It乌鸦传媒檚 a Hall of Fame career that would never have occurred without some persistence by Solomon Elimimian.

On Wednesday, the 2023 Canadian Football Hall of Fame class was named and the former B.C. Lions linebacker was part of a group of inductees that includes former Lions standout cornerback Larry Crawford and current defensive line coach John Bowman, who had a tremendous 14-year career with Montreal.

For Elimimian, it乌鸦传媒檚 a crowning achievement to an exemplary career in a Lions uniform that included a Grey Cup championship in 2011 as well as winning the Most Outstanding Rookie Award in 2010, the Most Outstanding Player Award in 2014 and the Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award in 2014 and 2016.

And it almost never happened.

After finishing his playing career at the University of Hawaii, Elimimian was signed as a free agent by the Buffalo Bills in 2008 but was subsequently cut in the pre-season.

He went back to Los Angeles and was living at home with his family when his brother Abe 乌鸦传媒� currently an assistant coach at Hawaii whom Elimimian lists as his biggest influence - told him about the Lions holding a tryout camp in L.A.

The workout was conducted by then Lions General Manager and Head Coach Wally Buono.

乌鸦传媒淚 don乌鸦传媒檛 think he was too sold on me. He told me you have a little bit here but we might want someone who is little bit faster and a little bit bigger. I just kept bugging him. I told him if you give me the opportunity, you won乌鸦传媒檛 regret it. To this day, he tells me what I told him that day,乌鸦传媒� recalled Elimimian.

Elimimian乌鸦传媒檚 tenacity led to another workout in Las Vegas and eventually a contract.

乌鸦传媒淚 think it was more like a pity contract so that I would stop bugging them. It was like here乌鸦传媒檚 a contract - come to training camp,乌鸦传媒� chuckled Elimimian.

As a rookie attending training camp in Kamloops in 2010, Elimimian had a moment that had players and coaches alike take notice.

The team was running what乌鸦传媒檚 called the inside drill 乌鸦传媒� which focuses on the run game between the tackles with no receivers or defensive backs involved. The drill is known for its physicality, and on this day, it was Elimimian who made a loud statement with a takedown of running back Jerome Messam.

Messam was a load at 6乌鸦传媒�3乌鸦传媒� and 255 pounds but he was levelled by the much smaller Elimimian, whose listed playing size was 6乌鸦传媒�0乌鸦传媒� and 225 pounds.

乌鸦传媒淚 literally picked Jerome up and sent him backwards. In the film session that day, Wally plays the film and says 乌鸦传媒榞uys I don乌鸦传媒檛 know who this player is but that乌鸦传媒檚 the type of physicality we need.乌鸦传媒� That moment put me on the radar so to speak,乌鸦传媒� noted Elimimian.

Although he was making waves with his play, Elimimian suffered a setback when he was sidelined with a hamstring injury which almost resulted in him being cut.

乌鸦传媒淲ally comes into the training room 乌鸦传媒� I乌鸦传媒檓 right next to the trainer (Bill Reichelt) but he doesn乌鸦传媒檛 look at me 乌鸦传媒� he says 乌鸦传媒楬ey Billy, tell Solomon if he doesn乌鸦传媒檛 play this game, he乌鸦传媒檚 going home.乌鸦传媒� Then he walks out of the room. I looked at Billy and said 乌鸦传媒渨ell I guess I have to play in this game.乌鸦传媒�

Elimimian played the pre-season game at 50% but showed enough to make the team.

A month into the season, he took over as the starting middle linebacker and never looked back, winning the CFL乌鸦传媒檚 Most Outstanding Rookie that year.

乌鸦传媒淚t was probably the most important year in my career. It乌鸦传媒檚 one of those moments that you know there乌鸦传媒檚 nothing else for you. I didn乌鸦传媒檛 want to do anything else. The moment that changed my life was when I got up on that stage and won the Rookie of the Year. It felt like a weight had been lifted,乌鸦传媒� explained Elimimian.

Because of his size, Elimimian always had his doubters 乌鸦传媒� including Buono -but all he asked for was an opportunity.

乌鸦传媒淵ou can measure my size, my height, my speed but one thing that you can乌鸦传媒檛 measure is my will. I乌鸦传媒檝e always said the one thing that sets me apart from any player is my will and determination. You tell me I can乌鸦传媒檛 do something; I乌鸦传媒檓 going to prove you wrong,乌鸦传媒� said Elimimian.

Ironically enough, it was Buono who called Elimimian last week to let him know he was going into the Hall of Fame.

乌鸦传媒淭he first three or four years, we went at it. We probably didn乌鸦传媒檛 like each other. It was a strange relationship but once I won the Most Outstanding Player Award, it was more of father-son relationship. I really looked up to him,乌鸦传媒� explained Elimimian.

The phone call from Buono was the culmination of an outstanding career 乌鸦传媒� and a tribute to Elimimian乌鸦传媒檚 resolve.

Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob 乌鸦传媒渢he Moj乌鸦传媒� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media. And check out his weekly podcast every Monday at or your local Black Press Media website.

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