TATE AND MITCHELL WILL BE BACK

Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that import quarterbacks Drew Tate and Bo Levi Mitchell have signed contract extensions. As per team policy, terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

“Drew and Bo are both very talented quarterbacks who have enjoyed great success as members of the Stampeders,” said Hufnagel. “They work extremely well together and their decision to sign extensions with the Stampeders gives us great long-term stability at what is obviously a key position.”

Tate has been with the Stampeders since 2009 and became the starter in Week 17 of the 2011 season. Injuries have limited him to eight regular-season and two playoff starts since that time but he has been very productive when healthy, posting a 5-0 record when he plays the entire game. He has completed 259 or 381 passes during his Stamps career (a 68.0-per cent completion rate, the highest total in franchise history) for 3,270 yards, 24 touchdowns and just nine interceptions.

The 29-year-old University of Iowa product has also accumulated 466 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground as a Stamp.

Mitchell, 23, has been with the Stampeders for two seasons and posted a 3-0 record when called upon as a starter in 2013. He completed 94 of 135 passes last season for 1,156 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. He earned the league’s offensive-player-of-the-week award in Week 5 as he completed 29 of 33 passes for 376 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Winnipeg.

In two seasons with the Red and White, Mitchell has 1,324 yards and 12 touchdowns as a passer as well as 218 yards and seven scores on the ground.

 “I’m so fortunate to be with the Stampeders and to represent the white horse,” said Tate. “Calgary is a special place and, along with my teammates, I can’t wait to start up the good fight again and chase our dream of being Grey Cup champs.”

“I’ve loved my time in Calgary and I’m excited about the opportunity to stay here,” said Mitchell. “The Stamps have a great organization, a great coaching staff and a great group of players and this is definitely the place I want to be.”

Stampeders season tickets are on sale now for the 2014 season. For more information, visit Stampeders.com or call 403-289-0258 to speak with a customer service representative.