Calgary fans were deprived of a proper goodbye in March 2013 when the Flames traded longtime captain Jarome Iginla to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was sidelined for what would have been his last game in Calgary and did not return to the Saddledome for 107 days, then a member of the Boston Bruins.
More recently, Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Tkachuk and Sean Monahan have all left town through free agency and trades without any kind of fan interaction or appreciation.
Luckily for Stampeders fans, the longtime face of their franchise was able to get the love and attention he deserved before leaving town for other opportunities.
The Stampeders outsmarted the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, racking up 310 rushing yards en route to a 36-10 victory in front of 25,179 fans, many of whom were wearing the green. For all intents and purposes, the match served as the backdrop for Mitchell’s farewell as it meant nothing in the standings.
The highlight of the night came late in the fourth quarter when Mitchell took what were likely his last shots in a Stampeders uniform at McMahon Stadium.
The groundswell in the stands started behind the bench and like a wave throughout the stadium, fans rose in unison to celebrate a great franchise with cheers worthy of a man who led this team. four Gray Cup games, winning twice.
They applauded the man who threw more yards, completed more passes and won more games than any other quarterback to wear red and white. In fact, at this point in his career, Mitchell has won a better percentage of his games than any quarterback, ever.
He compiled a 90-25-2 record in 117 games as a starter for a 76.9% win rate. The man most considered the CFL’s greatest quarterback of all time, Doug Flutie, is 74.6 percent behind Bo with a 94-32 record in 126 starts.
After the game, the man himself appreciated the love that the fans showed him.
“It meant a lot to me. I appreciate (Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson) and (general manager John Hufnagel) for how they handled the situation. Giving me this moment, it was great to to be able to live this moment with the fans and my teammates.
That said, Mitchell also acknowledges that may not have been the way he wanted to leave the field at McMahon.
“It’s bittersweet. Obviously, I wish it had been under different circumstances, but either way, I’ve loved every second I’ve been here and hope we can bring a Gray Cup back to town before I leave.
Some fans, including this reporter, were disappointed that Mitchell’s only contribution was handling the ball in the final minutes, and his last home appearance did not include a pass attempt.
“I almost called my own play there,” Mitchell said with a laugh. “(Dickenson) even said, ‘Honestly, I expected you to do that. But I knew we were almost 300 meters on the ground and wanted to make sure we got it. I wanted to call my own passing game, but I didn’t want to be selfish in the moment.
From his perspective, Dickenson allowed Mitchell some leeway in game selection.
“Bo and I, when we had our conversations, we kind of had a plan. Bo’s there to help us win games. He’s not looking for an extra pitch. Every run we’ve sent has what we call “get out of jail.” Potentially, if the look is what he wants or the blitz is there, he can do different things, but that hasn’t come up.
Mitchell raised some concerns about throwing the ball due to the presence of another player who called Calgary home for much of his Hall of Fame career.
“I spoke to a lot of guys and said if Dave put me in I was just going to throw the ball down the field. But I think Charleston (Hughes) knew that too, so I think Charleston was waiting for that. I do,” Mitchell said.
A rare moment of levity between the former teammates took place during the late-game victory formation.
“I told him last game to come get a bag. Try to give him one last. He said he would come back next year, but he’s 48. But it was great to see him there.
For a man, everyone who spoke about Mitchell this week did so with reverence.
“I’m glad it happened,” Dickenson said after the game. “Bo made it clear he didn’t need this moment, but he deserved it and earned it.”
The only thing Dickenson regretted was the timing of the move.
“I would have liked to put Tommy in, then call a timeout, then put Bo, because I think the fans saw 19 come out in the game, but it would have been nice to give him that little extra moment.”
Stampeders linebacker Jameer Thurman was one of the first to start waving to the crowd as Bo headed for his first group of the game, letting fans know it was time to show their love one last time.
“He has done a lot for this city, this organization and a lot of players too. I think everyone should show their support and be grateful because he has won a lot here.
Running back Dedrick Mills knew of Mitchell’s reputation before coming to Calgary and said he was up to it.
“It’s a very exciting time to be here with Bo and to be in the same team as Bo. Even before I got here I heard he was great, he’s a legend here, he’s a future Hall of Famer. I’m just really excited to be on the same team.
Another young player who learned at the feet of the master this season was Tommy Stevens, who threw his first touchdown pass in the game while rushing for 163 yards on just four carries, winning a game ball that was presented by offensive team captain Bo Levi. Mitchell.
“Bo has been great with me since the day I arrived in Calgary,” Stevens said. “One of my favorite teammates I’ve ever had and he’s a special man. He’s just special.
“Obviously you can tell what he means to this community and what he means to this league. He’s just an awesome teammate. I’m glad I got to experience and spend time with him. him and learn from him. Again, I think it’s obvious what he means to this league and this community, I just can’t say enough good things about him.
Talks over the past few days have made it clear that Mitchell is unlikely to retire and several teams are interested in signing the veteran passer. As such, it’s highly likely that Stampeders fans will once again have the chance to send some sound in Mitchell’s direction.
It is perhaps much less convivial than at McMahon on this occasion, and therefore for that it was necessary.
It gave fans a chance to say goodbye properly, in a way most never get to in the cold business of professional sports. It was catharsis for thousands of team loyalists collectively feeling the full heat of a decade of dominance in the span of a few moments.
I’m glad to have been there. I’m glad he came in one last time, if only to pass it on in a way that was indicative of his career: putting the team before him.
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