Narcisse moved by football hall honour
Former Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver Don Narcisse says he couldn't wait to tell everyone he knows about being named an inductee into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
Even before the official announcement was made Tuesday, Narcisse was on the phone.
"I got a chance to call my mom and I told her that I got inducted into the hall of fame and she was like, astonished," Narcisse said from his home in Manvel, Texas, about 40 kilometres south of Houston.
"My mom has Alzheimer's, but at the time I was talking to her she understood everything," he said. "Just to hear her voice on the phone was something, man. It was just a good feeling."
Narcisse, 44, joined the Roughriders in 1987 and spent his entire football career with the club, retiring 13 seasons later with an all-time team record of 919 catches.
Narcisse also lent his time to a community program, Catch For Kids, which raises money to help youngsters participate in organized sports.
Narcisse said in his high school days he aspired to a football career, but could not win a college scholarship, the normal stepping stone to the professional ranks.
One of his high school coaches suggested he would make a solid receiver for Texas Southern College and he made the team.
"I used to always say, 'Maybe someday I'll win the Heisman [trophy and] make my momma proud,'" Narcisse said, referring to the trophy given annually to the best American college football player.
"This is far beyond the Heisman," he said. "This is the top of the line right here. Never dreamed about it. And I'm just astonished that I'm in this position."
These days, Narcisse enjoys watching old game tapes with his son, Don Jr.
"The one thing I remember is the fans. They always supported me," Narcisse said. "I played for the fans."
He has returned to Saskatchewan for visits, and said he is looking forward to another.
"I tell you what. When I do get a chance to come to Saskatchewan, I'm going to raise a whole lot of money for Catch For Kids," he said and added: "And I might do my little dance for the last time."
A ceremony for Narcisse and four other inductees — players Tracy Ham, Bob Cameron, Elfrid Payton and builder Joe Pistilli — is set for September.
The hall of fame is located in Hamilton, Ont.