Former Titan to Be Inducted into CFL Hall of Fame

Mike Pringle Becomes Second Titan to be so Honored

April 8, 2008

From Sports Information

Former Cal State Fullerton running back Mike Pringle (1988-89) has been elected to the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame and will be inducted in September.

Pringle, who retired as the league's all-time leading rusher only four years ago, is part of a class that consists of quarterback Doug Flutie, offensive lineman John Bonk, Saskatchewan president Tom Shepherd and special teams player Mike "Pinball" Clemons.

"Pinball and I played together and had the experience in Toronto together," Flutie said. "Mike Pringle at that time was the premiere running back in the league."

"I know the guys I'm being inducted with, which makes it more special," Pringle said. "It's just good to be a part of it."

After bouncing around the league for a few years, Pringle established himself as a premiere tailback in Montreal. A physical and punishing inside rusher, Pringle ran for a league-record 2,065 yards in '98 and helped the Als reach the Grey Cup in 2000 and 2002 — winning the latter showdown against Edmonton.

Pringle, who also won a Grey Cup with Baltimore in '95, signed with the Eskimos in '03 and not only helped the club win the Grey Cup that year but eventually surpassed George Reed as the CFL's most prolific rusher. Pringle retired following the '04 season with 16,425 career yards. He later re-signed with Montreal to retire as an Alouette.

Pringle was named a CFL all-star seven times and captured the league's outstanding player award in '95 and '98. He says he'll always be grateful for being given a chance to play pro football in Canada.

"This is the country that gave me a chance to display my talent," he said. "This is my second home."

At Fullerton, Pringle shared the NCAA single-game rushing record at one time with 357 yards vs. New Mexico State on Nov. 4, 1989. He also led the nation in 1989 in all-purpose yardage with a school-record 2,690 yards. With 19 touchdowns, he shares the Titan career record and is the No. 2 CSF rusher with 2,223 yard in only two seasons.

Pringle becomes the second former Titan in the CFL Hall of Fame. Slotback Allen Pitts, who once was the career receiving yardage leader in the CFL, was inducted in 2006. Pitts played for the Titans in the 1981 and 1983-85 seasons, scoring 16 touchdowns. He played in the CFL from 1990 to 2000, all with the Calgary Stampeders, and scored 117 touchdowns to go with 14,891 yards.

Quarterback Damon Allen, who played for the Titans in 1981-84, will be a lock for CFL induction — if he ever retires. The 44-year-old grandfather has passed for more than 70,000 yards in his 23-year CFL career that includes multiple player of the year awards and Grey Cup championships.