Throwback Thursday

By: Devynn Brown

Football history has had many memorable players, but none like Doug Flutie.

Douglas Richard Flutie is one of the most inspirational football players in history. Flutie is a former quarterback in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League.

Flutie went to Natick High School where he was an exceptional student and participated in numerous sports. Flutie participated in football, baseball, and basketball.

Flutie had a dream of competing at a Division 1-A level, however colleges were hesitant to take him due to his small stature. Flutie was only 5’10 and 175 pounds. However, Boston College’s faith in drafting Flutie paid off, because he became one of the most memorable football players world wide.

Flutie lives by his quote, “I said I could do it. There’s no real application for it, but I could do it.”

Flutie is most memorable for his Hail Mary pass against Miami while playing for Boston college on November 23, 1984. Flutie’s team, the Boston College Eagles, went up against the University of Miami Hurricanes. The game is known as the “Hail Flutie” game and as “Miracle in Miami”. Flutie made an unforgettable 64-yard touchdown pass to Gerard Phelan to give the Eagles a thrilling 47-45 last-second win over the University of Miami before a crowd of 30,235 at the Orange Bowl.

The win for the Boston College Eagles resulted in them being ranked forth in the country. As for Flutie, he became the first college football quarterback ever to surpass 10,000 yards in a college career.

In November 2008 Boston College honored Flutie by awarding him a statue of his famous “Hail Mary” pass outside of Alumni Stadium. In addition, Flutie’s number, 22, was retired.

Flutie has been an inspiration to many athletes by overcoming doubts and putting in his all. Even after his outstanding college career he continued to succeed and in 2007 he was inducted into the College Hall of Fame.