Darrell Davis: Closing practices is hysterical!

Football coaches are funny. Actually, they’re funniest when they’re not trying to be funny.

Like now, heading into the teeth of the CFL season, when paranoia begins to overtake them. Their reactions are hysterical and predictable. They close practices, so nobody other than loyal team members can see what they’re doing.

There are always spies around – don’t you know? – sending top-secret information from Calgary Stampeders practices to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. And vice versa.

Believing that without question – and without evidence – Calgary head coach Dave Dickenson closed one of his team’s practices this week to fans and media.

Saskatchewan head coach Chris Jones did the same as the Riders prepped for Saturday’s trip to Calgary.

Former Riders coach Corey Chamblin was so paranoid he closed every practice. One of his predecessors, Ray Jauch, believed he saw someone spying on his team’s practices from atop a nearby building. During his stint as Saskatchewan’s head coach, Danny Barrett would peer through the spectators at practice, trying to ascertain who was from Calgary.

Only the coaches don’t think it’s funny.