.jpg) Fleming with theBC Lions in 1960 | |
| Profile | |
|---|---|
| Position | Running back |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1939-02-02)February 2, 1939 (age 86) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 183 lb (83 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Iowa |
| NFL draft | 1961: 14th round, 196th overall pick |
| Career history | |
| 1959–1966 | BC Lions |
| Awards and highlights | |
| |
Canadian Football Hall of Fame (Class of 1982) | |
Willie Fleming (born February 2, 1939) is an American former professionalfootball player with theCanadian Football League (CFL)'sBC Lions. Fleming playedcollegiately as ahalfback at theUniversity of Iowa, where he was a member of theHawkeyes'1959 Rose Bowl championship team. He is a member of theCanadian Football Hall of Fame, theBC Sports Hall of Fame, and theBC Lions Wall of Fame. Fleming's number 15 jersey is one of eight numbersretired by the Lions.[1] In 2003, Fleming was voted a member of theBC Lions All-Time Dream Team as part of the club's 50th anniversary celebration.[2] In 2006, Fleming was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL'sTop 50 players of the league's modern era by Canadian sports networkTSN.[3]
Fleming earned the nickname "The Wisp" or "Will 'o the Wisp" because of his elusive running style.[4]
Fleming playedhalfback atHamtramck High School in Detroit, winning All-City honors in 1956. His Head Coach wasBabe Dimancheff.
In 1957, Fleming began his college career at theUniversity of Iowa, where he was eventually named anAssociated Press First Team All-Big Ten player in 1958. In1958, Fleming helped the Hawkeyes to a 6-0-1 Big Ten clinching victory over theUniversity of Minnesota, and ledthe team in scoring.[5][6]
In 1959, Fleming and the 7-1-1 Hawkeyes defeated theUniversity of California (and Fleming's future BC Lions teammate,quarterbackJoe Kapp) 38–12, in the1959 Rose Bowl.[7] Fleming scored 2rushingtouchdowns in the game, and finished with 85 yards on 9 attempts.[8]
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Following the 1959 Rose Bowl, Fleming joined theCanadian Football LeagueBC Lions for the1959 season. By1960, 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]
In1963, Fleming and Kapp led the Lions to a 12–4 record and theCFL Western Division championship.[9] The Lions next faced theHamilton Tiger-Cats in the 1963 CFL ChampionshipGrey Cup. During the1963 Grey Cup game, Fleming was involved in a widely discussed and controversial play as he was hit by Ti-Catdefensive linemanAngelo Mosca, 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 BC Lions again faced the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the1964 Grey Cup. TheLions 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 the1964 season, Fleming scored the longest touchdown run from scrimmage (109 yards) against theEdmonton Eskimos, a CFL record that still stands.[11]
Fleming retired from the CFL and the BC Lions following the1966 season. Fleming retired as a CFL All-Star in1963, a three-timeCFL Western Division All-Star, and was named the most popular BC Lions Player three times. After sitting out the 1967 season, Fleming attempted a comeback with theMinnesota Vikings in 1968, but was released before the regular season began. Fleming was inducted into theCanadian Football Hall of Fame in 1982.[10] In2003, Fleming was voted a member of theBC Lions All-Time Dream Team, at therunning 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 networkTSN.[3]
| Year | Team | GP | Rush | Yards | Y/R | Lg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | BC Lions | 16 | 110 | 774 | 7.0 | 52 | 3 |
| 1960 | BC Lions | 16 | 125 | 1051 | 8.4 | 98 | 10 |
| 1961 | BC Lions | 15 | 96 | 468 | 4.9 | 64 | 2 |
| 1962 | BC Lions | 16 | 139 | 993 | 7.1 | 97 | 7 |
| 1963 | BC Lions | 16 | 127 | 1234 | 9.7 | 97 | 5 |
| 1964 | BC Lions | 16 | 129 | 750 | 5.8 | 109 | 6 |
| 1965 | BC Lions | 15 | 93 | 595 | 6.4 | 30 | 2 |
| 1966 | BC Lions | 16 | 49 | 260 | 5.3 | 29 | 3 |
| CFL Totals | 868 | 6125 | 7.1 | 109 | 38 |
Retired from theCFL since1967, Fleming currently resides inBedford, Ohio and stays busy working out three times a week, keeping in shape.
