Willie Fleming Willie Fleming ( born February 2 , 1939 ) is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League ' s BC Lions . Fleming played collegiately as a halfback at the University of Iowa , where he was a member of the Hawkeye ' s 1959 Rose Bowl championship team . He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame , the BC Sports Hall of Fame , and the BC Lions Wall of Fame . Fleming ' s # 15 jersey is one of eight numbers retired by the Lions . In 2003 , Fleming was voted a member of the BC Lions All - Time Dream Team as part of the club ’ s 50 year anniversary celebration . In 2006 , Fleming was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL ' s Top 50 players of the league ' s modern era by Canadian sports network TSN . Fleming earned the nickname , " The Wisp " or " Will ' o the Wisp , " because of his elusive running style . High school and college career . Fleming played halfback at Hamtramck High School in Detroit , winning All - City honors in 1956 . In 1957 , Fleming began his college career at the University of Iowa , where he was eventually named an Associated Press First Team All - Big Ten player in 1958 . In 1958 , Fleming helped the Hawkeyes to a 6 - 0 - 1 Big Ten clinching victory over the University of Minnesota , and led the team in scoring . In 1959 , Fleming and the 7 - 1 - 1 Hawkeyes defeated the University of California ( and Fleming ' s future BC Lions teammate , quarterback Joe Kapp ) 38 - 12 , in the 1959 Rose Bowl . Fleming scored 2 rushing touchdowns in the game , and finished with 85 yards on 9 attempts . Professional career . Following the 1959 Rose Bowl , Fleming joined the Canadian Football League BC Lions for the season . By , he became the first Lion to eclipse 1 , 000 yards rushing with 1 , 051 yards on 125 carries for an 8 . 4 yard average . In , Fleming and Kapp led the Lions to a 12 - 4 record and the CFL Western Division championship . The Lions next faced the Hamilton Tiger - Cats in the 1963 CFL Championship Grey Cup . During the 1963 Grey Cup game , Fleming was involved in a widely discussed and controversial play as he was hit by Ti - Cat defensive lineman Angelo Mosca , while Fleming was out of bounds , resulting in Fleming ' s absence from the remainder of the game ( and a trip to the hospital ) . Despite a disappointing end to the season ( the Lions lost to the Tiger - Cats , 21 - 10 ) , Fleming had his finest season as a professional football player , as he rushed for 1 , 234 yards on 127 carries for an incredible 9 . 7 yard average . The following year , Fleming and the Lions would get their revenge , as the BC Lions again faced the Hamilton Tiger - Cats in the 1964 Grey Cup . The Lions won their first CFL championship 34 - 24 , and Fleming scored a game - breaking touchdown on a 68 yard scoring run over Mosca ' s position . Earlier in the season , Fleming scored the longest touchdown run from scrimmage ( 109 yards ) against the Edmonton Eskimos , a CFL record that still stands . Fleming retired from the CFL and the BC Lions following the season . Fleming retired as a CFL All - Star in , a three - time CFL Western Division All - Star , and was named the most popular BC Lions Player three times . After sitting out the 1967 season , Fleming attempted a comeback with the Minnesota Vikings in 1968 , but was released before the regular season began . Fleming was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1982 . In , Fleming was voted a member of the BC Lions All - Time Dream Team , at the running back position , as part of the club ’ s 50 year anniversary celebration . In November , , Fleming was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL ' s top 50 players of the league ' s modern era by Canadian sports network TSN . After football . Retired from the CFL since , Fleming currently resides in Montgomery , Alabama and stays busy keeping up with two of his six grandchildren .