THE CANADIAN PRESS
Even Hall of Fame careers can have the modest inauspicious beginnings.
Wally Buono recalls driving to his first Alouettes training camp. He drove back home the very same day.
“My wife says ‘They cut you already?’ It was just a mix-up, they wanted us to report the next day.”
Uzooma Okeke’s pro career was salvaged by the legendary Packer Forrest Gregg, coaching the Shreveport Pirates during US expansion of the CFL. Then-Commissioner Larry Smith could not have known Okeke would become a pillar for the rebirth of his beloved Alouettes franchise.
| Fond Memories |
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Als fans and CFL fans alike will take a trip down memory lane this weekend, as the Alouettes celebrate the careers of inductees Wally Buono, Ben Cahoon, and Uzooma Okeke during Sunday’s Hall of Fame game between the Als and Stamps. |
Ben Cahoon, a “Rudy”-like walk-on at BYU was so anxious to make it in the CFL he ignored the Argos’ advice to keep his highlight package to himself so they could make him a Draft Day sleeper pick. The man who would become known as “Velcro Hands” quickly made sure Montreal knew he was eligible.
So it is that one man protected the all-time leading passer in pro football’s blindside so Calvillo could throw to a receiver who could probably get open and catch passes with his eyes closed. Together “Uzo” and Ben would help end a 25-year Grey Cup Victory drought dating back to Wally Buono picking up on the late Tony Proudfoot’s idea to blast staples in their shoes in the 1977 “Staple Game.”
“It was unique how Marv (Pro Football Hall of Famer Marv Levy) trusted us and empowered Rod Rust and Dick Roach to us trust us veterans,” Wally says of years he, Proudfoot, Randy Rhino or Chuck Zapiec would signal calls to the sideline rather than vice versa.
“They gave ownership to us and we had a lot of verbal confrontations on what was best, but we had a lot of cerebral guys. Guys took it seriously.”
Maybe instead of busts, “Uzo” and “Velcro Hands” should have models of their hands unveiled. If that’s the case, longtime teammate Ed Philion suggests Okeke’s should be in the form of a clenched fist.
“He had a punch that would collapse your chest,” the longtime Alouette defensive tackle, now D-line coach for the Edmonton Eskimos reveals. “He had a short fuse too, so Uz was a great player. He had the ability to show up week in and week out; he deserves the accolades and he was a helluva teammate — a guy you knew had your back.”
“Later in his career they moved him inside (from tackle to guard) and he made practice miserable at times for me,” chuckles Philion, thankful he never had to face “The Creature” in game action. “I liked it when he stayed out on the edge — let someone else have to deal with him.”
“I’m so proud of him,” raves CFLPA president Scott Flory. “When I came in as a rookie Uz was an established vet and it was just impressive to watch this guy work.
“Okeke would just demoralize guys the way he stoned them at the line,” recalls the fellow former bodyguard, who may have dubbed Uz with a curious nickname.
“The Creature”, reveals Flory. “Roadtrips he would never see the light of day, he’d just go in his room and hibernate until gametime. It worked for him. He was a leader and tough and gave us a chance to win.”
Flory carpooled to practise with Cahoon for years and says for all the Grey Cup catches, he’ll remember the fun that alleviated the daily grind.
“He’s a class act. Absolutely outstanding career, amazing human being, but typical Cahoon he’d design these endzone celebrations and wouldn’t have any part in them so he could be sitting in the background and laughing at them (Als receivers).”
“Like Uz it just seemed Ben never got hurt and was so smart and tough. I think it was Trestman who said they’re going to do an autopsy one day and find out Ben is really ‘Gumby’ the way he could contort his body.”
Cahoon may have had the best hands in the CFL modern era, but he also had an uncanny relationship with Calvillo.
“Each one knew what the other was doing and four eyes have to see the same thing,” recounts Flory. “Both guys knew what the other was going to do. They could read the body language.”
“I think what gets overlooked is his leadership,” counsels Philion. “Ben wasn’t a guy that said a whole lot in the locker room, but he practised every day like it was a game.”
Spectacular catches overshadow Cahoon’s prowess at the dark arts of blocking downfield and Philion cites the 2002 Grey Cup victory as evidence.
“He sprung Jermaine Copeland for a big gain and Ben was the guy who peeled back and ran about 50 yards to throw the key block, so those are the little things that go unnoticed. We all know how many balls he’s caught but it was leadership and commitment that shouldn’t be overlooked.”
As fate would have it, Philion crossed paths with Wally Buono as well.
“Wally was firm but fair,” Ed concedes. “He drafted me in ’94 but I ended up playing 5 years in the NFL. I wouldn’t sign for what he was offering to move West but credit to him and the man he was, he traded me when he didn’t have to. He could have made me sit out a year and the rest is history in Montreal.”
“In that dual role (coach & GM) he had to compartmentalize and everybody knew how he was negotiating, but they still played for him and that’s a credit to him.”
“Guys ran through walls for him and only a few guys can do that in a dual role—he was the best of them.”
“I’m happy for him, he deserves it. He’s been successful at every level as a player, coach and now executive.”
“I just wish he’d retire,” suggests agent Darren Gill, perhaps only half-jokingly. Buono knows he’s reputed to drive hard bargains.
“I believe I’m tough on the agents and players,” Buono admits. “At the end of negotiations I got to feel a bit of pain, but a little bit of gain too.”
“Bob Geary (Als GM of 70s) was tough on the guys, but always had a soft spot for his players.”
