Tony Proudfoot

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Tony Proudfoot
No. 23/27
Born:(1949-09-10)10 September 1949
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Died:30 December 2010(2010-12-30) (aged 61)
Montreal, Quebec
Career information
CFL statusNational
Position(s)DB
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight195 lb (88 kg)
UniversityNew Brunswick
High schoolJohn Rennie
CFL draft1971, Round: 4, Pick: 36
Drafted byMontreal Alouettes
Career history
As player
1971–1979Montreal Alouettes
1980–1982BC Lions
CFL East All-Star1977, 1979
HonorsGrey Cup - 1974, 1977
Career stats

John A. "Tony" Proudfoot

All-Star defensive back in the Canadian Football League, teacher, coach, broadcaster and journalist.[2][3][4]

He was a

Montreal Gazette. The courage, grace, and determination during his illness was widely admired.[5] He founded the Tony Proudfoot Fund for ALS Research at the ALS Society of Quebec, which raised over $500,000 for research into the disease.[6]

Early life

Proudfoot was born in

Winnipeg, Manitoba,[7] and later moved to Pointe-Claire, Quebec.[8] He attended John Rennie High School, graduating in 1966.[9] Proudfoot went on to study at the University of New Brunswick and played as a linebacker for the university's football team.[8] In 1970, he was nominated for the Hec Crighton Trophy, awarded annually to Canada's outstanding intercollegiate football player.[8] In 1971, Proudfoot graduated with a bachelor's degree in physical education.[7]

CFL career

Proudfoot was a Montreal Alouettes draft pick in 1971,[10] and played for them for nine seasons (1971–79, 107 games), including five Grey Cup championship games.[11] Proudfoot initially played as a linebacker, and was cut in that role. However, he was re-signed in 1973 and converted to a defensive back.[12] He played on the Alouette's 1974 Grey Cup winning team.[13] After missing much of the 1976 season because of injury, he moved to defensive half-back.[14] With time, Proudfoot and his fellow players became so experienced that they made the calls on the field; they signalled their plans to defensive coordinator Dick Roach in case he had to show that they were following his plans.[10] He and the team partied extensively in the bars and restaurants of Crescent Street.[10] In July 1977, his coach, Marv Levy, described Proudfoot as a "very smart football player ... [who] gets [the] very best out of himself" and who "isn't selfishly competing with his own teammates".[15] Proudfoot later reflected that his success in professional football was due to being able to work, learn, ask good questions and process information, as "I didn't have great ability".[16]

During the "

B.C. Lions.[19] He retired from the CFL at the end of the 1982 season.[20]

Teaching, coaching and broadcasting

During his playing career, Proudfoot began teaching physical education at

Concordia University and physical education at McGill.[2][7][16] Following his playing career, he received some coaching offers in the CFL, but decided to combine his teaching career, which provided financial stability, with coaching in Montreal.[20] Proudfoot coached youth community teams and school teams in Pointe-Claire, Lower Canada College as well as the Junior Alouettes and the Junior Concordes.[7][20] during the summers, he worked as waterfront director at Camp Nominingue in the Laurentians from 1987 to 1995.[21] For four years, he served as assistant coach for the Concordia Stingers, including 1998 when the Stingers reached the Vanier Cup.[7] Proudfoot also pursued further education, and received a master's degree in sports science at McGill University.[7][16]

When the Alouettes returned to the CFL in 1996, Proudfoot became the team's radio analyst on CJAD.[22] He served as assistant coach to Alouettes head coach Rod Rust in 2001, but continued to work as a broadcast analyst, never betraying the confidences of the team and its players during his broadcasts.[10]

In 2002, Proudfoot began planning a book to examine about which traits and qualities result in greatness in a CFL player.[23] Following several years of interviews, research and writing Proudfoot's book entitled "First and Goal: The CFL and the Pursuit of Excellence" was published in 2006.[23] The book includes insights from 44 coaches and players, including Dave Dickenson, Wally Buono and Geroy Simon. Jack Todd described the book as a "compelling analysis of all the factors that make the game entertaining and complex."[16][24]

