#Heisman December 2
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The Heisman Trophy will be awarded next Saturday (December 14, 2019) in New York City. I have no inside info on who will win it this year but I do know that I had a memorable experience meeting a former Heisman Trophy winner in 2009.
On March 17, 2009 I got a special treat. I got to interact with former Boston College and NFL Quarterback Doug Flutie. Doug also happens to be the 1984 Heisman Trophy Winner .
He came to UNC Pembroke to be part of the 2009 Distinguished Speaker Series. I have a picture somewhere of the two of us on campus that day. He was very gracious the entire time he was on campus. I have an autographed poster of his appearance on campus that use to hang prominently in my office. Today it is in my home.
Poster from Doug Flutie
Doug is a football great, who is remembered for the last second “Hail Mary” that defeated Miami in 1984.
When he came to campus he visited the UNCP spring football practice and spoke to the players and coaches.
Photo below (l-r) Dr. Allen Meadors, Doug Flutie, and then UNCP Football Coach Pete Shinnick-March 2009 at a spring football practice.
Doug taped an interview in the studios of WNCP-TV and had dinner with students and fans in the Chancellor’s Dining Room. I was also part of that dinner. Everything went according to the plan he agreed to in his contract until after his talk concluded. When his talk was completed his obligations to UNC Pembroke were over. Classy people often deliver more than what is expected. Doug Flutie did that for UNC Pembroke.
Nick Phillips who is a UNC Pembroke Grad and now employed by the American Conference wrote a blog about his experience back in 2009.
During his talk someone asked him a question about playing some touch football with his intramural team after the talk. Doug responded by saying he didn’t bring any workout clothes. The student who asked the question got up in a huff and left.
He said that after his talk he would sign autographs. He was a model of patience, signing autographs for an hour in the Givens Performing Arts Center after speaking. When the last person received the autograph there was the student who asked the question about playing touch football holding work out gear and shoes. “I guess I’m playing football later,” Doug said according to the Fayetteville Observer who was covering the event.
He proceeded to join a few UNCP Students on the Lumbee Hall Field which is located just north of Lumbee Hall and adjacent to Sammy Cox Baseball Field. The news got out and before long 50-60 students came out by midnight. At the end of the game, Doug bought pizza for everybody.
The students were posing for photos and everybody had a great time.
Picture of Doug Flutie on Lumbee Hall field after a game of football.
One of the students asked him to throw him a pass. The student said he always wanted to say he caught a pass from Doug Flutie. Doug responded by saying he would, as long as the student didn’t say it was ‘the pass.”
Doug Flutie is one of the classy people I have ever met.
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