Bo Levi Mitchell has received high praise from two of the best quarterbacks the Calgary Stampeders have ever had.
Mitchell is set to rewrite the record books on Saturday as he needs just two completions to surpass Henry Burris for the top spot in team history. Head coach Dave Dickenson offered strong support for his quarterback, suggesting he has earned his place atop the club’s mantle.
“We all have a lot of respect for Henry and the way he played and what he did for the organization,” said Dickenson on Wednesday. “I do feel like Bo is kind of, to me, the top quarterback in Calgary Stampeders history. Love you, Doug, but I think Bo is that guy. I think he’s taking his spot in the rightful order of the quarterbacks in this organization.”
Doug Flutie is widely considered the best player in CFL history and posted gaudy numbers with Calgary, winning Most Outstanding Player three times over four years with the team (1992-95). Flutie responded to Dickenson’s comment, agreeing that Mitchell is the best quarterback in club history.
“No hard feelings brotha! Bo is that guy,” Flutie tweeted on Thursday afternoon.
The Stampeders have enjoyed arguably the CFL’s best quarterbacking over the past 30 years with players like Mitchell, Burris, Dickenson, Flutie, and Jeff Garcia at the helm.
Flutie still sits third in club history in completions (1,438), passing yards (20,551), and passing touchdowns (140), which is remarkable considering he played only four seasons with the team. He, Dickenson, and Burris are members of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, while Garcia played the final 11 years of his career in the NFL.
Dickenson was named M.O.P. with the Stamps in 2000, though he was not always the starter during his original stint with the team (1997-2000). He won a Grey Cup in 1998 as a backup to Garcia but is more remembered for his time with the B.C. Lions (2003-07) during which he was named the MVP of the 2006 Grey Cup.
Mitchell should surpass Burris’ completions total on Saturday against Saskatchewan but still has a ways to go to catch him in other categories. He trails Burris by 2,516 passing yards and 28 passing touchdowns, so he’ll likely need another year to finish rewriting the record books in Cowtown.
Burris won two M.O.P. awards during his 18-year CFL career, though only one as a member of the Stamps. Mitchell has won the award twice with Calgary and remains in just his ninth season at the age of 31.
