MontrealAlouettes.com
MONTREAL – When a nine-time CFL All-Star and three-time Grey Cup champion calls it a career after 15 brilliant seasons with the same team, that’s what we call BIG news.
Especially — or make that literally — when it’s an offensive lineman.
WATCH: SCOTT FLORY ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT »
We caught up with Alouettes guard Scott Flory fresh off of his retirement announcement to find out what he loves most about Montreal, if it’s really goodbye for good, and whether or not he has Mickey Mouse ears in his immediate future.
CONGRATULATIONS ON A SPECTACULAR CAREER! NOW THAT IT’S OFFICIAL, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO CELEBRATE? ARE YOU GOING TO DISNEY WORLD?
Am I going to Disney World? (Laughs) There are no immediate plans to go to Disney World. I’ve stepped into a new role as the President of the CFL Players’ Association so things have been really busy for me on that front and I haven’t really had the time to just sit back and relax and make plans for the summer yet. It hasn’t really hit me yet that I’m retired but it will once training camp rolls around and I don’t have to show up. (Laughs)
YOU’RE LEAVING A TIGHT-KNIT GROUP IN THE ALOUETTES O-LINE. ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO KEEP IN TOUCH?
Yeah, absolutely. When you spend so much time together and are with guys for so long, you develop lifelong friendships and bonds that will be with you forever. I absolutely plan on staying in contact with all these guys and seeing them as much as possible, even if it’s just heckling them at practice to keep them on their toes. (Laughs)
YOU FELL INTO A BIT OF A COACHING ROLE LAST YEAR FOLLOWING YOUR INJURY. DO YOU FORESEE A FUTURE IN COACHING FOR YOURSELF IN A MORE OFFICIAL CAPACITY?
I don’t know, maybe down the road. I don’t want to close any doors, but I’m really happy where I’m at right now. I’ve just been elected President of the CFL Players’ Association and I’m stepping into that role and it’s something that I’m really enjoying so far. I’ve also got a young family at home so I want to be able to spend some time with them and watch my kids grow up. Coaching is a rigorous, time-consuming job and I respect those guys and the amount of work that they do. I was fortunate — and unfortunate — enough to get a preview of that life last year when I was hurt, but I really enjoyed it and being around with the guys.
ORIGINALLY FROM SASKATCHEWAN, YOU’VE SPENT THE LAST 15 SEASONS HERE IN MONTREAL. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT THIS CITY?
Oof! There are a lot of things I’d miss if I didn’t live here anymore, from the food and the lifestyle to the quality of the people and the fans. I’ve lived here permanently for the last eight years and have made some amazing friends. Our kids are entrenched in the culture and the community and that’s been a big part of buying into being here in Montreal. I don’t know what I’d miss the most, but there’s a lot about the lifestyle here that I would miss.
WATCH: A THANK YOU FROM SCOTT FLORY »
FAVOURITE ALOUETTES MOMENT?
Another tough one! I don’t know if I can just pick one, but it would probably have to be that first Grey Cup in 2002. That parade after we won and got back and had 100,000 people lining the streets… It had been 25 years since we last won a championship so that was huge.
PHOTOS: SCOTT FLORY CAREER RETROSPECTIVE »
IS THIS REALLY GOODBYE, OR CAN ALOUETTES FANS EXPECT TO CATCH YOU AT SOME HOME GAMES THIS SUMMER?
I hope to be down there on the sidelines as much as possible and I want to be around. I’ve been here 15 years, I’ve played 15 seasons, so there’s a connection here that I want to maintain.
