It’s not typical for me to cheer for the Calgary Stampeders or Bo Levi Mitchell —but Sunday night I absolutely was..In mid-season, Jake Maier took the reins as starting quarterback on August 20 not long after Mitchell broke the all-time passing record for a Stampeder quarterback. The decision was defensible given Maier’s impressive results thereafter..Unfortunately for Maier, he couldn’t get the job done at the Lions’ den in Vancouver in the West Semi-Final. Another emergent Canadian quarterback, B.C.’s Nathan Rourke, outshone him. A Maier-led Stampeder team could only get 6 points in a little more than three quarters, while Rourke’s got 20..Maier was a mediocre 12 for 22 and 138 yards, and Calgary’s coach Dave Dickinson had seen enough. With 11:11 left in the fourth quarter, he was ready for a veteran’s hand to get on the ball..“Guess what, guess what, guess what — look who’s coming?” said Glen Suitor..“Uh oh! Bo Levi Mitchell to save the season! Don’t go anywhere!” said Dustin Neilson..It sounded like WWE commentary for some pre-planned drama—but it wasn’t. Mitchell walked onto the field like an epic warrior, the perception somewhat aided by the camera angle from below. Regardless, he carried a steely and resolute confidence that was unmistakeable..Mitchell made his first pass attempt since August with a successful 30-yard sideline pass to Malik Henry in tight coverage. Later on the drive, Henry made another catch in similar circumstances..“Mitchell has a chance to spot this ball exactly where he wants to spot it,” Suitor said of the play. And Mitchell did..Calgary settled for a field goal after Mitchell was sacked on second down. Regardless, he had taken over with so little rust and so much authority, it was as if a tutor had stepped in for a faltering acolyte and said, “Here, let me show you how it’s done.”.Mitchell moved the ball downfield on a subsequent drive that would have continued had Kadeem Karey not dropped a pass with no one near him. The result was another field goal..B.C. scored on their next drive, so everyone in the building knew Mitchell had to pass and make a quick drive with time running out. He did it anyway, completing two first down passes down the centre of the field on the way to a successful Calgary touchdown drive..Unfortunately for Mitchell and the Stamps, it was too little, too late. Mitchell took the final knee on a loss he was not responsible for as B.C. won 30-16. He had completed 8 of his 11 passes for 147 yards, outpacing Meier in just one-fourth the playing time..By all accounts, Mitchell has acted in classy, professional fashion the past few months, though that could not have been easy. He still wants to play, and it won’t be in Calgary..Earlier this year, Saskatchewan had its own game like this against B.C. Quarterback Cody Fajardo couldn’t get things moving and was pulled before the end of the first half. Backup Mason Fine led the ‘Riders to a successful touchdown drive, getting more passing yards in the final two minutes of the half than Fajardo did all game..Mason Fine is no Mitchell, however. The rookie has short stature and hasn’t learned to move in the pocket enough to find good passing lanes. He may have a future in this league, but Saskatchewan would be dumb not to look for another potential starter..Fajardo wants to try free agency, and after this recent embattled season fans are fine with that..Would Bo Levi Mitchell come to Saskatchewan and play for a couple of years? A few apparently informed voices have said he has a long memory and apparently some ‘Rider fans have said some disparaging things about him in the past..Rider fans slamming other teams’ players? Say it ain’t so..Sure, after Mitchell had a less-than-stellar game earlier in the season, I posted to Facebook, “Bo knows…interceptions!” in a nod to the Bo Jackson Nike commercials of another era where the multi-sport star knew everything but hockey..It’s never been made clear just what past comments Mitchell may be remembering. None of them should matter. Rider fans are a passionate, opinionated, wide swath of people, but they’ll get behind a winner with pride..Suitor has said Mitchell reminds him of former ‘Rider great Kent Austin in having that chip on his shoulder that motivates him to slice through the other team. Sounds great to me!.Those fans who say Mitchell has too little time left to be the ‘Riders QB of the future should remember we need a quarterback now and Mitchell is the best one available. They should make every effort to acquire the two-time Grey Cup MVP. They also have to shore up their offensive line, so that neither Mitchell nor ‘Rider fans have to suffer.
