Bombers honouring Cal Murphy’s legacy with statue outside IGF

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This article was published 04/07/2017 (3020 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are honouring storied coach and general manager Cal Murphy with a bronze statue that will be unveiled outside Investors Group Field in a Sept. 21 ceremony.

Murphy, who died at the age of 79 on Feb. 18, 2012, is second on the list of Bombers coaches in wins, with a record of 86-51-1. Murphy was inducted into the Blue Bombers Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame in 2004. The statue will be located outside Gate 3 and will be surrounded by a seating area for fans.

The Winnipeg-born Murphy spent more than 30 seasons in the CFL, and was a member of nine Grey Cup-winning squads as a coach or general manager.

Blue Bombers CEO and president Wade Miller said the club is committed to honouring its past.

“It started with the Bud Grant statue, the next year was the Ring of Honour and the next one is the Cal Murphy statue,” he said. “And every year we’ll make sure we honour all the players and coaches that built the tradition.”

The statue is being crafted by Toronto’s MST Bronze Ltd., which also completed the Bud Grant statue. Grant’s statue is situated at IGF’s Gate 1.

After recognizing the two most celebrated coaching personalities in franchise history, the club may be finished on the statue front.

“Never say never, but when you have a Bud Grant and Cal Murphy statues, you’ve got the two that belong, right?” Miller said. “The biggest thing is that all of this was raised by private donors.”

The statues come with a hefty price tag.

“They’re in six figures,” said Miller. “They’re gorgeous statues and it adds to Investors Group Field and we always honour our past.”

What’s next on that front?

“Stay tuned,” he said.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter @sawa14