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Wally Buono is sitting at the head of a long table talking football, when the discussion turns to the 2000 Grey Cup champion B.C. Lions and their powerful backfield of Robert Drummond and Sean Millington.

"They didn't beat us," Buono says, harking back to his days as head coach of the Calgary Stampeders in the 2000 West Division final against B.C. "[Lions quarterback] Damon [Allen] was unbelievable that day."

Buono, now the general manager and coach of the Lions, played in 152 games as a linebacker and punter with the Montreal Alouettes and will coach his 375th CFL game today, when B.C. faces Calgary in the West final. So it says something when, put on the spot, he can provide detailed recollections of the big games in his distinguished career.

"You name the game and I can probably remember what happened," Buono said as he prepared for his 15th West final in the past 18 seasons.

And so the pop quiz begins:

• 1993 West final: "A lot of missed opportunities in the first half. We had the field cleared [of snow] in the second half. It was the biggest mistake we made because it gave Edmonton traction."
• 1994 West final: "Ray Alexander blocked a Mark McLoughlin field goal. Darren Flutie catches a little corner route against double coverage and then Flutie catches a little option route on the goal line."
• 1996 West final: "Edmonton. A field goal beat us."
• 2001 West final: "We unleashed the six-pack [of receivers] and Kamau Peterson had a big game. Marcus Crandell was just killing them. They had nine turnovers."

Evidently, there is no knocking Buono's memory when the stakes are highest. There is, however, room to knock his record under the same circumstances.

Buono's teams have won roughly 67 per cent of their games over his 19 seasons, but in the postseason, those same teams are 19-13, a winning percentage of .594. Four times, Buono has led teams with just three regular-season losses into a West final, yet only one advanced to the Grey Cup game and none won a championship.

All of that experience has changed Buono. The 58-year-old, who had heart surgery just weeks after losing the 2004 Grey Cup game, admits he was tighter in his younger years and gave off the wrong vibe around the players.

"It's what you allow to be outward because they do feed off you," he said. "If you are uptight and paranoid and all that stuff, there is a direct reflection back on them. I've learned that and I'm hoping I don't portray that."

But all that experience also taught Buono there are no "favourites" in the CFL playoffs, and the calm seems convincing heading into this coming big game.

The Stampeders broke B.C.'s string of four consecutive divisional titles by winning all three meetings in the regular season.

The Lions finished 11-7 this season, their worst record since Buono's first with the club in 2003, and needed to beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders on the road in the division semi-final last Saturday to advance.

Calgary is led by Buono protégé John Hufnagel, who said the duo still speak once a week and he still seeks Buono's counsel on management matters.

"I'm not afraid to call him and ask for his opinion on things," the Stamps GM and coach said.

Hufnagel, a former CFL quarterback and a first-year head coach in the league, has been charged with turning the Stampeders' playoff misfortunes around. He is coaching in his first postseason game.

Buono is 7-7 in divisional finals, including the 1995 North Division final during the U.S expansion days. Eleven of those games were at home. On the road, Buono is 3-0. That has taught him something too.

"When you get the bye, you're on nerve all the time," he said. "Because, first, you can't get rid of the energy that you are building and, secondly, it becomes a long, long wait."

With a report from Allan Maki