Proudfoot saw some of the injured from his office window during the 2006 Dawson College shooting, and descended with his first aid kit. While the shooting continued and until a stretcher arrived about 15 minutes later, he tended to a student who had been shot in the head. The young man survived.[24][25]

Illness and death

Proudfoot first noticed that his speech was slurred while lecturing at Concordia University in February, 2007. A diagnosis of bulbar onset

nerve cells of the central nervous system leading to increasing paralysis of muscles that control voluntary movement and, eventually, death. Listeners to his broadcasts as a football analyst on CJAD noticed his speech disorder, and some suggested that he was drunk.[19][26][27] As a result, in June 2007, Proudfoot publicly revealed that he had ALS. Proudfoot commented at the time "I'm a physical-education teacher. I've spent my whole life being active, so it's ironic to now get a muscle disease."[2][28] In addition, Proudfoot noted the irony of a radio broadcaster and teacher losing his ability to speak.[26][29] His one-time teammate on the Alouettes, Larry Uteck
was also diagnosed with ALS and died from it in 2002.

Proudfoot was widely admired for the lack of self-pity, bravery and humour he showed in facing the disease, and for using it as an opportunity for education and to raise money for research.

honorary doctorate of science (kinesiology) degree from the University of New Brunswick.[1]

In November 2010, he accepted the CFL's Hugh Campbell Award for Distinguished Leadership before the Grey Cup Eastern Conference final in Montreal from CFL commissioner Mark Cohon.[13][38] He served as special consultant to the Alouettes head coach, Marc Trestman during the 2009 and 2010 CFL seasons, which were both Grey Cup winning seasons for the team.[39] He was given a Grey Cup ring in the spring of 2010.[31]

After his diagnosis, Proudfoot worked to raise public awareness of ALS. He was interviewed regularly by radio, TV and print media across Canada.

Montreal Gazette.[13]

In December, 2010, the newspaper published an emotional farewell address from Proudfoot, recapping previous articles he had written about his struggle with ALS and thanking supporters. In the article, he stated that it would be his last such piece before his death, which he felt was imminent.[34] The same day, Dawson College announced that they would be naming their gyms the "Tony Proudfoot Gymnasium."[39] The college cited "his long service to Dawson College, his careers in professional football and education, his life-saving heroics during the Dawson shooting and his establishment of the fund for ALS research."[43]

Proudfoot was married and had two daughters and a son.[2] Following his diagnosis, the two children who had moved away from Montreal returned to the city.[29] Proudfoot moved to The West Island Palliative Care Residence[44] on 28 December 2010, and died two days later at the age of 61.[4] A final Montreal Gazette column written by Proudfoot and published after his death, expressed his gratitude for his life, family, friends and the care he had received, and his pride that he had fought the illness with determination.[44] Following his death, his brain was donated to research in sports-related brain damage. His brain, unlike others, showed no evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy.[45][46]

Published works

  • Proudfoot, Tony (2006). First and goal: the CFL and the pursuit of excellence. Bolton, Ontario: Fenn Pub.
    ISBN 978-1-55168-316-4
    .

