Saturday, February 28, 2004

Old Man of the Big Blue

Don't look now but the longest serving head coach with one team in the CFL is Dave Ritchie. The Big Blue Boss enters the final year of his contract in Winnipeg with one goal in mind, getting to Ottawa in late November for the Grey Cup.

Management doesn't want to discuss his contract until the end of the season, Ritchie doesn't want to talk about it all, not wanting things to be a distraction to the job at hand. But in Winnipeg, it's just another aspect of the Big Blue for the fans to discuss.

Ritchie joined the Blue and turned a 3-15 team into a Grey Cup participant but has yet to get them over the hump and onto a podium to hoist Earl Grey's Cup. Losing some painful games along the way, bringing the Bombers just short of their goal. A situation that gives the radio talk show callers lots to chat about in the off season.

The key for Ritchie will be a fast start to the season, should the Big Blue get off to a seven and zero start, then negotiations for a new contract should go rather quickly and bring rewards to Ritchie, letting him increase that record just a little bit further.

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