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MONTREAL -- Coach Tom Higgins calls working with general manager Jim Popp "a match made in heaven." And the pleasantries exchanged between the two men on a conference call on Tuesday made it hard to imagine they were rivals for the Montreal Alouettes head coaches job. That was settled when team owner Bob Wetenhall insisted that the jobs of coach and general manager be kept separate, and that Popp would have to stick to his GM duties. "This is the model that has made us successful," said Wetenhall. "This has given Jim the time and the freedom to go out and build our team, year after year, always with a few new players added. "To have a GM with the freedom and the time to do this is the model we really wanted to go back to." In the 59-year-old Higgins, the Alouettes hired a CFL veteran who spent seven years as a head coach in Edmonton and Calgary, winning a Grey Cup with the Eskimos in 2003. The Woodbridge, N.J., native spent the last six years as the leagues director of officiating. "Tom brings a winning record and a tremendous reputation as a stand-up, high class guy," said Wetenhall. Popp, the teams general manager since it returned to Montreal in 1996 who is considered among the CFLs best, had hoped to continue in both jobs after taking over from the fired Dan Hawkins, who had no previous CFL experience, only five games in to the 2013 campaign. When Higgins was confirmed in the job on Monday, it raised speculation that Popp may be on his way out. Wetenhall would not confirm Popps long-term status with the club, but made it clear he wanted his GM to stay. And Popp, whose name has been linked to NFL jobs in recent years, said hes wants to carry on. "Ive been with the Alouettes for 18 years -- I plan on being there, its my other home," said Popp. "Ive had six children that were all born in Montreal and I really have no interest in leaving. "Circumstances come up, but the organization knows how loyal I am. Im a company man and its a place I enjoy being. Theres a lot that gets thrown around out there, a lot of it thats not true. But Im very happy." That Popp joined in the conference call was a surprise. His name wasnt mentioned in the Higgins announcement. And it was unusual that the general manager was not involved in the decision to hire the head coach. Wetenhalls son Andrew, a team governor, said that as a candidate for the coaching job, Popp would have been in conflict of interest if he had a say in who the next coach would be. But Popp had provided the owners with a list of potential coaching candidates with an assessment of their abilities. "This is a case where two people can work together who didnt select one another," said Andrew Wetenhall. "We have the added benefit of two guys who know each other and have a heck of a lot of respect for each other." Higgins said he didnt feel awkward at all working with Popp. "I couldnt be happier," he said. "I think our personalities complement one another. "We both want the same thing. This is an opportunity for myself to get back on the field where I belong. This is not a challenge whatsoever." Higgins first job will be to hire an offensive co-ordinator and fill out the coaching staff, which he expects to complete within 10 days. The Alouettes had already signed defensive co-ordinator Noel Thorpe to a two-year contract extension on Dec. 4, with the added title of assistant head coach. They also confirmed that Andre Bolduc, a former CFL player and head coach at Sherbrooke University, was signed as a defensive assistant coach. Wetenhall said one of Higgins assets was his ability to work with young quarterbacks, which will be needed in Montreal this season. For the first time since 2000, they will not have Anthony Calvillo as the starter as the CFLs all-time passing leader has retired. Troy Smith, the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner, and youngster Tanner Marsh are expected to compete for the starting job, with Alex Brink also in the picture. Higgins said he has worked with gifted young pivots before in Henry Burris and Ricky Ray. He feels the Alouettes can improve on last years 8-10 season. "Ive always marvelled at the level of talent in Montreal," he said. "I hope to bring a level of consistency and discipline. "We are going to be competitive and entertaining. And when you start doing that and playing disciplined football, usually you win more than you lose." Air Max 1 Wholesale . He reps the 4-1-6The insecurity of Canadian basketball fans is not what it once was with the home grown talent making its way to the big leagues, but it is still nice to see the local kids remembering where they come from once they make their way south. Air Max 1 Cheap China . The game marks the rare occasion when two homegrown running backs, Jon Cornish of the Calgary Stampeders and Andrew Harris of the B.C. Lions, will start in the West Divisions battle for a Grey Cup berth. http://www.discountairmax1.com/.Y. -- First, Ryan Miller. Air Max 1 Sale Cheap . A day after FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said three stadiums would not be ready in time for the Dec. 31 deadline, Brazilian officials said they actually plan to deliver all six remaining venues after that date. They claim only three are delayed, with the other three being handed over after the expected date only because of problems accommodating the schedule of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who wants to be present for the ceremonies. Discount Air Max 1 . If Vettel wins at Suzuka on Sunday, and his nearest rival Fernando Alonso finishes worse than eighth, the German driver will join his compatriot Michael Schumacher and Argentine Juan-Manuel Fangio as the only men to win four consecutive titles.ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Jake Odorizzi rebounded from his worst start with a gem. Ordorizzi and two pitchers combined on a one-hitter as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 7-0 on Saturday night. Coming off a start Monday night in which he gave up a career-high eight runs over four innings in a 9-1 loss at Baltimore, Odorizzi (10-11) allowed a fourth-inning single to Will Middlebrooks, three walks and struck out seven over seven innings. "He had a really good look about him," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Everything was working." Jeff Beliveau and Kirby Yates completed the one-hitter. Tampa Bay set a single-season team record with its 18th shutout this year. Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia was removed from the game in the second inning due to concussion-like symptoms. Pedroia was struck in the head by the arm of Logan Forsythe as the Rays infielder was sliding head-first into second while advancing on a flyball. Red Sox manager John Farrell said Pedroia was dizzy after the play, but improved as the game went on. "He caught him with a good elbow to the left side of the head," Farrell said. "Well take every precaution necessary with Dustin." Forsythe said the contact was unintentional. "The only move that I made was to try to swim-move the tag to get out of the way," Forsythe said. James Loney had an RBI double during a three-run second off Allen Webster (3-3) that put the Rays ahead 3-0. Ben Zobrist made it 4-0 on his second run-scoring grounder of the game in the fourth. Tampa Bay went up 7-0 with a three-run fifth. Two runs scored when catcher David Ross was charged withh an error for an off-target throw to first on Brandon Guyers bunt single.dddddddddddd Webster gave up six runs and five hits over four-plus innings. The Red Sox loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh when Odorizzi walked three consecutive batters, but the right-hander worked out of trouble by getting a pop fly from Xander Bogaerts. The long seventh cost Odorizzi any chance for his first career complete game. "Frustrating," he said. The start of the game was delayed 12 minutes after a series of stadium lights at Tropicana Field went out during a thunderstorm just before the scheduled first pitch. The Rays said the problem was caused by lightning striking a nearby electrical substation. TRAINERS ROOM Red Sox: Bogaerts was activated from the seven-day concussion list. He missed six games after being hit in the head by a pitch from Seattles Felix Hernandez August 22. Rays: CF Desmond Jennings was out of the lineup for the second straight game due to a sore left knee. He is not expected to start Sunday. MINOR MATTERS Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo, signed to a seven-year, $72.5 million contract a week ago, is scheduled to make his pro debut for the Gulf Coast League Red Sox in Game 2 of the GCL championship series Sunday. The Red Sox can win the league title with a win over the GCL Yankees. MYERS MISERY Rays OF Wil Myers was hitless in five at-bats and is just 6 for 42 since returning from a broken right wrist. He has struck out 16 times over the stretch. UP NEXT Red Sox RHP Clay Buchholz (5-8) and Rays RHP Alex Cobb (9-6) are the scheduled starters Sunday. Cobb is 7-0 with a 2.14 ERA over his last 11 starts. ' ' '