By Darren Cameron
Today is a huge day for this organization. For the first time in well over a decade, the Blue Bombers have committed largely, both in contract length and in financial terms, to a franchise quarterback. It’s an exciting day and another step in the continued path to success for our organization: maintaining continuity and stability.
When we first traded for Drew Willy in February of 2014 we were all in Ottawa for CFL Congress, the annual league meetings held each year. We made the trade Thursday morning, flew back Thursday night, and Drew and his girlfriend (now wife) Hillary walked into my office early Friday before the press conference. He was polite, quiet, and looked really young. Despite only being a year apart in age, I couldn’t help but wonder if he was in his early 20’s, even though I knew full well that he wasn’t.
Prior to Drew and Hillary arriving that morning, Coach O’Shea, Kyle Walters and I had met in Kyle’s office to go over the core message of the press conference. Given that it was still early February, I had suggested that Mike refrain from emphatically anointing Drew the starter, unless Mike was 1000 per cent certain that was the direction he wanted to go. Most of the time, whether it’s with Wade, Kyle or Mike, we discuss messaging prior to public appearances and any such suggestions are taken into considerable account. Not this time. Mike was definitive and without hesitation. “Drew Willy is the starter and I don’t want there to be any doubt about that,” he told me that morning. Alright, then.
Much like a Head Coach, football PR people spend a lot of time with the starting quarterback because their media demands are so significant. That means, I get to see a side of these players that many others don’t. With Drew, the leadership oozes out of him but not in a vocal way. Although he plans to be more vocal this season, he is one who leads by example. Rarely does a player arrive at the stadium before him, and rarely is there anyone left by the time he leaves to go home. But it doesn’t end there; his evenings are usually spent watching film on his iPad. He rarely displays emotion, especially publicly. He’s a guy who pushes praise onto others when it’s directed at him, but someone who has his hand up first to take the fall when things go poorly. When we started out 5-1 last season, and the town was being dubbed ‘Willypeg’, he would shy away from the topic. The idea of making ‘Willypeg’ T-shirts was suggested during that hot run in June and July. Drew quickly squashed the idea; he wanted no part in it. Sure, he thought the name was cool and make no mistake, he appreciates the love, but he isn’t into self-promotion. A leader by example.
When Drew threw a pick-six to Saskatchewan’s Terrell Maze to give the Riders the lead and an eventual win late in August last year, we walked off the field together. Neither of us said a word but as we entered the player’s tunnel and saw that the coast was clear, Drew screamed so loudly my ears rang from the noise and the shock of this sudden anger. Before we went out for his post-game press conference, as we ran through the numbers and potential questions, he interrupted me abruptly: “This is my fault, that’s the bottom line and that’s my answer.” Was it all his fault that night? Absolutely not. But he was going to take responsibility and there was no conversation to be had.
He took a franchise record number of sacks last season but wouldn’t place blame on anyone. After he hurt his shoulder in mid-September, rarely would you see him at his locker stall during halftimes. Need Drew? He’s in with Head Athletic Therapist Alain Couture and team doctors in the training room, trying to help him make it through another half. Yet he wouldn’t use that as a crutch, ever. Ask him to talk about his injuries or how he was feeling, his answer was and always will “fine”, even though we all knew the truth.
Sure, he has his quirks (don’t ever give him a middle seat on a plane), but if Bomber fans want a leader, stability, and talent at the most important position on the field, they are getting all that and more with today’s announcement.
Maybe we can work on him with regards to the Willypeg stuff. He is, after all, going to be here a while.
If you have any future blog ideas or thoughts, feel free to contact me on Twitter @darren_cameron.
Until next time,
Darren
