Dickenson: A rags to riches kind of story
Early in 1996, unable to pay him the million dollars he was owed, the Calgary Stampeders sent Doug Flutie to Toronto. Part of the deal included the rights to an American quarterback from the University of Montana, Dave Dickenson. This week, he will be inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, along with Robert Wetenhall, Bob O’Billovich, Larry Reda, Leroy Blugh, Eddie Davis and Gene Makowsky.
It was an inauspicious beginning.
“The first year was a tough year,” Dickenson recalled. “I made the league minimum, which was $26,000, the dollar was at 62 or 63 cents, I didn’t play one down, didn’t take one snap. I began to wonder what the heck I was doing. It was a long year, not a year I overly enjoyed. I never put the uniform on. It felt like kind of a wasted year.”
Dickenson backed up Jeff Garcia in 1998 when Calgary won the Cup. Although badly injured, he quarterbacked the team in the Grey Cup the following year, losing to Hamilton. He won the Most Outstanding Player award in 2000. He was reunited in B.C. with Wally Buono, 2003-’07, finishing first four times and winning the Grey Cup in 2006. His playing career ended in Calgary in 2008 due to concussions. Along the way to the CF Hall of Fame, he set the all-time record for passing efficiency with a mark of 110.2.
By his side throughout all the vicissitudes of his career has been his devoted wife Tammy, daughter of the St. Cyrs of Medicine Hat. “You married well,” I said to him.
“I did marry well. I’ve got great in-laws. My wife is very supportive. It’s just amazing, all the moves, the injuries, the instability, at times not having any money. We’ve been together since college. I couldn’t ask for anymore as far as support.
“And also Tammy really understands the game. We call her Scoop because she figures out stuff about opposing teams. Even now, she’s very involved, wants to know the injury report. She just loves the game.
“I believe coaches’ wives are some of the toughest ladies out there. Players are busy but they’ve still got a lot of free time. But coaches‘ wives, that’s a different ball game, that’s hard. That’s duty for them. They pretty much take care of the family for the six months you’re not around. (Dave and Tammy have two children, Avery and Cooper). Not that I want to do anything different but I certainly love that she’s willing to put in all that extra time and effort. I’m very lucky that I found her.”
Dickenson paid for his football success with an incredible amount of pain. “I have paid a price as far as joints go,” he replied. “I’m OK head-wise. I’ve had all my four major joints repaired, both knees, both shoulders, some more than once. I do feel I’ve aged at a higher rate that the average person. I’d do it again, no doubt. I loved it but you do look back on it and shake your head. However, you demand sacrifice from your teammates so you’ve got to give it yourself.
“I’ve got young kids. I’m trying to keep up with them. I can’t recover from things like I did and I’m not moving around like I think I should at age 42. Sometimes I think it was just luck but sometimes it was the way I played the game. I was willing to sit in the pocket and get hit in order to make that throw. I never played the game to avoid an injury.
“In the end, it was my head, the concussions. Once I couldn’t figure out how to keep my head straight I wasn’t able to do the things I wanted to do. When you start doubting whether you can take a hit, it changes your whole game. At the end, I couldn’t take a hit. I proved it. Any good hit had me concussed.
“The careers of guys who play with no fear and a little recklessly are not as long. I was one of those guys.”
Next season, Dickenson will succeed John Hufnagel as head coach of the Stampeders, the man who played a major role bringing him to Calgary 19 years ago.