Born in Manchester (Maryland) in 1962 from Lebanese American parents, Doug Flutie got to know about sports since his school years (at Natick, Massachusetts) where he used to play football, basketball and baseball. He started practicing intensively, as a fan, American football at Boston College, and became part of the team between 1981 and 1984. During this period, he became known on the national level: in 1984, during a game against Miami Hurricanes, he did at the last seconds, a pass that led to his team’s victory. The game, broadcast on CBS the day after Thanksgiving’s, was watched by an important number of viewers all over the country. That was the beginning of Doug Flutie’s fame. He started his career as a professional player in 1985 at the United States Football League (USFL) with the New Jersey Generals. The following year, he entered the national League with Bears de Chicago, then in 1987, with the New England Patriots.
A Canadian Adventure
After spending two seasons with New England Patriots, Flutie became an autonomous player and joined the Canadian Football League at the Lions of British Colombia. His contract value amounted to USD 350,000 per season: he was the best paid player of the Canadian League. He wore the colors of BC Lions from 1991 to 1991, switching them later with the Stampeders de Calgary’s between 1992 and 1995. It is with this latter team that he gained his first Grey Cup in 1992. The Canadian career of Doug Flutie lasted for eight years after which he came back to the United States at the NFL where he joined the Buffalo (from 1998 to 2000) and San Diego (from 2001 to 2004), ending his career with the New England Patriots. Today, the former player usually attends basketball games at the university he went to, Boston College.
Fight against Autism
Married with Laurie Fortier, his school love, Flutie has a daughter called Alexa and a boy called Doug Junior, suffering from autism. To held parents who are facing this disease, Doug and his wife have established the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism. Doug Flutie has, as well, launched a cereal brand, Flutie Flakes, which profits are given to the said foundation.
The Flutie Factor
The decisive pass made by Flutie in 1984 during the game against Miami Hurricane (called the “Hail Mary” pass) made him famous and raised the number of candidacies to Boston College. This created the so called “Flutie Factor”, a phenomenon according to which an outstanding sports team can raise high the name of a university. It is to be mentioned that in 1984, Doug Flutie was finalist on the list of Rhodes scholarship. After obtaining his diploma from the Boston College, he was granted a post-diploma scholarship proposed by the National Football Foundation.
