Maybe it’s the long field goal try from last year’s West Division Semi-Final Winnipeg Blue Bomber fans remember most.

Others recall the brilliant efforts by Matt Nichols or Ryan Smith, even in defeat. Or BC Lions’ quarterback Jonathon Jennings running for the winning score with 66 seconds remaining.

Yours truly? I remember being in a morose Bombers locker room afterward speaking to Jamaal Westerman, who fought – and failed – to hold back tears at the sudden and abrupt end to the 2016 season.

And so there we found ourselves again Sunday morning after the first training camp session leading into 2017, and recalling that moment once again.

“You know what it was?” began the Bombers veteran defensive end. “Throughout the season, it’s the battles you go through and the guys you go through them with… and while you don’t think about it during the season, after that last game you look around the room and you know things are going to change.

“Some of the guys aren’t going to be around because other opportunities open up for them. Guys like Khalil (Bass, now in Ottawa), who made so many plays for two years or Tony (Burnett), who busted his ass on special teams for two years and now has an opportunity in B.C. At that moment, you don’t know who is going to be moving on, but you know it’s going to be someone.

“It’s not like you can just say, ‘OK, let’s go do it again.’ Football is such an aggressive game, you just never know when it could be your last game and you don’t want to miss out on opportunity.

“Time is fleeting, man.”

Westerman participates in the first day of training camp of the 2017 season (BlueBombers.com)

Just for the record, it was 196 days in between the Bombers’ last game – the Western Semi-Final loss to the Lions – and the opening of camp on Sunday at Investors Group Field.

And Westerman’s premonition proved to be true as the defence – particularly his compadres along the defensive line – underwent a massive changeover during the winter.

Bass and Burnett weren’t the only changes, as defensive tackles Keith Shologan (Montreal) and Euclid Cummings (Edmonton) and end Justin Cole (free agent) are gone, while Garrett Waggoner retired.

That said, there is a good chunk of the core back from last year’s squad, particularly on offence. And they have brought a hunger with them from the off-season that was obvious from the moment they stepped on the field as a collective Sunday morning.

“There’s definitely some (sense) of redemption,” said running back Andrew Harris. “I know we started slow (last year), but we put it together midway through the season and we started to get some traction. Obviously we fell short last year, but just building off what we did last year is crucial. Having all the same guys in that locker room and in that huddle is definitely beneficial.

“There’s definitely a sour taste in the mouth, absolutely. But we’ve got to move forward. It’s a new season and we’ve got to keep building off the things that we’re good at and get better at the things we’re not.”

“I think about it all the time, too,” added head coach Mike O’Shea of the playoff loss. “It’s a great learning experience. The feeling is what sticks with you. No matter how the game ends, it’s the same feeling for every team that doesn’t win the Grey Cup: it’s over before you think it should be.

“Our guys believed that we were going to play in and win the Grey Cup. They’ll have that belief again this year.”

That’s the thing about Day 1 of training camp. It’s a chance to reset for those who return. And for all the newcomers, it’s a bit like the first day at a new school.

“It’s exciting,” said defensive tackle Drake Nevis after a couple of years with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. “It’s exciting to learn a new system and get a new playbook. Man, the guys, the coaches and having their support… it’s making my transition easy.

“Until you really figure out how everything functions it does feel like the first day of school. You just want to buy in.”

Harris is looking forward to 2017 after disappointing ending to the 2016 season (BlueBombers.com)

BOMBER TRAINING CAMP – Day 1

FYI: The Bombers Day 1 depth chart features 88 players, not including the four members of the Winnipeg Rifles – receivers Xander Tachinski and Brendan Naujoks, defensive back Andrew Ricard and running back Micheal Ritchott – and QB school participant Andre Dueck of the Vincent Massey Trojans.

Walking wounded: DB Kevin Fogg and DT Ian Marouf were on the field, but did not participate on Sunday. Fogg is coming off off-season surgery and the team does not want to rush him back onto the field while Marouf, a 2017 draft pick, is also nursing a lower-body injury.

Extra eyes: The Bombers training camp guest coaches include former defensive coordinator Greg Marshall, now at Queen’s, Jeff Stead of the Edmonton Wildcats, long-time NFL assistant Paul Boudreau, Sr. – his son Paul Boudreau is the special teams coordinator – along with Ryan Bechmanis and J.P. Asselin of Carleton.

Standing out: Players who jumped off the page from this perch on Day 1: receivers Weston Dressler, Darvin Adams, Matt Coates and Gerrard Sheppard, defensive end Tristan Okpalaugo, linebacker/DB Maurice Leggett and defensive back Robert Porter.

The fans in attendance on a cool, drizzly morning cheered every long completion.

“We’re an excited group,” said Andrew Harris. “Offensively, we were flying around. Usually, the first couple of days the defence dominates. Anyone that watched practice saw that we made some plays today. It was definitely a great day.”

Blue notes: For what it’s worth, the Bombers No. 1 offence began Sunday’s sesson with Sheppard lining up in Ryan Smith’s old slotback spot and with Kyle Knox at middle linebacker on defence… Justin Medlock crushed a field goal with ease from 55-yards out early in the day… Former Bomber K Sergio Castillo officially signed with the Ticats on Sunday. He was one of three kickers brought aboard.

Quotable: “He’s got that swagger, he’s got that confidence, he’s got that toughness and that chip on his shoulder still. Sometimes when guys get that starting job they start to get a little comfortable. You can’t ever get comfortable in this league or in sports in general. The guys who play with that edge and that spirit are the ones who are successful and I couldn’t ask for a better guy with all those aspects.” – Harris, commenting on QB Matt Nichols