Great coach, dedicated Catholic

Cal Murphy leaves Winnipeg a football legacy after building a strong foundation in Vancouver

Cal Murphy was better known for his coaching abilities, but he was a dominant player in Vancouver. He is seen here in a 1952 B.C. Catholic photo. BCC file photo

The B.C. Catholic relives the legacy of the late Cal Murphy:

Canada knew him as a great football coach, but the Archdiocese of Vancouver knew him as a dedicated Catholic role model. Cal Murphy, a CFL coaching legend from Winnipeg, died Feb. 18 at the age of 78.

"You won't find a better Catholic," said Bob DeJulius, former principal of Holy Cross High School in Vancouver. He played under Murphy at Notre Dame High School in Vancouver, and later worked with him as a coach and colleague. "I once told him that he might be too conservative."

He said Murphy was tough but fair as a coach and as a man.

"We were scared to death of him at Notre Dame."

However, once his players and students realized the breadth of "Murphy's Law," they played hard for him on the field.

"Once they got to know him they loved to play for him."

Read the full story at The B.C. Catholic website.