Edmonton, Alberta ? Even if it was beyond unique and half-past hokey and all the way to bizarre, Willie Pless wore the Eskimo uniform so well in his career here that Edmonton fans decided they were entirely in favor of him wearing it one last time to say goodbye.
Playing one series plus one play of Wednesday night’s preseason game against the B.C. Lions in an Eskimo uniform, Pless’s strange swan-song ended up as a fully accredited memorable moment in the history of the storied squad where the legendary linebacker won five CFL most outstanding defensive player titles.
Introduced as a starting defensive player, Pless was honored with a video highlight package of his career. He attended the midfield meetings of the captains at the start of the game where there were hugs all around.
When it was over, Pless, who chose to play one last year as a Saskatchewan Roughrider in 1999, left the field with his helmet off.
“One of the greatest players in CFL history walks off the field for the last time,” the PA voice boomed to a crowd of 33,241 who paid Pless with a second standing ovation.
Pless, who began his CFL career in 1986 after a standout career at Kansas University, was met by his best friend Gizmo Williams for a huge hug in front of the Eskimos bench.
Pless, 36, went to the crowd to hug his wife and daughter, the latter of whom he carried with him as he took his trip, surrounded by photographers, to the Eskimos dressing room.
“Tonight I took it all in,” said Pless. “I’ll remember this for the rest of my life. It was wonderful.
“Today was the first time in 14 years I really observed what was going on around me. In the dressing room, I watched other players getting ready for the first time. I was always too focused to do that before. It’s really interesting how different players get ready.
“I observed everything. Until tonight, I never listened to the fans before. They were kind of a buzz. Tonight I heard the fans and I heard them clearly.”
Pless said it turned out exactly the way he’d hoped.
“It was closure for me. It was a chance for me to say good-bye to the fans and for the fans to say good-bye to me.”
Pless, a shoo-in for the CFL Hall of Fame, established the league’s career tackles record in 1992 and continued to add to his total. The 5-foot-11, 210-pounder from Anniston, Ala., finished second in the league in tackles last season while playing for Saskatchewan.
Willie Pless is a CFL icon,” said Jeff Giles, CFL President and COO. “His dedication to the game, as well as his domination of the defensive side of the ball is what makes Willie one of the CFL’s most impactful players of all-time.”
