Stegall shows ’em how it’s done Bombers legend ‘impressive’ in guest appearance at rookie camp By: Taylor Allen Posted: 6:02 PM CDT Wednesday, May. 8, 2024

Demetries Ford had no idea he was lining up against a 54-year-old living legend.

Apparently, he didn’t recognize the face that’s on the Gate 1 sign just outside Princess Auto Stadium.

Milt Stegall — who dusted off his No. 85 jersey for the first time since retiring in 2008 to participate on Day 1 of Winnipeg Blue Bombers rookie camp Wednesday — didn’t take many reps, but the one time the ball was thrown in his direction, Ford, a 23-year-old aspiring pro, jumped on him from behind to break up the pass.

“Once they told me, I didn’t really know how to feel. I didn’t know if I went too hard or if I should’ve (slowed) it down a little bit,” said Ford, a defensive back out of Arizona State.

“I just thought it was fun to see him out there and get that rep with him. It was unbelievable just to see him out there going that speed and looking so crisp.”

It’s exactly what Stegall, a CFL on TSN analyst since 2009, signed up for when he announced earlier in the week that he wanted to test himself by rejoining his old club for a day and share the field with nearly 70 rookies.

“I woke up at like three o’clock because I was nervous. I’ve never been this nervous before a training camp in my life. And I don’t know why, it’s not like I’m trying to make the team and if I get hurt, so what? But I guess it was just, it’s been 16 years since I’ve been in a training camp and I didn’t know what to expect,” Stegall said after practice.

“I knew the majority of these guys wouldn’t know who I am and would try to challenge me and all that, but once I got out here and started moving around a little bit, I got the butterflies out and it was a great time.”

As for his missed opportunity against Ford…

“It was a bad throw by the quarterback, but we won’t talk about that,” said Stegall.

The CFL’s all-time touchdown leader with 147 scores didn’t just show up to wave at the fans — and there were many sitting in the stands at the stadium proudly wearing his uniform — he was there to fully participate. Before taking a handful of plays against the defence, the former Bombers star receiver hauled in a ball or two from quarterbacks Zach Collaros and Chris Streveler. He also ran sprints, showed off his footwork on the agility ladder, and even took part in some special teams drills.

Stegall, who played 14 seasons in Winnipeg, was always known for his conditioning and has continued to be a fitness fanatic in retirement.

He played 199 games in the three-down circuit, all with the Blue and Gold, and walked away as the league’s all-time receiving yardage leader (15,153) — a mark that was later broken by B.C. Lions standout Geroy Simon.

“He looked good out here, didn’t he? The most impressive thing to me was he learned all the plays in about one meeting’s time, but the shuttle (runs), I mean, I think he was top five,” said Collaros.

“For a 54-year-old, that was wild.”

Head coach Mike O’Shea was left impressed as well.

“He introduced himself (to the team) and I don’t know if some guys understood the length of time between his last training camp to now — I’m sure some guys didn’t process that,” said O’Shea.

“On a personal level, I mean, I played against Milt and I’m sure he got the better of us most times. When it’s all said and done, watching him out there is pretty inspirational. We’re basically the same age. I couldn’t do that before and I certainly can’t do that now.”

The CFL newbies from down south needed a quick history lesson on the nine-time CFL all-star, but not rookie wideout AK Gassama. The sixth-round draft pick out of the University of Manitoba remembers going to the old Polo Park stadium when he was a kid with his dad to watch Stegall and the Bombers play.

“It was crazy,” said the Winnipegger.

“I walked in, and he was right beside me in the locker room. I told him, ‘I was like eight years old when I was watching you. This is crazy.’ He asked me how I was feeling and I said, ‘I’m a bit nervous.’ He told me it was OK to be nervous because it means you care.

“It was pretty awesome to see his commitment to what he said and his words that he was gonna come out here when he was 50. To come out here and do another training camp, I hope that one day I get the opportunity to do that because that’s pretty cool.”

If it’s up to Stegall, this might not be the last time he straps on a helmet and pads.

“The question is where will I be next year? Who’s training camp will I be in next year? But, man, I thank Wade Miller, Kyle (Walters), Mike O’Shea and the coaching staff and of course, the wonderful fans of Winnipeg allowing me to experience that because that was everything I thought it was gonna be.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

X: @TaylorAllen31