"It is, and it isn't different," said Trestman. "When you get to the game aspect it looked very different to me early on. The field is wider. It's longer. There are 12 guys. And it's maximum motion, so you can have everyone running on a play.
"But when you come to what I call 'the box,' it's very similar to the NFL. The coaching is outstanding -- with everything you see defensively in the NFL expertly done in the CFL.
"Yes, there are probably a dozen or so rules that are different -- the first being that there are only three downs -- but overall the more you do it and the more you see it the more it becomes understandable. So it doesn't look as different anymore. Over the last six months it's changed dramatically, at least to my eyes."
That was apparent in Trestman's debut, a 34-34 tie in an exhibition game with Toronto. Trestman called the plays in the first half; his offensive coordinator called them the second.
The results speak for themselves: Montreal's quarterbacks were 34-for-47, throwing for 360 yards.
"I'm just going to have fun and see what happens," said Trestman.
And why not? Trestman is operating out of the critical eye of the NFL. He can take chances in a new environment. He has a proven quarterback in 15-year veteran Anthony Calvillo, and he likes what he has behind him -- former Iowa star Brad Banks and Florida State's Adrian McPherson. Florida's Chris Leak, UNH's Ricky Santos and veteran Marcus Brady were put on injured lists.
Trestman likes the ownership, too, saying Robert Wetenhall "has given me all the resources necessary to do this job," and he's grateful to Popp -- the team's head coach/GM last season -- for giving him the chance I thought never would arrive.
"I never gave up," said Trestman. "I never looked at another coach and said, 'Why is he there and I'm not?' I always believe that everyone's time comes when it does."
So Marc Trestman's time is now. Good. What I want to know is if he has success here, what's next?
Warren Moon, Doug Flutie and Jeff Garcia traded in the CFL for the NFL. So did coaches Marv Levy and Frank Kush. It's not the conventional road to the top, but now that Trestman is in a position to prove himself I wonder whether we see him coaching again in this country.
"That's always something you think about," he said. "But at this stage I'm really starting the second half of my coaching career. And I'm highly energized in terms of my approach to the team and what I'm doing.
"I'm really having a blast. I have high-quality players. We have good quarterbacks. I'm living in old Montreal. And my family is going to be spending the summer with me. I'm just focusing on having a great time up here and being a part of this and whatever happens."
For years, Marc Trestman told people he could be a successful head coach; that he could help their programs; that he was worth a gamble. One team believed. Now it's up to Trestman to deliver.
"Time will tell the direction we go with this thing," he said. "But right now it's really good, and I'm accomplishing and pushing everything I hoped last January -- which is continuing to do the things I love and keeping my family in place. I'm enjoying this whole process, and I'm not concerned with what may happen down the road."
