Stampeders duo earn good-guy credibility
Cote and Bell acknowledged for community service
Sometimes, the good guys win.
On Friday, that’s exactly how things played out for a couple of Calgary Stampeders.
First, Stamps fullback Rob Cote was announced as the team’s nominee for the 2017 Jake Gaudaur Veterans Awards, which is given annually to the CFL player who “best demonstrates the attributes of Canada’s veterans.”
Then, Stamps safety Josh Bell was honoured as the 2017 winner of the Herm Harrison Memorial Award. Every year, the award goes to the player who distinguishes himself in the field of community service.
While Bell always provides reporters with some of the best quotes of anyone in the CFL, he got especially animated on Friday when he was asked about the work he does helping young people.
“I just try to be as infectious as I possibly can, spread love throughout the world and be a text away from everybody, as opposed to being a football player who’s kind of famous,” Bell said. “I like (kids) to be like, ‘I’m going to text Coach Bell.’ If they do something good, they text me.
“I love what I do, and I’ll do it for the rest of my life.”
While Bell was named one of the Stampeders captains this year and was a key cog in the team’s dominant defensive machine, his work on the field is barely as impressive as what he does away from the football stadium.
He mentors young men and women in both Calgary and his native Dallas, while also providing financial assistance to low-income families.
In the off-season, Bell volunteers as a track coach at Skyline High School in Dallas, while offer- ing guidance and moral support to young athletes. He also coaches track in Calgary, as well.
To top it off, the 32-year-old has organized an annual charity flagfootball program with approximately 100 kids from Dallas-area schools participating every year.
So, yes, Bell is a worthy recipient of an award named after Harrison, one of the Stampeders’ all-time greats and a man who settled in Calgary after his career with the Red & White and devoted countless hours to community activities as an alumnus.
“If somebody could sponsor my life, I would never have a job,” Bell said. “I would just go out in the community and find who needs help and use sports as my avenue, because I’m an athlete and people want to listen to me because I’m an athlete, so I kind of use that as a way in.
“I use athletics to get in and affect kids. I want the one who is a bull. Every kid doesn’t need help, some kids you can tell them one time and they get it right away, but some kids don’t listen to anybody and those are the ones who need the most help.”
Cote is a no-brainer nominee for an award that goes to a player who demonstrates the attributes of Canada’s veterans, which the Stamps described as “strength, perseverance, courage, comradeship and contribution to the community.”
In his 11th season, Cote is the Stampeders’ longest-serving player and has been a team captain for the past six seasons. He provides an example on the field for his teammates to follow and off the field is a spokesman for Hospice Calgary and a regular at charitable events.
“Lots of people think it’s a responsibility to give back when you’re in our position, but I’ve always thought of it as a real privilege and an opportunity,” said Cote.
I just try to be as infectious as I possibly can, spread love throughout the world and be a text away from everybody.