Flory poised for Hall of Fame induction
He won a Vanier Cup at the University of Saskatchewan and three Grey Cups with the Montreal Alouettes. Tonight, Scott Flory will join the greatest football team ever assembled in Canada.
Flory will be inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame with punter Hank Ilesic, late centre/linebacker Tom Hugo, defensive lineman Brent Johnson and defensive back Barron Miles. Former quarterback Frank Cosentino goes in as a builder while Paul Brule will be honoured for his outstanding amateur career.
“It’s elite company, that’s for sure, and that’s the part that hits you,” Flory said. “When you grow up an absolute fan of the game, you recognize, ‘Hey wait, I’m going into the Hall of Fame with former Alouettes players like Peter Dalla Riva (1993).’
“I also get to go in with a bunch of teammates like Anthony Calvillo (2017), Mike Pringle (2008), Pierre Vercheval (2007), Uzooma Okeke (2014). It’s pretty special.”
Flory, 41, of Regina, was a nine-time allstar over 15 seasons with Montreal (19992013). The six-foot-four, 300-pound guard was the CFL’s top lineman in 2008-09 and helped the Alouettes win three Grey Cups (2002, 09-10). The former CFL Players’ Association president is now the head coach at his alma mater.
Montreal selected Flory in the third round, No. 15 overall, in the 1998 draft. He attended training camp but returned to school and helped the Huskies win the Vanier Cup.
Flory and Miles were Montreal teammates (1999 to 2004) before Miles finished his career with the B.C. Lions (2005-2009). Miles, 46, is in his third season as the Edmonton Eskimos’ defensive backs coach.
Flory and Miles are also among a group of former Alouettes players now coaching. Others include Calvillo (Toronto Argonauts quarterback coach), Ben Cahoon (assistant coach at Brigham Young, his alma mater), Ed Philion (Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive line coach) and Bryan Chiu (Ottawa Redblacks offensive line coach).
“It’s tremendous to think you’re on the same field, same team, in the same meeting room, on the same practice field with these types of players,” Miles said. “There’s been many people from that team (Alouettes) inducted into the Hall of Fame. It’s a mindset and I guess I had the upper hand being with such great guys.”
Added Flory: “We were just a bunch of guys who loved football. We all got to spend time with two of the best in Don Matthews and Marc Trestman.
“When you love football and get to be around guys like that and see the positive effect they can have on a group of men, it drives me toward wanting to do it.”
Today, Flory finds himself repeating many of the same cliches and time-tested phrases his former coaches used on him when he played.
“That’s so true,” Flory said with a chuckle. “I’ll say something and think ‘Oh man, I remember when (former Als coach) Doug Berry used to say stuff like that,’ and Marc Trestman and Don, the same kind of thing.
“That just shows the impact coaches can have on players. I just want to be able to play it forward to these guys.”
Flory is also pleased his wife Natasha, sons Ty (14) and Eli (12) and daughter Evan (eight) will attend the induction ceremony in Hamilton.
“My kids all saw me play and got to be part of it, even my daughter who was six months old when I won my last Grey Cup,” he said. “We have pictures and (the Grey Cup) was actually at our house and the boys took it to their school.”