NFF National Scholar-Athletes
Doug Flutie was an exciting player who was also a playmaker. He creatively avoided the rush with his legs to find open receivers, or scrambled to gain vital first down yardage. At only 5-9, Doug Flutie was considered too small to become a major college quarterback. While he lettered in three sports at Natick (MA) High School, no major school showed any interest in him. He planned to attend the University of New Hampshire when Boston College offered their final scholarship to him in 1981. With his size many felt he was more suited to play defensive back as he began his freshman season as the team's number five quarterback. But he quickly worked himself up the depth chart and became a starter within six weeks. Playing in nine games, he finished the year as the nation's number nine passer. Still a bit raw and inexperienced as a sophomore he threw 20 interceptions. However, he showed flashes of brilliance as he threw for 520 yards against Penn State. He led BC to an 8-3-1 record and the school's first bowl appearance in 40 years. In the bowl game he won game MVP honors in a losing effort. The following year he became one of the nation's elite players as he placed third in the Heisman voting and was a second-team All-America. The Eagles went 9-3 appearing in the Liberty Bowl where he once again performed well in a losing effort. He put his stamp on the 1984 season as the nation's best player and Heisman Trophy winner. Any doubt to his winning the trophy was ended with his last second 48-yard touchdown pass against Miami. The play has become one of college football's most memorable and replayed moments.
His pro career was equally as interesting as he played in the USFL, NFL and CFL before returning to the NFL over a 21-year period. While playing in Canada he was a six-time CFL player of the Year. On November 17, 2006, Flutie was named the greatest Canadian Football League player of all time from a top 50 list of CFL players conducted by TSN. In 2007 he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, the first non-Canadian member. Flutie is also a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.
Since 2011, he has been a commentator for NBC Sports Network. Flutie is currently the color analyst for NBC broadcasts of Notre Dame football.
