Team: Calgary Stampeders
Number/Position: #76 / DT
Date of Birth: Dec. 5, 1971
Prior to the start of the 2003 season, the last time
Joe Fleming was on a football field was in Montreal
as he, along with his teammates, celebrated their most
surprising Grey Cup victory in 2001. Not an easy task,
taking time away from the most rugged of sports. But
that is exactly what Fleming did for the 2002 season.
Took the whole year off, in fact. First question would
be why? Let's let Joe tell us how it felt. "It
felt good to be away from the game for 1 year because
I got to spend time with my family and let my body heal.
My not playing made me realize how much I truly missed
playing football and what a great game the CFL is. During
this time I started my own business back in Boston."
Business or no business, the lure of the CFL brought
Fleming back to the Stamps for another run at a Grey
Cup ring. Coming back was the easy part - it was trying
not to draw comparisons to the team he last played with
that may have been difficult. But Fleming took it all
in stride. "It was very easy coming back because
there were several guys I had played with and against
who welcomed me back and this made the transition easier,"
Joe offered. "It is hard to compare this year's
team to any other because you have so many different
personalities. In 2001 we were less talented and played
with tremendous heart and determination which is how
the game must be played." Showing just how much
he had picked up where he left off, heading into Week
15 of the current season, Fleming led all CFL sack-masters
by registering 10 takedowns.
That 2001 Stampeder team survived a so-so regular season
only to catch fire in the playoffs. Their season was
capped inside a muggy Olympic Stadium on a late November
night by upsetting a heavily favoured Blue Bombers team.
But Joe Fleming learned a valuable lesson that night
that may have some influence on this year's team and
more importantly how it finishes 2003. "I do see
us making a run at the playoffs and the Grey Cup. The
big lesson I learned from 2001 is that anything can
happen in the CFL. Our true test will be consistency
down the stretch."
Consistency has been a big part of how the Stampeder
organization has operated over the last number of years.
They boast some of the most faithful fans in all the
CFL and Joe Fleming would like nothing better than to
reward that faith with yet another sip from the Grey
Cup. "Our fans are the best, just look in the stands
every week at 30,000 plus and its clear that they are
the best as well as knowledgeable. Calgary fans truly
appreciate CFL football and are extremely supportive
of the players."
Easy to see why Joe wanted to come back.
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