I think I would be hard pressed to find anyone that would say, “The Bombers are not a dynasty,” had they been able to walk away with three straight Grey Cups.

Yet as I traveled around the Grey Cup hotel, and the festival grounds I asked fans from others teams, “If the Bombers lose on Sunday would you consider them a dynasty?” The overwhelming majority told me that they would still consider the Bombers a dynasty.

I have to be honest, I was more than a little bit shocked to hear that. I would have thought that fans from other teams would be salivating to see the Bombers falter. However, it seems that many CFL fans understood that what the Bombers had done in 2019 and 2021, and 2022 (before the Grey Cup) was no ordinary feat.

So imagine my surprise when the Bombers lost they Grey Cup but also when I saw headlines like “Dynasty Deniers.” Does Toronto winning the Grey Cup really negate what the Bombers have done?

In 2019 they were 11-7 on the season, not the best record. They had to go play the Western Semi-Final in Calgary and the Western Final in Saskatchewan to even make it to the Grey Cup. They did and beat Hamilton in Calgary to break a 29 year Grey Cup drought.

In 2021 they almost set a record for fewest points allowed in the 4^th quarter, but then played their backups and lost that record. They went 11-3 on a shortened season and 7-0 at home. They had to face Hamilton again in the Grey Cup, but this time in front of Hamilton’s fans. And they won becoming back-to-back Grey Cup champions!

In 2021 Zach Collaros had then won as many Grey Cups as Bo Levi Mitchell – exactly 2 – in much fewer attempts. This year he had the opportunity to surpass Bo Levi Mitchell in Grey Cup rings, but in the words of Zach they just did not do enough.

In 2022 the Bombers set a franchise record winning 15 games! They were the first CFL team to win 400 home games.

So let me ask you, when Calgary was making the playoffs over and over, were they a dynasty? And if so, at what point did you hand them that title?

If Winnipeg is not a dynasty what must they do to get that label? Do they need to get to another Grey Cup in 2023? Do they need to win the Grey Cup in 2023? Will three Grey Cups in four seasons get them that title? What if they do not win the Grey Cup until 2024 in BC? Will three Grey Cups in five seasons get it done?

In all likelihood the Grey Cup is going to be played in Winnipeg in 2025 – the last year on Zach Collaros’ new three year deal. What if the Bombers do not win the Grey Cup again until 2025, but win at home? Will 3 Grey Cups in 6 years get them the title of dynasty?

Do The Bombers Even Care?

But do the Bomber players really worry or even care about the term “dynasty,”? Honestly I do not think so. And I highly doubt Bomber Head Coach Mike O’Shea was pumping the “dynasty” line this year.

Here are my two mock quotes of what I could hear O’Shea saying if asked about a dynasty.

If the Bombers care at all about being labelled a “dynasty,” my guess would be that it is not for personal gain, but rather they want it for their teammates. That is just how this team rolls.

Maybe you think I completely missed the mark on all of this.

What did I get right? What did you disagree with? Let me know in the comments.

Find all my articles here.

Written by a Bomber fan, for the Bomber fans.

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