Bombers welcomed home despite Grey Cup loss
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers were given a warm welcome on their home turf Monday, a day after the team's loss to the B.C. Lions in the 99th Grey Cup championship final.
The Bombers were greeted by hundreds of fans after they landed at the Winnipeg airport around 1:40 p.m. CT.
"They had a great season and we were excited to watch them grow so much this year," said Christine Neufeld, who was in the crowd.
"Even though they lost their last game, like, that's not going to change [the fact] that they're Number One with me."
As members of the team bandaged their cuts, wrap their wounds, and tend to their aches, one of the most painful things is their failure to win the Grey Cup for Doug Brown.
"Guys like that don't come around often. Certainly he'll be a hall of famer and it's unfortunate we couldn't get him a Grey Cup in his last year," said Bombers coach Paul LaPolice.
In his time with the team, Brown was on three Grey Cup losing squads — in 2001, 2007, and 2011.
The Bombers have now gone 21 seasons without a championship.
"He's got a bright future ahead of him, and I know he'll be successful. But right now, the next 24 hours are going to be pretty painful for him," offensive lineman Glen January said about his close friend.
Brown, a hulking 6-foot-8 defensive tackle who spent his entire 11-year career with the Bombers, announced at the start of the season that this would be his final year.
A respected leader in the locker room and on the field, often gave his team the pre-game pep talk during the season. He also wrote a regular, hard-hitting column for the Winnipeg Free Press, and had a radio show.
But after Sunday's 34-23 loss to the B.C. Lions in the championship game, he found it hard to find any words.
"I'm just kind of numb right now, man," he told reporters. "It's hard to come to terms with the finality of the situation. It doesn't seem real."
While the Bombers couldn't find success in the big game, they did find it all season long in their fan support.
“The special parts that we'll remember about this season is the return of our fans," LaPolice said.
"We had eight sell outs. Everywhere you go they're excited about Bomber football.”
Bombers centre Obby Khan also praised the fans for their boisterous boosterism and the remarkable support that has led to a waiting list for season tickets.
“Fans, we love you guys. The fans are the heart and soul of this team," he said.
"You know, they're probably feeling it just as hard as we are. Living in the city for six years I really feel for everyone … they want the cup bad, just like all the players in here want it bad.
"The city's been through a 20-year drought and that sucks.”
Even with the loss, Alanna Boudreau said she is a True Blue fan.
"It's the Winnipeg team. We love them to the end whether they win or lose, but obviously it would be better if they won," she said.
Former Bomber Chris Walby knows a thing or two about championship teams. And the nine-time CFL all-star who played 16 years in Winnipeg and won three Grey Cups, believes the Bombers will soon hoist the cup again.
"This is a great team. I think LaPolice has built a great nucleus,” he said.
“He's gonna have to do some tweaking, but I tell you right now, I think they have got everything they need to end this drought."
