It㽶Ƶֱs 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㽶Ƶֱs 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 㽶Ƶֱ 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.
㽶ƵֱI don㽶Ƶֱt 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㽶Ƶֱt regret it. To this day, he tells me what I told him that day,㽶Ƶֱ recalled Elimimian.
Elimimian㽶Ƶֱs tenacity led to another workout in Las Vegas and eventually a contract.
㽶ƵֱI think it was more like a pity contract so that I would stop bugging them. It was like here㽶Ƶֱs a contract - come to training camp,㽶Ƶֱ 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㽶Ƶֱs called the inside drill 㽶Ƶֱ 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㽶Ƶֱ3㽶Ƶֱ and 255 pounds but he was levelled by the much smaller Elimimian, whose listed playing size was 6㽶Ƶֱ0㽶Ƶֱ and 225 pounds.
㽶ƵֱI literally picked Jerome up and sent him backwards. In the film session that day, Wally plays the film and says 㽶Ƶֱguys I don㽶Ƶֱt know who this player is but that㽶Ƶֱs the type of physicality we need.㽶Ƶֱ That moment put me on the radar so to speak,㽶Ƶֱ 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.
㽶ƵֱWally comes into the training room 㽶Ƶֱ I㽶Ƶֱm right next to the trainer (Bill Reichelt) but he doesn㽶Ƶֱt look at me 㽶Ƶֱ he says 㽶ƵֱHey Billy, tell Solomon if he doesn㽶Ƶֱt play this game, he㽶Ƶֱs going home.㽶Ƶֱ Then he walks out of the room. I looked at Billy and said 㽶Ƶֱwell I guess I have to play in this game.㽶Ƶֱ
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㽶Ƶֱs Most Outstanding Rookie that year.
㽶ƵֱIt was probably the most important year in my career. It㽶Ƶֱs one of those moments that you know there㽶Ƶֱs nothing else for you. I didn㽶Ƶֱt 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,㽶Ƶֱ explained Elimimian.
Because of his size, Elimimian always had his doubters 㽶Ƶֱ including Buono -but all he asked for was an opportunity.
㽶ƵֱYou can measure my size, my height, my speed but one thing that you can㽶Ƶֱt measure is my will. I㽶Ƶֱve always said the one thing that sets me apart from any player is my will and determination. You tell me I can㽶Ƶֱt do something; I㽶Ƶֱm going to prove you wrong,㽶Ƶֱ said Elimimian.
Ironically enough, it was Buono who called Elimimian last week to let him know he was going into the Hall of Fame.
㽶ƵֱThe first three or four years, we went at it. We probably didn㽶Ƶֱt 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,㽶Ƶֱ explained Elimimian.
The phone call from Buono was the culmination of an outstanding career 㽶Ƶֱ and a tribute to Elimimian㽶Ƶֱs resolve.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob 㽶Ƶֱthe Moj㽶Ƶֱ 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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