Education
University of Iowa.
University of Iowa.
Fleming"s #15 jersey is one of eight numbers retired by the Lions. In 2006, Fleming was voted to the Honour Roll of the Canadian Football League"s Top 50 players of the league"s modern era by Canadian sports network TSN. Fleming earned the nickname, "The Wisp" or "Will "o the Wisp," because of his elusive running style. Fleming played halfback at Hamtramck High School in Detroit, winning All-City honors in 1956.
His Head Coach was Babe Dimancheff.
In 1957, Fleming began his college career at the University of Iowa, where he was eventually named an Associated Press First Team All-Big Ten player in 1958. In 1958, Fleming helped the Hawkeyes to a 6-0-1 Big Ten clinching victory over the University of Minnesota, and led the team in scoring.
In 1959, Fleming and the 7-1-1 Hawkeyes defeated the University of California (and Fleming"s future British Columbia Lions teammate, quarterback Joe Kapp) 38-12, in the 1959 Rose Bowl. Fleming scored 2 rushing touchdowns in the game, and finished with 85 yards on 9 attempts.
Following the 1959 Rose Bowl, Fleming joined the Canadian Football League British Columbia Lions for the 1959 season.
By 1960, he became the first Lion to eclipse 1,000 yards rushing with 1,051 yards on 125 carries for an 8.4 yard average. In 1963, Fleming and Kapp led the Lions to a 12-4 record and the Canadian Football League Western Division championship. Despite a disappointing end to the season (the Lions lost to the Tiger-Cats, 21-10), Fleming had his finest season as a professional football player, as he rushed for 1,234 yards on 127 carries for an incredible 9.7 yard average.
Earlier in the 1964 season, Fleming scored the longest touchdown run from scrimmage (109 yards) against the Edmonton Eskimos, a Canadian Football League record that still stands.
Fleming retired from the Canadian Football League and the British Columbia Lions following the 1966 season. Fleming retired as a Canadian Football League All-Star in 1963, a three-time Canadian Football League Western Division All-Star, and was named the most popular British Columbia Lions Player three times.
After sitting out the 1967 season, Fleming attempted a comeback with the Minnesota Vikings in 1968, but was released before the regular season began. Fleming was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1982.
In November, 2006, Fleming was voted to the Honour Roll of the Canadian Football League"s top 50 players of the league"s modern era by Canadian sports network TSN.
Retired from the Canadian Football League since 1967, Fleming currently resides in Bedford,Ohio and stays busy working out three times a week, Keeping in shape.
Fleming played collegiately as a halfback at the University of Iowa, where he was a member of the Hawkeye"s 1959 Rose Bowl championship team He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame, and the British Columbia Lions Wall of Fame. In 2003, Fleming was voted a member of the British Columbia Lions All-Time Dream Team as part of the club’s 50 year anniversary celebration.
In 2003, Fleming was voted a member of the British Columbia Lions All-Time Dream Team, at the running back position, as part of the club’s 50 year anniversary celebration.