Don Landry
CFL.ca
Buck Pierce wears his football heart on his sleeve. And he wears a yellow ribbon on his lapel.
The first part, the football part, is easy to see. It’s in his play on game day. Well known as a quarterback who’ll put his body on the line time and time again, Pierce leaves nothing out in his pursuit of victories.
Is there any doubt that his cast iron will to put himself in physical danger on behalf of the team will be on display again on Grey Cup Sunday? No. No doubt.
So it’s only natural that he has an admiration for those who put their bodies – their lives, in fact – on the line in real combat. That’s part of the reason he wears the ribbon. Another reason is a little more personal.
“It’s something I wear proudly. I’ve a brother that’s in the military,” said Pierce, when asked about the yellow ribbon on his lapel. Dylan Pierce is a member of the U.S. Coast Guard, often called upon to take part in dangerous search and rescue operations. Another Pierce who puts his well-being on the line on a regular basis. Buck knows it’s a familiar story.
“We all have relatives that have fought at some point down the line. And that’s part of the community of Winnipeg. And the province of Manitoba.”
It’s an element of his adopted community that Pierce really appreciates and likes to take time to honour. After the 2010 season, he decided to stay in Winnipeg in order to remain immersed in a place he has obviously grown fond of.
“It’s amazing, it’s amazing,” he repeated, when asked to talk about his experiences in the Manitoba capital. “It’s an amazing place to be a fan. It’s an amazing place to be a professional athlete. The city, they bend over backwards for their guys. They’re so supportive.”
“I got to mix and mingle with the fans. I got to see how people live. They’re talking about football and Grey Cups in January. It’s just a good atmosphere to be in.”
In more ways than one, for Pierce. For him, it’s not just the delight of playing in a city where football really matters. It’s also about that collective sympathy and respect for the armed forces. It makes Pierce and his city and province harmonious in that sense.
“I’ve been around and gotten involved with a lot of organizations and community events throughout the province. I did a dinner (along with teammate Glenn January) a few months ago for ‘The Wounded Veterans Hunt.’ We brought together three wounded American soldiers and three Canadian Armed Forces soldiers. We put on a dinner for them, took them on a four day hunt and a football game. Winnipeg has given me the opportunity to do that,” said an appreciative Pierce.
Winnipeg, you can lay to rest the well-worn saw about Dieter Brock famously saying he wanted out because your town, in his estimation, was boring and that there were only so many times you could go to the zoo.
Your quarterback certainly loves you, even if you can be a touch ornery at times.
“They have high standards,” Pierce began. “We have harsh fans, but we have true fans as well. People that back you.”
Important to have, whether you’re trotting out to win a football game, or more seriously, putting life and limb on the line in a much more serious battle. That’s true if you wear your heart on your sleeve. Or on your lapel.
THE EXTRA POINT
Pierce and his Winnipeg mates will face a Lions’ defence that was credited with confusing veteran quarterback Ricky Ray in last week’s Western Final win.
But, honestly, can a veteran quarterback like Ray, or Pierce, REALLY be confused. Haven’t they seen it all?
“I think they disguised some things well,” offered Pierce on the Lions’ efforts last Sunday.
“The main thing is, they kept Edmonton off-balance on first down. They made them take a lot of negative plays on first down. For us, consistency on first down is what it really comes down to. You don’t want to face that defence in second and long, with the speed they have up front and the leadership they have in that secondary.”
