North Bay's Mike O'Shea is a Grey Cup champion.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach watched his team win 33-12 before 35,439 spectators at McMahon Stadium for its first Grey Cup victory since 1990.
O'Shea told the media during Grey Cup week regardless who wins, there's nothing like winning a championship as a player.
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The Ticats had no answer for an aggressive Winnipeg defence that forced seven turnovers — three coming on Ticats' first four possessions — and six sacks. The Bombers had a plus-12 turnover ratio in the playoffs and over three games allowed 39 total points.
O'Shea believes if his team could control the ball, they could control the game as the Bombers held the ball for 35 minutes of the game.
"All three phases played well through the playoffs," the former linebacker told the Canadian Press.
"But the defence today, boy, did they shine."
The former Widdifield star linebacker has won his fifth Grey Cup, one as a head coach, three as a player, and another as a special teams coordinator of the Toronto Argonauts.
"The city of Winnipeg, the die-hard fans, the province, our Blue Bomber fans that travel and are scattered around the country they should feel a tremendous amount of pride for their team and they do. I am very happy for them but yeah, this is awesome. It will take a little while to sink in," he told the media during the post-game press conference.
As a player, O'Shea won all three with the Argonauts in 1996, 1997, and 2004.
O'Shea has brought the Grey Cup to the city before, 15 years ago, and it would be fitting to bring it back to the school he starred at, which will close at the end of this school year.
