Exhibit tribute to province’s football legends

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This article was published 24/06/2015 (3756 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Legendary Winnipeg Blue Bombers punter Bob Cameron and University of Manitoba Bisons head coach Brian Dobie stood next to each other, gaze fixated at Cameron’s old Acadia University helmet.

Cameron turned to Dobie in disbelief and mentioned to the 2007 Vanier Cup-winning coach his amazement that more people didn’t die wearing “those things.” Dobie let out a nervous chuckle and agreed

The roughed-up helmet with the Axemen ‘A’ painted on its side is just one of many relics on display at the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame’s new Gridiron Greats exhibit.

Cameron’s helmet, along with a couple of jerseys and his Hec Crighton Award account for just one of several displays showcasing the greats of both Blue Bomber and Bisons football.

“Some of these artifacts are amazing, especially Ken Ploen’s,” Cameron said. Ploen’s display includes his Rose Bowl trophy, helmet and gold key.

“These are priceless items, this is really done right. They’re great memories for me,” said Cameron. “I was so unbelievably fortunate to play for so long, and now to have my own display case, it’s something you never expect. This is what you want, we want to acknowledge our history.”

History

The exhibit, which runs from June 23 to Nov. 22, is presented in conjunction with the 103rd Grey Cup to be held in Winnipeg Nov. 29.

“It showcases a lot of history, not only of the Bombers and the Grey Cup, but also the Bisons and football in general throughout the years,” said Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame president Susan Nemec. “People as far away as Florida and Atlanta were sending in material. It just shows the pride in the Bombers and football in Manitoba that former players have.”

Bombers president and CEO Wade Miller said that following the conclusion of the exhibit, displays will be taken to various locations during Grey Cup week.

“You can’t have a future without honouring your past,” said Miller. “It’s something that we do at the Winnipeg Football Club and something we are committed to continuing, and this is just one more step in that.”

For the president of the Blue Bombers Alumni Association, Jayson Dzikowicz — a five-year CFL pro including three seasons in the Blue and Gold — seeing his former teammates and friends being enshrined was overwhelming.

“To have people understand and show appreciation for what they did, to not only play the game, but what injuries some of them went through and to be able to rebound and now to be able to display that emotion they have and feel over the years is incredible,” said Dzikowicz. “As a fan, and I speak as a fan first, this is great.”

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca

Scott Billeck
Reporter

Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade’s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024.  Read more about Scott.

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