MontrealAlouettes.com
Montreal, September 2, 2011 – Mike Pringle took a trip down memory lane Thursday when he rejoined his former team, the Montreal Alouettes, at the Olympic Stadium. He even found the time to reacquaint himself with a couple of familiar faces in the players’ locker room, including the likes of defensive end Anwar Stewart.
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In his 10 seasons in the CFL, Mike Pringle rushed for 16,425 yards. |
“It feels great to be back in Montreal,” said the Hall of Fame running back following a surprise visit to the organization and city he once called home. “I am always treated well in this city and I truly feel comfortable here,” he added in the players’ locker room after the Alouettes’ practice on Thursday, the team’s first of the week ahead of Monday’s clash in Hamilton.
Pringle has visited Montreal on a few occasions since retiring from the CFL after the 2004 season, returning this time to lend a helping hand to long-time friend and former Alouette Danny Maciocia.
“I’m in town to support Danny in his new endeavours as the head coach of the University of Montreal football team,” said Pringle. Maciocia, who coached Pringle in both Montreal and Edmonton, asked the CFL’s all-time leading rusher to assist him and be present on the sidelines during the team’s first game of the 2011 CIS season which took place last night.
This is not the first time that Pringle has been seen on the sidelines occupying a coaching role. Pringle, who will turn 44 in October, already served as a guest coach in charge of running backs at the University of Mississippi, but decided not to pursue a coaching career due to time constraints.
“Coaching is not an easy thing to do at any level. It’s extremely time consuming and I am at a stage in my life where I want to spend a lot of my time with my family,” added Pringle, who will be in town for the weekend.
Pringle takes a look inside the Alouettes
At 5-3 the Alouettes find themselves in uncharted territory, but Pringle sees no cause for concern. “The team just needs to stay healthy. If they can do that and stay injury-free for the rest of the season, I can see them enjoying success in the playoffs, which is nothing new for a team of this calibre. I am also very impressed with how well Anthony Calvillo is playing right now and his records are proof of his talent.”
Memories live on
“Most guys will tell you that the thing they miss the most after leaving the game is being around the guys and the team camaraderie. No other job allows you to be so close with the people you work with than in professional sports.”
Pringle’s legacy will forever be embedded in the minds and hearts of Alouettes fans, after having rushed for 16,425 yards during his 10 seasons in the CFL, including a record 2,065-yard season in 1998 with Montreal.
