The good, the bad and the ugly.

Danny Barrett experienced it all in his three stints with the Stampeders (’83-85, ’89-’91, ’96).

Fortunately for the former Red and White slotback turned pivot, the sombre years were left in the past with the turn of the decade when Wally Buono took over the club in 1990.

“When I came in in ’83, it was a great opportunity to come up and be part of an organization that throughout the city of Calgary was well-respected,” said Barrett. “We went through some lean years, a few coaches and everything, and as Wally took over in 1990, and being able to be part of that and get to a Grey Cup in ’91, it was the first time in 20 years that the team had been to the Grey Cup, and to be part of that was really a big turnaround I think for the organization as a whole.

“I think since that year, the organization has not looked back. They’ve won plenty of championships since then. I really felt like that ’91 team was the catalyst for putting the Stampeders back on the map and being where they are today.

“There were a lot of great players on that team. I came back to town a couple weeks ago to visit my family there, and there’s a lot of names up on the wall, and a lot of those guys were part of those teams up there.

“That’s a testament not only to Wally, but also to the players who came through during that era as well.”

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The Houston Texans assistant head coach pins one defining moment that set the Red and White on the path to success for decades to come.

Nearly 33 years ago, Calgary found themselves down 36-31 with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter of the 1991 West Final in Edmonton.

Flushed out of the pocket, Barrett escaped to his left where he found Peewee Smith downfield who was able to get behind Edmonton’s Roy Bennett and into the endzone for the 67-yard game-winning score.

“Directing traffic, throwing long… Smith! Touchdown Calgary!” cried the famous voice of the legendary Steve Armitage on the CBC broadcast for those watching at home.

Barrett returned to Cowtown a couple of weeks ago and served as the second Stamps alumni to hype up the McMahon crowd and bang the drum pre-game. The Florida native met up with Smith at the game and reflected on that iconic play.

“It was like it was yesterday when you think about it,” said Barrett. “It was a big moment, not only for the organization but for a guy like Peewee to become a household name, and the year before to come up short in the West Final at home against Edmonton and then be able to go up there and win in Edmonton which was very hard to do at that time, and Peewee made that spectacular catch, ran through the tunnel, feels like yesterday.

“It was a very exciting time for not only myself and Peewee, but the organization and the city as a whole. We look back on that moment and it was the start of something great.”

Join us on Sunday when we celebrate the legendary @WallyBuono 🏆🏆🏆

🎟️: https://t.co/Z221fRPEXZ#TogetherWeRide🐎 pic.twitter.com/pITRpN6dS9

— Calgary Stampeders (@calstampeders) July 16, 2024

Start of something great it was.

Although the Stamps fell 36-21 to the Toronto Argonauts in the Grey Cup in 1991, marking Barrett’s last season suiting up in red and white before he returned as Jeff Garcia’s backup in 1996, Buono and the Stampeders claimed championship glory when they finally won the big game in 1992. They finished in first place in the West or North divisions for five consecutive seasons and won the Grey Cup again in 1998. Buono won his third and final championship with the Stampeders in 2001.

Barrett credits Buono’s leadership to the organization’s continued success.

“First of all, he was organized,” said Barrett. “Being a former player, you’re competitive as well, and he had those leadership qualities. He knew how to motivate the guys but was also very knowledgeable of the CFL game as well, teaching all the little ins and outs, and I really respected that.

“To the point where he motivated me to be a better player and eventually get into coaching myself. He gave me the first opportunity to get into coaching.”

“That was the key, the way he was always organized, he was always prepared. That was the key for his staff, to make sure the players were prepared to go out and succeed, but also to enjoy the game as well.

“Being a former player, he understood what it took to get prepared before the game, but to also go out and perform at a high level. He instilled that into all of his players, and all the teams that he’s been a part of.”

For Barrett, Buono can be described in two words.

“Relentless competitor,” he said.

“I can remember the times of playing for Wally, playing against Wally, coaching against Wally and he was always the ultimate competitor. He’s always going to look out for what’s best for the team and for the players, and he was well-respected for that.

“I think that’s why the guys played the way they did. They knew he had their back. He’s always been like that. If you ever had an issue with anything you could always go to his office and close the door. He was more than a coach; he was a father figure to a lot of players that came through there. He gave opportunities to guys who would never have gotten second chances at other places. I have a lot of respect for him and what he’s been able to accomplish throughout his career.

Barrett’s first start as a coach came in 1997 when he accepted the role as Calgary’s quarterbacks coach and led a room consisting of Stamps greats Jeff Garcia, Dave Dickenson and Henry Burris. Barrett has gone on to coach for six other clubs spanning across the CFL, NFL, and college.

The next season, he took up the QB coach position in BC for two years.

From 2000-2006, Barrett served as head boss of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, before taking on various roles for the University at Buffalo (2007-2009), University of Central Florida (2011-2015), Miami Dolphins (2016-2017) and now as assistant head coach and running backs coach for the Houston Texans (2018-present).

“When 1997 came around, he offered me my first opportunity to get into coaching, so I went from playing to coaching the very next year,” he said. “I will always be very thankful and appreciative of that opportunity to make it to where I am today. It began with that start that he gave me.

“I’m very thankful that he gave me that opportunity to become a coach, and I haven’t looked back since then. I really appreciate what he did for me and my family.”

Wally Buono will be honoured this Sunday, when his name is added to the Stampeders Wall of Fame at McMahon Stadium. Don’t miss out on this historic evening as we celebrate the storied career of one of the CFL’s greatest head coaches of all-time.

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