References

  1. ^ a b "UNBF to Award Four Honorary Degrees". University of New Brunswick. 21 May 2008. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Proudfoot battles ALS". Montreal Gazette. 28 June 2007. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  3. ^ a b Rick Moffat (10 September 2010). "Moffat: Emotional week for Alouettes". CFL.ca - Official Site of the Canadian Football League. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  4. ^ a b Herb Zurkowsky (30 December 2010). "Former Alouette Proudfoot loses battle with ALS". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  5. ^ a b Steve Milton (31 December 2010). "Goodbye, Tony". Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  6. ^ "Tony Proudfoot Fund". sla-quebec.ca. 2012. Archived from the original on 27 February 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Tony Proudfoot Award". Concordia University. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  8. ^ a b c "Our candidate". Ottawa Citizen. 17 November 1970. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  9. ^ Seidman, Karen (19 May 2005). "John Rennie's lasting legacy". Montreal Gazette. p. F3.
  10. ^ a b c d Rick Moffat (21 November 2010). "True leadership and heroism". CFL.ca - Official Site of the Canadian Football League. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  11. ^ Etienne Bouchard (15 December 2010). "Proudfoot vit ses derniers moments". TVA. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  12. ^ "Proudfoot signs three-year deal". Montreal Gazette. 29 April 1976. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  13. ^ a b c d "Proudfoot to receive leadership award". CFL.ca - Official Site of the Canadian Football League. 19 November 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  14. ^ Tim Burke (12 July 1977). "Alouettes' new look ignores the star system". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  15. ^ Dick Bacon and Marv Levy (13 July 1977). "Levi assesses his Als". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  16. ^ a b c d "Q&A with Tony Proudfoot". Vancouver Sun. 14 September 2006. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  17. ^ a b "Edmonton vs. Montreal is a Grey Cup staple..." Edmonton Sun. 25 November 2005. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2010.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  18. ^ Rick Matsumoto (17 November 2008). "The Story of the 1977 Grey Cup". CFL.ca - Official Site of the Canadian Football League. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  19. ^ a b Ian Hamilton (20 July 2009). "Proudfoot keeps up battle against ALS". Regina Leader-Post. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
  20. ^ a b c Dick Bacon (29 April 1983). "Quebec jr. league expands to 5 teams". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  21. ^ "Staff Awards" (PDF). Camp Nominingue's Tumpline newsletter. Camp Nominingue. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  22. ^ "Alouettes on CJAD until 2006". oursportscentral.com. 12 March 2004. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  23. ^ a b Herb Zurkowsky (25 June 2006). "Proudfoot tackles publishing project". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  24. ^ a b Jack Todd (4 November 2006). "Proudfoot in wrong place at right time". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
  25. ^ "Eyewitness reports from the Dawson shootings". Montreal Gazette. 13 September 2006. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  26. ^ a b c d Tony Proudfoot (15 December 2007). "Proudfoot savours every moment". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
  27. ^ "Tony Proudfoot sits down with Brian Williams". CFL.ca - Official Site of the Canadian Football League. 24 August 2007. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
  28. ^ Lefko, Perry (28 June 2007). "Lou Gehrig's strikes Proudfoot". Sportsnet.ca. Archived from the original on 3 July 2007.
  29. ^ a b Bruce Arthur (22 November 2008). "Flashback: Tony Proudfoot's words". National Post. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  30. ^ "Former Alouette Proudfoot dies". Toronto Sun. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  31. ^ a b Rick Moffat (31 December 2010). "Every day hero, Alouette for ever". CJAD. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  32. ^ Ed Willes (20 December 2010). "Tony Proudfoot truly an inspiration". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  33. ^ Herb Zurkowsky. "Ex-Alouette Proudfoot makes most of every day". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  34. ^
    Montreal Gazette
    . Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  35. ^ Ian Hamilton (20 July 2009). "Proudfoot keeps up battle against ALS". Canwest News Service. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  36. ^ Ed Tait (28 November 2010). "Grey Cup moments that stick". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  37. ^ "Tony Proudfoot". Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  38. ^ Bruce Arthur (22 November 2010). "A fitting tribute". National Post. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  39. ^ a b Rick Moffat (15 December 2010). "Dawson to honour Proudfoot". CJAD. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  40. ^ Tony Proudfoot Fund Archived 10 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  41. ^ Matthew Sekeres (1 September 2010). "Lowly Lions have reason to roar". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  42. ^ Sean Gordon (15 December 2010). "Ex CFLer Tony Proudfoot pens farewell". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  43. ^ "Dawson gyms to be named for Tony Proudfoot". Dawson College. 15 December 2010. Archived from the original on 9 November 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  44. ^ a b Tony Proudfoot (3 January 2011). "'Don't feel sorry for me. My life was as great as I could have asked for'". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  45. ^ Sean Fitz-Gerald (26 July 2011). "Researchers find degenerative disease in brains donated by CFL players". National Post. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  46. ^ Tony Care (26 July 2011). "Donated CFL brains show concussion-related disease". CBC News. Retrieved 2 January 2012.

External links

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