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Willie Fleming

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For other people named William Fleming, see William Fleming (disambiguation).

{{{1}}} {{{3}}} Willie "The Wisp" Fleming (born February 2, 1939 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League British Columbia Lions. Fleming played collegiately as a halfback at the University of Iowa, where he was a member of the Hawkeye's 1959 Rose Bowl championship team. He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame, and the B.C. Lions Wall of Fame. Fleming's #15 jersey is one of eight numbers retired by the Lions.[1] In 2003, Fleming was voted a member of the B.C. Lions All-Time Dream Team as part of the club’s 50 year anniversary celebration.[2] In 2006, Fleming was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL's Top 50 players of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN.[3]

Fleming earned the nickname, "The Wisp" or "Will 'o the Wisp," because of his elusive running style.[4]

High School and College Career

Fleming played halfback at Hamtramck High School in Detroit, winning All-City honors in 1956.

In 1957, Fleming began his college career at the University of Iowa, where he was eventually named an Associated Press First Team All-Big Ten player in 1958. In 1958, Fleming helped the Hawkeyes to a 6-0-1 Big Ten clinching victory over the University of Minnesota, and led the team in scoring.[5][6]

In 1959, Fleming and the 7-1-1 Hawkeyes defeated the University of California (and Fleming's future B.C. Lions teammate, quarterback Joe Kapp) 38-12, in the 1959 Rose Bowl.[7] Fleming scored 2 rushing touchdowns in the game, and finished with 85 yards on 9 attempts.[8]

Professional career

Following the 1959 Rose Bowl, Fleming joined the Canadian Football League B.C. Lions for the 1959 season. By 1960, he became the first Lion to eclipse 1,000 yards rushing with 1,051 yards on 125 carries for an 8.4 yard average.[9]

In 1963, Fleming and Kapp led the Lions to a 12-4 record and the CFL Western Division championship.[9] The Lions next faced the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 1963 CFL Championship Grey Cup. During the 1963 Grey Cup game, Fleming was involved in a widely discussed and controversial play as he was hit by Ti-Cat defensive lineman Angelo Mosca, allegedly while Fleming was out of bounds, resulting in Fleming's absence from the remainder of the game (and a trip to the hospital).[9][10] Despite a disappointing end to the season (the Lions lost to the Tiger-Cats, 21-10), Fleming had his finest season as a professional football player, as he rushed for 1,234 yards on 127 carries for an incredible 9.7 yard average.[9]

The following year, Fleming and the Lions would get their revenge, as the B.C. Lions again faced the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 1964 Grey Cup. The Lions won their first CFL championship 34-24, and Fleming scored a game-breaking touchdown on a 68 yard scoring run over Mosca's position.[10] Earlier in the 1964 season, Fleming scored the longest touchdown run from scrimmage (109 yards) against the Edmonton Eskimos, a CFL record that still stands.[11]

Fleming retired from the CFL and the B.C. Lions following the 1966 season. Fleming retired as a CFL All-Star in 1963, a three-time CFL Western Division All-Star, and was named the most popular B.C. Lions Player three times. Fleming was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1982.[10] In 2003, Fleming was voted a member of the B.C. Lions All-Time Dream Team, at the running back position, as part of the club’s 50 year anniversary celebration.[2] In November, 2006, Fleming was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL's top 50 players of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN.[3]

Post-Football Life

Retired from the CFL since 1967, Fleming currently resides in Montgomery, Alabama and stays busy keeping up with two of his six grandchildren.[11]

References

  1. ^ "B.C. Lions Retired Numbers". BCLions.com. Retrieved 2006-08-20.
  2. ^ a b "B.C. Lions Dream Team". BCLions.com. Retrieved 2006-09-10.
  3. ^ a b "TSN Top 50 Honour Roll". TSN.ca. 2006-11-28. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
  4. ^ "Canadian Football Hall of Fame: Willie Fleming". Canadian Football Hall of Fame & Museum. 1982. Retrieved 2006-08-26.
  5. ^ "Top Ten (College Football)". TIME.com. 1958-11-17. Retrieved 2006-08-26. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ "2005 Iowa Hawkeye's Football Media Guide - Year-by-Year Scoring Records" (PDF). 2005. Retrieved 2006-09-05.
  7. ^ "Rose Bowl Game Photo Timeline: 1950-1959". Pasadena Tournament of Roses. Retrieved 2006-08-26.
  8. ^ "2005 Iowa Hawkeye's Football Media Guide - Iowa Bowl History (1959 Rose Bowl)" (PDF). 2005. Retrieved 2006-09-05.
  9. ^ a b c d "CFL: A Historical Look - Willie Fleming (B.C. Lions)". CFL: A Historical Look (Fan Site). Retrieved 2006-08-26.
  10. ^ a b c "BC Sports Hall of Fame - Willie Fleming". BC Sports Hall of Fame.com. Retrieved 2006-08-26.
  11. ^ a b Corben, Len (2006-08-02). "Rings of Glory". Vancouver Courier. Retrieved 2006-08-26. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

Sources

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