Last week Paul Brule, Frank Cosentino, Scott Flory, the late Tom Hugo, Hank Ilesic, Brent Johnson and Barren Miles were inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
Montreal native Brule starred at St. Francis Xavier in the 1960’s as a fullback and defensive half. He set records for rushing with more than 1,000 yards and 20 touchdowns. He scored eight in a single game. His 51 career majors is still the Canadian university record. Brule is a reminder that the Hall is the Canadian Football Hall of Fame not just the CFL Hall of Fame.
University of Western Ontario quarterback Cosentino played on the great Hamilton teams of the ’60s backing up Bernie Faloney and Joe Zuger. He appeared in five Grey Cup games winning two. He spent two years in Edmonton, one with the Argos. He coached his alma mater to Vanier Cup titles in 1972 and ’74. Elected as a builder, he excelled at research on Canadian football. He has been a tireless promoter of Canadian quarterbacks.
Regina-born Flory was drafted out of the University of Saskatchewan in 1998, played 15 seasons with Montreal, appearing in eight Grey Cups, winning three. He was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman twice and was an all-star nine times. He won two Vanier Cups as a a player and now coaches the University Saskatchewan Huskies.
Defensive end Johnson spent 11 seasons with B.C. From Kingston, Ont. he won a Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl with Ohio State along with two Grey Cups, three all-star nods and the Most Outstanding Canadian award, 2005-06, and Most Outstanding Defensive Player honours in 2006. The experts say he proved a Canadian could play the position. I guess they never heard of Roughrider Bill “the Undertaker” Baker or Calgary’s Dick Suderman.
Defensive back Miles spent seven years with Montreal and five with B.C., 1998-2009. He is second all-time with 66 interceptions, holds the record for blocked kicks with 13. The six-time all-star won two Grey Cups.
The late Hugo spent seven years with Als in the ’50’s, snapping the ball to quarterback Sam Etcheverry who threw to Hal Patterson. He was an all-star six times, five of them both offence and defence.
To me, Ilesic is the most interesting. Only the second player to be inducted solely as a punter — the other is Bomber Bob Cameron. The Edmontonian won seven Grey Cups, five as part of the great Campbell dynasty and two as an Argo. He made all-star eight times.
“I was 17 years old when I began my career with the Eskimos while at the same time attending St. Joseph’s Composite High School,” he said. “I had a lot of idols on that club. The older players went out of their way to make me feel welcome.”
Despite his youth, he was nobody’s fool. A part of five Grey Cup champion teams, 1978-82, he knew his worth and had a falling out with Eskimo GM Norm Kimball. “I had a difficult time with my contract situation. It got to be pretty dirty.” Great Ti-Cat executive Ralph Sazio had moved down the road to Toronto where he rebuilt the perennially woeful Argos. He needed a punter. At 23 years, the six-season veteran went east.
“I was very fortunate that, because of my age, I had a second chance,” he said.
Every time the Argos played in his hometown he was booed unmercifully. “It is something you learn to accept, but the more they booed the more pumped up I got,” he told me at the time. In his first year in Double Blue he won the first Grey Cup staged at B.C. Place. Lion coach Don Matthews credited the young punter with the win.
Considering the importance of the position, it is surprising Ilesic is only the second pure punter called to the hall. His compatriot Bob Cameron was cut by several teams before finding a home in Winnipeg. Self-taught, he said few people understand the punter’s art.
The first great punter I saw was Saskatchewan’s Glen Dobbs. Ti-Cat Joe Zuger was best into the wind, Calgary’s Rob Maver at placement. Ilesic had the greatest hang-time and tremendous distance.
Graham Kelly has covered the CFL for the Medicine Hat News for 46 years. Feedback for this column can be emailed to sports@medicinehatnews.com.
