Bulldog goes Miles above and beyond

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/06/2014 (4138 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

“I would rather be standing here, having played this season with this team, with you guys, than be on that other team…”  

These were some of Thomas Miles’s final words as a Churchill Bulldogs’ football player after a 2009 semi-final loss to the eventual WHSFL champion St. Paul’s Crusaders.

I was the Bulldogs’ head coach that season and can say that this type of strength of character, leadership and pride is what you will get from Thomas day in and day out. He’s an inspiration to those around him, to teammates and to his coaches.

It’s been a pleasure to watch Thomas progress through high school football, national competition with Team Manitoba, playing middle linebacker for the  University of Manitoba Bisons and now as a Toronto Argonaut.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ opening exhibition game on June 9 at Investors Group Field was a close, back-and-forth battle in which Thomas and other Winnipegger (and former Bison teammate) Anthony Coombs played big roles.

Thomas made a great special teams tackle and was almost in the right place for an interception playing middle linebacker.  Coombs had a couple good runs as the Argo tailback.

Thomas (drafted by the Argos in the fourth round) is an excellent example that hard work, dedication and perseverance can definitely pay off. He spent countless hours in the weight room and on the football field leading up to his CFL debut and hopefully the game was just the beginning of a long and successful career, wherever it may take him.

Naturally, everyone at Churchill and with the Bulldogs football program would like to congratulate Thomas on  his success.

We wish you all the best in your future CFL career and everything in life!

The Blue Bombers play the Argos on Thurs., June 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the team’s  regular-season home opener.