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Lui Passaglia holds almost every career record for kicking and points, and lasted an amazing 25 years in one of the most punishing sports in the world. Generations of football fans have seen him put on the B.C. Lions jersey and kick the ball thousands of times in hundreds of games. Passaglia retired last fall after helping the Lions win the 2000 Grey Cup. |
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What will you miss the most about the game? I think playing the games themselves. I loved the preparation and training it took to be ready for game day. I will also miss the many relationships with the players. How did you keep yourself in the game so long physically? Passion for the game. I just wanted to play and do whatever it took to keep playing. I always treated the game the same as I did as a young boy growing up in the East End of Vancouver, having fun playing the game. What was the biggest kick of your career? It wasn't so much one kick, but three plays in our Grey Cup games. The second-last field goal against Baltimore in 1994 would probably be number one, followed by the last field goal of the 2000 game, then by the non-kick in 1985 where I had to run on third down in the game against Hamilton. What's your shoe size? Normally I wear a size 11 shoe, but when I kick I use a 10 shoe. Why the smaller size? You feel the ball better. You feel more of the impact on the ball. You are almost one with the ball I guess, if you were to use a Zen idea. You've set many records. What are you most proud of? I am most proud of the points record, but I'm more proud of holding on to two kicking jobs. There are maybe a handful of guys that have done that: to be a punter and field goal kicker for 25 years-- it's two careers. ThatŐs what I'm really proud of. A lot of guys have a hard enough time with one, but I've been fortunate enough to hold on to both jobs. When were you hardest hit in a game? Actually there were two hits of equal magnitude. My rookie exhibition season I was playing receiver and I caught a pass. During training camp one of the veterans told me that if you catch a pass, don't take the ball up the middle, take it outside, use the sidelines, or go down early. I had a lot of nerve back then; I guess I thought I was invincible. I took the short pass and tried to run it up the middle and a middle linebacker was coming from the other side and hit me pretty good. I went into the huddle and I could see birds flying by and stars in the air, and that sort of thing. I tried to suck it up but I don't remember what the next play was! The other one was when I played as a kicker. We were playing against Edmonton and I was punting to Gizmo (Edmonton player Henry "Gizmo" Williams) and then running down field. There was a big pileup and Gizmo hit the pile, and I'm thinking there is no way he's coming through there so I slowed down to a halt. The next thing I know, he's running full speed through that pile of bodies and I was standing there flat-footed, then I'm falling backwards and he's basically running all over my chest and face. He ran right over me. I think I had cleat marks up and down the front of my jersey. What's your attitude toward rookies? Especially during training camp, as much as you are trying to coach the young kids, they're after your job. You are teammates, but when it comes down to show time, there's no mercy. They are always younger; you are always out there trying to make sure the coaches know that no matter how old you are, you're still better than the young gun trying to take your job. As a lifetime Lion, what do you think is going to happen next year with the team? I like the fact that we've got a truly proven quarterback and an offence coming back pretty well intact. If we can make the investment in other areas on the team, I've got to say, Two-Peat! How have you and your family dealt with your high profile? I have been fortunate enough to be treated like the friend next door. Even though I have been recognized, people have always been nice to my family and me. They may look up to me as a professional athlete, but I have never felt anything other than being a part of a community of friends. What's next on the agenda, what's your next big challenge? To continue the passion that I had for the game in other areas of my life. I've worked at other jobs along the way, but I've never given them the same time or the same amount of passion that I had for the game of football because football was more consuming. I want to continue the passion that I had for the game in family and business. Have you ever thought about running for political office? Throughout my career, I have been asked a few times and I've never considered it enough to actually throw my hat into the ring. That is not to say that someday, maybe down the road, with a little experience and more time to devote to those matters, who knows. Never say never. Who was your hero when you were growing up? I didn't realize it when I was younger, but as I aged I came to know my parents as my true heroes. What was your best moment at Simon Fraser University? The proudest moment was getting a degree on the day of convocation. My wife and I both graduated the same day. Do you feel that your academic training at SFU had any bearing on your career or plans? Yes. Coming out of high school as a young kid, I didn't know where I was going in my life. I made up my mind after my second year that I wanted to get my bachelor's degree and focus on geography. After graduation I taught for a little while on the side, but never really got into it full-time. Because of that I have had opportunities in other lines of business, other than the dream I had at the time of being a teacher. It gave me the opportunity to make connections with individuals who would help me with my business career in the future. If you could go back 25 years is there anything you would do differently? No, but I've been told I should have tried for the National Football League when I was younger. That is about the only thing I might do differently--as long as it was guaranteed I could come back and play 25 years. If that wasn't the case, then I wouldn't trade anything. aq |
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