By Allen Cameron
Calgary Herald

Doug Flutie estimates that he has two or three phone conversations a year with his former mentor, Calgary Stampeders coach and general manager John Hufnagel.

And during those calls, Hufnagel — Flutie’s offensive co-ordinator during his four seasons with the Stamps — speaks in glowing terms of his current quarterback, Henry Burris, who tonight has a chance to move past Flutie and take over top spot on the franchise passing yardage list.

“The way Huff talks about him, I’m happy for him and wish him all the best,” said Flutie on Wednesday, likely the last day he’ll remain the Stamps’ passing leader; Burris enters tonight’s game at Commonwealth Stadium just 238 yards shy of Flutie’s 20,551. “I was up last year and saw Henry play, and he’s a leader; he’s a guy who can do whatever it takes to win, tuck it under and run if he has to, or throw the football. When Huff and I talk, he has a lot of great things to say about him.”

Flutie needed less time to put up his career totals — four seasons to Burris’s five and a half or so — but by the end of the 2009 season, he should be relegated to No. 2 not only in yardage but also in completions (he had 1,438; Burris sits at 1,397), attempts (2,382 to 2,305) and touchdown passes (140 to 131).

“I think it’s a great example of Henry’s ability,” said Hufnagel. “To amass that type of yardage and to pass a legend like Doug is a moment I’m sure that, after the game, after Henry’s playing career is done, he’ll be very proud of. It’s well-deserved.”

“It’s a heck of an accomplishment,” added Stamps receiver Ryan Thelwell. “Doug Flutie is Mr. CFL, and rightfully so, he’s probably one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, and for Henry to surpass him, to me, that says a lot about Henry.”

Burris’s skills as a quarterback go beyond his athletic gifts, suggested Flutie, now an analyst for ESPN’s college football broadcasts.

“I see leadership qualities,” said Flutie. “He’s fine at throwing a football and he has the athleticism, and he’s a do-whatever-it-takes type of guy.

“The key to me is that I have seen him struggle at times, and yet he keeps bouncing back. And that’s what it’s about. Consistency, longevity and sticking it out. A lot of guys can’t do that — to have negative things happen and be able to bounce back from them is the most difficult thing as a quarterback.

“During a career, you build up a lot of positive things that give you confidence, but more than that, you build up a lot of negative experience that can undermine your confidence. To get past that, stay confident and be a leader is a great quality.”

As you might expect, Flutie bears no ill will toward Burris despite being on the verge of surrendering top spot-on various Stampeder passing lists; in fact, Flutie was surprised to learn that he still owned some of the records.

“Well, that’s fine with me,” he said. “All the power to him. I’m happy for him. Just stay healthy and keep flingin’ it.

“Now that I think about it, only playing four years in Calgary, I’m proud the records lasted as long as they did.”