When Michael Clemons was a star in the Canadian Football League, he was asked often if he had any coaching aspirations. "My stock answer was:'You never say never .... but I'll never coach,' " said Clemons yesterday, reflecting on his improbable transition from Argos legend to Argos coach four seasons ago.

His immediate pre-occupation is today's game at the SkyDome against the West Division leading B.C. Lions, a chance for payback for a 31-10 thrashing back in August.

Clemons made the rare switch from player to coach eight games into the 2002 season, taking over for the fired John Huard. At the time, it was correctly viewed as a desperation move by GM J.I. Albrecht. The team was under siege, in danger of flying apart at the seams and he needed some salve to bind the wounds.

Who better but Pinball, the most popular player in team history? It didn't even matter if he could coach because the team was in a shambles anyway.

GUIDANCE

Well, it turned out that he could coach. Under his guidance, the Argos won six of 10 games and though they missed the playoffs, at least he had stabilized the atmosphere in the dressing room.

Now, four years later, Clemons has long ceased to be a novelty on the Argos bench. He has a winning record (34-31-1) during a period when the team was stalked by uncertainty, until this season, at the ownership level.

Even more remarkable is the fact the he remains, five seasons removed from his playing days, as friend and teammate Adrion Smith points out, "the face of the Argos."

"It still happens when we go to other stadiums that he is, despite the fact he doesn't play any more, the most well-known Argonaut," Smith said.

"The fans will be yelling 'Argos, you suck! Except for you Pinball, we still love you.' During autograph sessions, he's still the most sought-after guy. I mean, when was the last time you ever saw a head coach have a bobblehead day?"

Unlike most coaches who get to make their mistakes out of the spotlight while serving as assistants, Clemons learned on the job. In looking back, he figures his initial instincts were correct, but he only learned that after trying to fit himself into the traditional coaching stereotype.

When he took over from Huard on Labour Day in 2000, Clemons operated on gut instincts dictated by his own winning personality. In his second year, he says, he changed and the team won only seven of 18 games.

"That second year, I wasn't as assertive," he said. "I went with what was popular and not necessarily what was right. After that, I realized that I really had understood it all from the beginning and I needed to be myself.

"That first year, I was just me. The second year, I was somebody else. Now I'm back to being me. I love the game, I live the game."

Now, with stable ownership and plenty of wise, experienced hands populating the front office and coaching staff, Clemons is no longer putting out fires all over the operation.

"With all that support, all those other decisions don't fall on him,'' Smith said. "It allows him to concentrate on just being the best head coach he can be."

LOT ON HIS PLATE

Clemons has a lot on his plate. No matter what happens against B.C. today, the Argos must deal with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in two weeks to decide who will host the Eastern semi-final.

He would relish a third consecutive chance to get it right against the Montreal Alouettes in the Eastern final again.

The reluctant coach is savouring the possibilities. He still admits he doesn't love coaching as much as he loved playing but he appreciates the rewards of preparing his team well.

"I still have so very much to learn and I see so many ways I can get better," Clemons said. "To be able to do this at the same age as Adam (Rita) or Don (Matthews) would be incredible.

"I don't know how long I'll do this. There's so much out there in the world that I'd like to do but I realize now that if I choose to do it, there is enough to learn (in coaching) to keep me happy for a long, long time."

One thing is certain: He'll never say "never" again.