Former Coach Dave Ritchie Passes away

[iHeart]

https://www.bluebombers.com/2024/03/09/blue-bombers-mourn-the-passing-of-dave-ritchie/

 

Funny thing is I'm old enough to remember when he came on, 1998 (middle of the season) one of the worst Blue Bomber season ever, stayed on for 6 years until getting sacked because of a crummy season.....hard to believe that was 20 years ago. So he was basically the first Bomber coach I could remember by name

Edited March 9 by iHeart

[blue85gold]

RIP Dave. 
I became a hardcore fan watching those 2000 - 2004 bombers. 

[SpeedFlex27]

Dave Ritchie was a real character. One the players & fans could really relate to. Rest in Peace, Dave. You'll be missed.

[wbbfan]

Man the old ball coach. Loved him soo much. Such a great coach and interesting character. 

[Goldkobra]

He's on top of the mountain, now. Drinking the good water. 

[FrostyWinnipeg]

Best Bomber coach in my 40+ years and he never won.

[Jesse]

4 hours ago, blue85gold said:

RIP Dave. 
I became a hardcore fan watching those 2000 - 2004 bombers. 

Source of my fandom.

RIP coach. 

[rebusrankin]

Great coach. Loved those teams. RIP.

[captaincanuck12]

RIP Ritchie.  

[Mark H.]

The 4th (fawth) period is over.

[Stickem]

Was a great coach for the Bombers ....Tough to watch all of the best of the old guard, heading for and exiting this world.....RIP Dave and condolences to the family

[Booch]

From knowing him personally...this one stings...RIP Coach

[kelownabomberfan]

17 hours ago, FrostyWinnipeg said:

Best Bomber coach in my 40+ years and he never won.

of all the times I've seen the Bombers in the GC, the 2001 loss still stings the most.  That would have been a great year to break the drought, all the pieces were in place...and we let it slip through our fingers...argh...

[FrostyWinnipeg]

1 hour ago, kelownabomberfan said:

of all the times I've seen the Bombers in the GC, the 2001 loss still stings the most.  That would have been a great year to break the drought, all the pieces were in place...and we let it slip through our fingers...argh...

Wide to the right, wide to the left.

[17to85]

1 hour ago, kelownabomberfan said:

of all the times I've seen the Bombers in the GC, the 2001 loss still stings the most.  That would have been a great year to break the drought, all the pieces were in place...and we let it slip through our fingers...argh...

Ritchie was just such a breath of fresh air after the reinbold years. That group definitely should have won a cup. 

[JohnnyAbonny]

Dave Ritchie was someone I’d always thought would be a joy to sit down and talk with. 
RIP coach, thanks for all the great moments as a fan. 

2 hours ago, kelownabomberfan said:

of all the times I've seen the Bombers in the GC, the 2001 loss still stings the most.  That would have been a great year to break the drought, all the pieces were in place...and we let it slip through our fingers...argh...

Nothing in sports fandom would have meant as much to me as that particular Grey Cup

[BomberBall]

Man, it’s been a rough stretch with the passing of former Bombers.

RIP coach.

[Bubba Zanetti]

RIP coach Ritchie. Probably my favorite Bomber coach. His quotes were legendary.

[Rod Black]

22 hours ago, JohnnyAbonny said:

Dave Ritchie was someone I’d always thought would be a joy to sit down and talk with. 

We spoke. Him and coach Gaines at Home Depot on Empress. A few minutes about which light bulbs they needed for the Bomber “clubhouse” at the old bawn. I recall thinking, he’s kind of a big bugger. 
RIP Coach. 

[IC Khari]

🥲 Very underrated coach and person …

RIP Coach …