MONTREAL -- Dan Hawkins likes the idea of starting his Canadian Football League coaching career with a winner. But the veteran U.S. university coach has a tough act to follow on the Montreal Alouettes in Marc Trestman, who left after five seasons and two Grey Cup titles to become head coach of the Chicago Bears in the NFL. "We may come wrapped in a different cloth, but deep down inside were very similar when it comes to our feeling of what football is about and what the culture of a successful organization is," Hawkins said Friday on a conference call. "It doesnt matter if Im the new guy or Ive been here five years, I always think the same way, that we can continue to improve and chase greatness." Since the Alouettes returned to Montreal after a 10-year hiatus in 1996, first-year coaches have mostly done well. Dave Ritchie in 1997 went 13-5, Charlie Taaffe in 1999 was 12-6, Don Matthews in 2002 went 13-5 and won a Grey Cup, while Trestman was 11-7 as a CFL rookie. Of course, this was on a team that has had winning records every year in that period except 2007 (8-10), when general manager Jim Popp took over in a transition year, and 2001 (9-9) under Rod Rust and Popp. "The reason that happens is that you win as an organization," said Hawkins. "It takes everyone. "Everyone wants to point at the head coach and understandably so, but there are so many other factors. Jim sets the tone and brings the players in. To me, if you look at the first-year success, thats a real trademark and credit to the organization because thats the culture, the situation, that a new person walks into." Hawkins said he was impressed with the level of talent he saw both at a recent mini-camp in Orlando, Fla., and on the tapes hes watched of an Alouette team that went 11-7 in the regular season in 2012, but then lost at home to Toronto in the East Division final. He starts out with the leagues all-time passing leader at quarterback in Anthony Calvillo, although the 40-year-old is coming off surgery to fix a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. Theres a tall and talented group of receivers led by S.J. Green and Jamel Richardson and bolstered by the acquisition of veteran Arland Bruce. And they have perhaps the leagues best offensive line. The defence has some question marks, particularly on the line, but it is special teams that will likely need the most improvement after an often grim 2012 campaign. But Hawkins was most impressed with his players work habits and attention to detail at the mini-camp, especially among the veterans. "Theres a tremendous level of talent, experience and leadership," he said. "Theyve won at the highest level. "You can have all the talent in the world, but if you dont have the right culture, youre going to struggle." Like Trestman before him, Hawkins came to Canada with no experience of the 12-man game. Trestmans adaptation took less than a season. It remains to be seen how Hawkins adapts to a new game and a new country. "We keep using a saying here: blessed are the flexible because theyll never be bent out of shape," he said. "Everything is new. "Thats part of the beauty of it -- its football here, but its a whole different brand of football." An new staff of assistants join Hawkins for his first season, including assistant head coach and offensive co-ordinator Mike Miller, who has been doing most of the off-season work with Calvillo on shaping the attack for 2013. Meanwhile, Popp brought in an experienced backup in former Hamilton Tiger-Cat Quinton Porter. Other veterans signed included defensive backs Byron Parker and Geoff Tisdale, and running back Jerome Messam. Also in camp will be NFL veteran running back Dominic Rhodes, who won a Super Bowl with Indianapolis in 2007. But Popp denied angling to bring popular and oft-debated former Denver and New York Jets pivot Tim Tebow to Montreal, which holds his CFL rights. "I can report Ive never had a conversation with him or his agent and I really dont expect to unless I hear them say they have interest in coming to our team," said Popp. "So theres nothing new on that front." Calvillo cant last forever, although hes giving it a good try, and the Alouettes know they will need to find his successor one day. The battle in camp will be between Porter, returning third-stringer Josh Nieswander and a Canadian, former McMaster star pivot Kyle Quinlan. "We try to have a plan every year,"said Popp. "When the day comes that the star quarterbacks not the guy any more, whether he retires or injuries force him out, you really dont know what you have until the other guy starts playing. "When they get their chance, thats when you find out whether they can do it." He likes all three candidates. "Porters had some very big games against the Montreal Alouettes," he said. "Nieswander is a smart, intelligent guy. "Quinlan is very intriguing. He throws a (deep pass) like Ricky Ray does. And its abnormal. And he can really do it well. He drops the ball right in. Thats exciting. It will be fun to see them compete in camp and see where it goes. Quinlan will get a lot more reps. Hes coming to camp to compete for a job." The club will start camp with two players still recovering from off-season surgery. Rookie fullback Patrick Lavoie had a ruptured disc fixed while defensive back Seth Williams had ankle surgery. Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No. Robinson Chirinos Jersey . 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The race is on to catch Sydney FC at the top of the A-League table, but the biggest battle in domestic football this season isnt to win the league - its to join it.FFAs decision to begin a formal process early in the new year for teams to enter the A-League has set the pulses racing.As many as a dozen expansion markets exist around Australia and New Zealand, contending for what are likely to be two vacancies.Brisbane, southern Sydney, Tasmania, Auckland, South Melbourne, Canberra and Wollongong are all candidates, among others.And why wouldnt they be interested?Crowds are up, broadcast audiences are up and playing standards are up.Since the admission of the Western Sydney Wanderers in 2012, football dreamers have looked forward to the next entry to boost the 10-team competition.FFA bosses have opted for consolidation over the past five years, only toying with the idea of changing the line-up at crisis moments with existing teams; most notably in October last year at Wellingtons expense.But with the Phoenixs investors backing the New Zealand side for at least another three seasons after this one, the focus now is on expansion and not replacement.A-League chief Greg ORourke gave a timetable for possibly two new teams in the 2018/19 competition in a statement last week.A framework for expansion will be completed early next year which will allow (interested consortia) to submit expressions of interest in a framework which focuses on the viability of the the proposed franchise and its ability to provide benefits to the A-League and the game, it read.In other words, its game on.As it stands right now, the A-League aspirants are at varying states of preparedness.A well-financed Tasmanian bid, which has already met with FFA, believe it just needs the tick-off from head office to start investing and hit the ground running.National Soccer League powerhouses South Melbourne have a champion second-tier team, a boutique stadium and a burning desire to be back among the big boys.In Queensland, former Gold Coast United coach Miron Bleiberg believes fellow NSL winners Brisbbane Strikers could be a viable force in the A-League, and is working with investors to plot a pathway into the top tier.ddddddddddddFurther afield, Oceania powerhouses Auckland City are beginning an exploratory process that could lead to a bid.Chairman Ivan Vuksich told AAP the club was in the very early days of looking at raising the capital.Wed obviously like to be involved, he said.Weve made some tentative enquiries but its very preliminary.Had the Phoenix not continued in the competition, FFA was ready to introduce a third Sydney team encompassing the Sutherland, St George and Illawarra regions.Despite Sydney FCs opposition, it remains a favoured option for the governing body - but its unlikely FFA will drive the concept this time around, meaning external investors will be required.All three associations are still keen to come together and former A-League chief Lyall Gorman, now the chairman on NRL club Cronulla, is eager to accommodate a team at Southern Cross Group Stadium.Its expected any southern Sydney franchise would also play games at WIN Stadium but the Wollongong Wolves, back-to-back NSL champions in 2000 and 2001, believe the South Coast should have its own team and will consider putting forward a bid once FFA releases its criteria.If guidelines come out in January or February, of course were going to look at those guidelines very, very closely, new Wolves CEO Chris Papakosmas told AAP.We have some very, very significant contacts and connections within corporate Australia, right across the country, and we intend to leverage those when its most appropriate and suits everyone involved.The choices for FFA extend further afield, with Geelong presenting a regional alternative for another Victorian franchise, while second teams in Adelaide or Perth are long-shot contenders.No bids are expected from the Gold Coast or North Queensland, two regions burned badly by the A-Leagues disastrous first attempt at expansion in 2009. 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