Steve McMillan ~ Flag football reflections

My flag football journey began over 20 years ago, and it all started with Rob Cholette bringing me onto his team in 2003. That first season, I only played a handful of games, but it was enough to see that this was no casual league—it was packed with talented, competitive players. Over the next few years, I bounced around a few more teams, trying to find my place in the league.

In 2008, I took the leap and started my own team. We had a solid eight-year run, and from year two to eight, we consistently finished in the top two of the regular season standings. Back then, though, just making it to a finals game was a challenge, let alone winning it. The competition was fierce, with teams like Black, Hype, Winners, and Jasmar dominating the field. I still remember when Jasmar had an undefeated regular season, and we beat them in the semifinals, only to lose the championship on a last-second 42-yard field goal. I’d be lying if I said that loss doesn’t still sting a bit today.

Looking back, I feel good about what I was able to achieve, both as a player and as league president. My three years as president were especially meaningful to me. During that time, I expanded the league to 12 teams—the largest it’s ever been—and made several other lasting contributions. I designed the league logo, which we still use today, and launched the Hall of Fame awards, something that had been talked about for years but never acted on. I had the honor of selecting the first four inductees, all legends of the game.

But what I’m most proud of is the work I did to improve player safety. Too many players had crashed into unprotected goal posts over the years, so I took it upon myself to purchase four goal post pads out of my own pocket. It took a few years for the league to pay me back, but knowing the players were safer made it worth every penny.

Of course, being league president wasn’t without its challenges. Running a league with 12 teams turned out to be operationally impossible, so we had to scale back to 10. And then there were the field issues. We battled for weeknight field time at Joe St. Denis with minor football, and Sundays at high school fields weren’t much better—the grass wasn’t cut, and the fields weren’t lined. I even remember Brad Churchill and I spray painting field boundaries ourselves, which led to some pretty crooked lines. It’s funny now, but back then, some guys really let me hear about it. Eventually, we made a deal with the city for Optimist Park, which became our permanent home—a huge relief.

It took me 20 years to finally win my first (and only) championship in 2023, in the four-team winter league hosted by CMFFL. And while it felt good to finally win, it wasn’t the overwhelming triumph I thought it would be. For me, the journey—the friendships, the battles, the highs and lows—was better than the destination.

In the end, flag football has given me more than just a championship; it’s given me memories, lessons, and a community that’s become a second family.

In 2024, my contributions to the league were recognized when I was inducted into the CMFFL Hall of Fame, a true honor and a moment that stands among my proudest achievements in the sport

In the end, flag football has given me more than just a championship; it’s given me memories, lessons, and a community that’s become a second family.