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Follow WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
© 2024 Winnipeg Blue Bombers. All rights reserved.
© 2024 Winnipeg Blue Bombers. All rights reserved.
Years with the Bombers: 1974-83
Position: Quarterback
Currently resides: Birmingham, Alabama
Occupation: Retired/semi-retired football coach still interested in coaching and football consulting
Family: Wife: Jamie; Children: Hayley, 24, and Kaleb Thomas, 20; Grandsons: Griffy, 4, and Damien, 3.
Fondest memory playing with the Bombers:
Spent almost 10 years there and had many great teammates and coaches and lots of great times. Plus, a great winning percentage during that time.
Proudest football accomplishment:
Was able to take three teams to five conference championships over the last six years of my career – in two different leagues (Winnipeg twice, Hamilton tiwce and the Rams once). Proud to be a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, the Bombers Hall of Fame and the Bombers Ring of Honour.
Proudest non-football accomplishment:
Being with my beautiful and amazing wife Jamie, who never got to see me play in person but has always been my #1 fan. Our 30 years together is my proudest accomplishment of all .
Favourite hobby/past-time:
Watching sports (especially CFL football), movies and going fishing and walking.
Prized football possession:
This may sound crazy, but I would have to say my arm. I don’t know if I had the best arm in football but I’m definitely in the conversation. Being able to throw a football over 90 yards is quite an accomplishment and there are a lot of quarterbacks that have strong arms. But being able to do that and be accurate with other throws and get results on the field is the difference in being just a strong-armed quarterback and a great quarterback. I also think being able to throw a football and release throws at different angles to get passes completed is quite an art. I think I was able to do that
Four former teammates you’d love to have dinner with again:
I could probably pick about any four teammates I’ve ever played with, but I’ll start with four offensive linemen.
Butch Norman: lots of great stories and funny as hell
Chris Walby: OMG
Frankie Smith: I’ve got to learn how to fish like him
Larry (Bo Butler)
OK, now I got to pick four ‘no-name’ guys…
Tom Cudney: (WR, 1980) I love to talk football with Tom
Jim Krohn: (QB, 1980 )
J.C. Smith: (QB, 1975-76)
Trevor Kennerd: This guy is not a no name but one of the greatest Bomber kickers ever.
I’ve got to go with one more group and I couldn’t leave out two of the best Canadian receivers in the history of the game Rick House and Joe Poplawski and also Mike Holmes, Eugene Goodlow and James Murphy. And throw in Dan Hucklack and Paul Bennett with any of these groups.
Most-talented Bomber player you played with was…
Chris Walby is the greatest offensive lineman in the history of the CFL, in my opinion – and a lot of other people’s opinions. He was just getting started my last few years in Winnipeg.
There is also one guy that only played a year or so in Winnipeg – a basketball player from Alabama who was signed to play cornerback – and in my opinion was the best cover corner to play during my time. His name is Ray Odums. He should be in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
Finally, a guy that played seven years with the Bombers and in my opinion the best offensive tackle in the CFL during his time was Butch Norman. I don’t think Butch knew how good he was. But he was the best! He’s another guy that should be in the hall of fame because he was the best at the time he played.
Bomber coach who had the most influence on you: This is an easy one – it’s definitely Ray Jauch. Ray made me a better quarterback. I truly believe if Ray had stayed in Winnipeg I would have stayed and we would have won several Grey Cups. I could probably say the same thing about Cal Murphy but I didn’t give that a chance. And trust me, I still think about that.
What you miss about playing football:
The obvious answer is the camaraderie/teammates. There’s also the feeling you get when you work together and you win. But, I’m going to throw something else in there and that’s throwing the football! Throwing the football in games, practices and anywhere else. It’s what I loved to do!!!
What you don’t miss about playing football:
How I felt after losing a game that I thought we should have won. That, and not playing well in a game, win or lose. I also don’t miss the unjust criticism from the press and media.