Pro football rollercoaster ride

B.C. Lions quarterback Buck Pierce during a game earlier this year. The Lions are currently 2-4. Photo courtesy of the BC Lions/ Kyle Clapham

One day your team is on top of the world, and the fans think the players and coaches practically walk on water. But the next thing you know the situation looks bleak after a losing streak and the pundits and fans are asking for  everyone’s head on a platter despite previous success. At that point the “what have you done for me lately” scenario comes into play.

Buck Pierce, the former Del Norte High Warriors signal caller  from Gasquet, is experiencing this situation first hand as the starting quarterback for the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League.

But to Pierce, that just goes with being the face of a pro team as a starting quarterback.

“It goes with the territory,” Pierce, 27, said during a phone interview from Vancouver on Tuesday. “Pro football is a tough game. It’s a tough occupation.”

As the starting QB for a pro squad, Pierce said that “you get a lot of the good and a lot of the bad, but I enjoy what I’m doing up here,”

In 2008 he threw for 3,018 yards and 19 touchdowns. Over the final eight games in 2008, Pierce threw for 14 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

Pierce struggled during the first five games of this season with one of the lowest QB ratings in the CFL and growing concerns that Pierce was not the man to lead the Lions at quarterback.

This slump included a blowout 48-10 loss to Calgary in the fourth game of the year. Pierce was booed by the fans and replaced at the start of the second half by backup Jarious Jackson. Pierce threw for only 97 yards with one interception in the game.

In March, the Lions had such faith in Pierce they signed him to a two-year extension worth $930,000 to lead the team.

But with the  new contract and added expectations, when the early season struggles happened, some fans and the media wondered why Pierce was still starting.

A headline in the July 29 issue of the Vancouver Sun read “All fingers point to Buck Pierce.”

The story said that in the Calgary game Pierce and Jackson “produced the kind of radioactive game tapes that are best placed in lead-lined boxes and buried somewhere deep in the mountains of Nevada.”

In the comment section for the story a user wrote “Buck and  Jarious aren’t leaders. Bring in the cavalry. Start Lualy.” Travis Lualy is the third string quarterback for the Lions.

After another loss the next game to Hamilton there were more rumblings, especially in fan forums and blogs about the Lions’ poor performance and continued questions if Pierce should remain the starter or if Jackson or Lualy should be given a chance to start.

Despite the naysayers Pierce said he just tried to play to the best of his ability and went out and did his job the next week in a needed 35-20 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Aug 7. Pierce was solid, going 26-of-34 for 215 yards and a touchdown. For the season  Pierce has six touchdowns and eight interceptions.

“It was a big win. Everyone did their job,” Pierce said,  saying that “a lot of people looked in the mirror,” took responsibility and did what they could do as individuals and as a team to start to turn things around.

The next day in the Vancouver Sun the headline for the game read “Lions restore pride with home win: B.C. is suddenly back in the western mix after roughing up Riders for second win of season.”

Pierce said he understands that all the criticism and what is said in the media and amongst some fans is just part of the job and believes that one of his attributes is he is cool headed and does not let things like that affect him.

“I just focus on what I need to do to improve myself and help my team,” Pierce said. “There’s always going to be negative comments with my job.”

Pierce said he took responsibility for his play. He said that looking back and talking to the coaches he saw that he was trying to do too many things at once to help his team and tried too hard “to make all the plays” and did not slow down and let the game come to him.

Pierce believes the Saskatchewan win was a turning point and hopes that after all the early season drama that the Lions are now on the right track.

Another factor to the slow start, Pierce believes, is that it has taken time for the offense to be on the same page, with a number of newcomers on offense.

This includes two new starters on the offensive line, a new starting running back and three new wide receivers.

“We have a lot of new guys,” Pierce said. “It takes time for the new guys to understand the offense. It took us awhile to gel as a football team.”

Despite the early season setbacks, Pierce said the goal remains the same, to win the CFL west division and get back to the Grey Cup. In 2006, Pierce played a large chunk of the year while replacing the injured starter and was a key component to a top-notch year for the Lions that led to the team winning the Grey Cup.

On Friday, the Lions are playing in the other end of Canada as they take on another 2-4 team, the Toronto Argonauts.

“The season is now in full swing,” Pierce said. “We’re getting better and just have to improve each week but we still have a ways to go. It’s a long season.”

Pierce said that in the offseason he did take a serious look at taking a shot at playing in the NFL and said he had some offers.

This included a contract offer with the Houston Texans.

But Pierce said there were no guarantees of making the team and he felt it was best for himself and his career to remain with the Lions. He said it meant a lot to him “to be their guy and be their starter.”

“I love Vancouver,” Pierce added. “I started my career here and the city and the fans have been great to me.”