hunt when his investigation began, it quickly became clear to him, over time, Desjardins was the man best- and most-qualified. Desjardins won three Grey Cups with Montreal.

“We were looking for a proven winner coming from a proven and winning organization,” said Hunt, one of the team’s owners. “There was one name we kept hearing, over and over again. The decision became obvious and easy. Marcel Desjardins was our man. When you’re a part of an organization like that, it gets in your DNA. When Jim Popp tells me anything about football, I’m listening.”

While being left short-staffed, yet again, and in the process of finding a new head coach for the Als, Popp said he has no doubts Desjardins will succeed. Popp said he and Hunt talked various times, at length, over a six-week period.

“He’s the best-qualified guy in the league. Absolutely,” Popp said. “Nobody else has had the training in all those areas. He did an outstanding job in Hamilton. Forget about the won-loss record. He went into a very difficult situation, asked to do a specific job. He did it, and had very good drafts. They had cap problems. He had to clean it up.