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Ridge grad youngest head coach in CIS by Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver Staff 39 | Thursday, December 10, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com The gold football Steve Christie donated to Oakville Trafalgar High School Tuesday. | photo by Justin Greaves --Oakville Beaver -- @Halton_Photog Christie still holds a Super Bowl record continued from p.38 on the sideline and before that last kick I told him, `Take a look and tell me what you think.'" That game would eventually help land Christie a scholarship, but not from anyone who was in the stands that day. "That was the only game film I had," Christie said. "Now, kids have film from almost every game, but that was all I had to try to convince any schools to give me a chance. Luckily, I had a good game. Made a couple of field goals, got a couple of punts inside the 10." But there was one problem. Not only was that the only game film, there was only one copy. "We didn't have a VCR," said Ken Christie, Steve's dad. "I had to take it up to Ford (where he worked), set up two VCRs and copy it." That tape landed at the College of William & Mary, where the football coach was looking for a kicker after his committed recruit bolted for Ohio State. That tape helped launch a 15year NFL career. Christie returned to his former high school Tuesday -- well, almost. He attended OT before it moved to its current location and fondly recalled some of the quirks of the school's original site. "There was a bike path that ran through the field," he said. "So when school ended, everyone would be walking across the field while the game was going on." The Oakville Sports Hall of Fame member was at the school as part of the NFL 's celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Super Bowl. The league awarded each player and coach from past Super Bowls with a golden football to be donated to their school. Christie played in two Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills, losing both times to the Dallas Cowboys. In the second of those, Super Bowl XVIII, he kicked two field goals, including a 54-yarder that still stands as the longest in the championship game's history. Christie made 22 of his 25 postseason field goals, including the 32-yarder in overtime to cap a Bills comeback from a 35-3 deficit to beat Houston 41-38 in a 1992 AFC Wild Card Game, which remains the biggest comeback in NFL history. It's a story of fairy tales for a guy who didn't play football until his secondlast year of high school. Christie was a talented soccer player -- he made the Canadian junior development team -- but with OT's placekicker set to graduate, Johnson needed a replacement and asked Christie to come out for the team. After a year backing up the starter, Christie expanded his skillset by learning to punt before his senior year, in which he took over both jobs. After graduating from OT, he went on to set several school records in his four years at William & Mary, including most points (279), most field goals (57) and longest field goal (53 yards, three times). Despite his success on the football field, the 48-year-old said his education was every bit as important. "You look at the number of guys who come out of hotbeds of football, they have talent, but only a small percentage make it to college and a minute percentage make it to pro. If you're lucky enough to get a scholarship, use it for what it is -- a chance to study what you like." Christie studied fine art and, during his playing days in Buffalo, had shows at local galleries. Since retiring in 2004 with 336 career field goals and a 78 per cent success rate, Christie has represented several CFL players as an agent, but is now devoting more of his time to real estate in Florida. Scott Brady never thought he'd leave Ontario. He had attended McMaster football camps throughout high school and always figured he'd wind up at a university in his home province. But few schools ever got to see Brady play. He sat out his first year at Iroquois Ridge High School after transferring from White Oaks Secondary and then a couple of games into his senior year, he broke his arm, bringing his season to an end. Wanting to continue his football career after high school, Brady had to take the recruiting process into his own hands. On the recommendation of a friend, he visited Mount Allison University. The tiny school in Sackville, N.B., had not won a game in three years and had scored just 23 points while allowing 379 in eight games the previous season. A decade later, Brady hasn't left. And as of last Monday, he's now in charge of the football program he once played for. At 28, Brady will become the youngest head coach in Canadian university football. And while he's excited about the opportunity, Brady says his age shouldn't be a factor. "I take pride in being a head coach at Mount Allison, but being the youngest (head coach) doesn't play into it," he said. "I feel I'm ready. I have more experience than most guys my age, and more importantly, the people associated with the program feel I'm ready." That experience includes four years as the Mounties' defensive co-ordinator, where he's overseen one of the stingiest defensive units in the country while helping the Mount Allison win back-to-back Atlantic University Sport championships. Only a last-minute field goal that gave St. FX a 14-12 win prevented the Mounties from claiming a third straight title this fall. Over the past three seasons, Mount Allison ranks fourth in the country in fewest points allowed per game (17.6) and shares the lead in takeaways (68). Brady got involved in coaching as soon as his playing career ended. He even passed up his final year of eligibility as a player to join the Mounties' coaching staff. "I knew coaching would be more of my path than playing football," he said. "It's really what my passion is." So when Mounties coach Kelly That passion took root long be- Jeffrey announced his resignation fore he arrived at Mount Allison. in November, Brady applied to While still in high school, Brady be his successor. He met with the lent his coaching skills to his for- school's search committee before mer elementary school, Montclair, leaving for the Vanier Cup, drivcoaching basketball and flag foot- ing several Mount Allison players ball. to the all-Canadian banAnd in his seasons on quet. the Iroquois Ridge sideBrady was standing lines, Brady helped an in a parking lot in Queundermanned Trailblazbec City when he got ers coaching staff. the call telling him he "He really was like anwould become the first other coach," said Scott Mount Allison player to Phillips, who coached serve as its head coach. Brady in high school. But he couldn't even "Most of the time, we Scott Brady tell the players he was only had two coaches with until the formal anso he was another set of eyes. He nouncement was made four days could see things and make sugges- later. And a week later, he hadn't tions on the fly. He knew the game even had a chance to return to the inside and out." school. So when a coaching opportuni"It was awesome and exciting, ty presented itself after his fourth but everything was going so fast," year at Mount Allison, he didn't said Brady, whose hiring came hesitate, even though it meant he just eight days after Jeffrey's reswould be coaching his roommate ignation. "I had a recruiting trip and some of his best friends. planned (to the OFSAA Bowls in Though he played running back Hamilton) so I haven't even seen and receiver at Mount Allison, he the team yet." took on the role of defensive back Brady says in terms of recruiting and special teams coach. players, his job won't change. His "It was a good opportunity and job is to show players what he saw very good for my development to when he visited Mount Allison. learn more about the defensive "It's different than any other side," Brady said. school," he said. "We only have He was promoted to defensive 2,400 students so we have the co-ordinator the following year smallest classes and hopefully and in four years, Mount Allison they'll see the benefit of coming to improved its points allowed from the No. 1 undergraduate university 344 to 64 in 2014. The Mounties in Canada." again allowed the fewest points in And if they need a Mount Althe conference this season. lison success story, they need not Brady has been a guest coach look any further than the head with both the Toronto Argos and coach. Winnipeg Blue Bombers and used the opportunities to learn every-- Herb Garbutt can be followed thing he could from CFL coaches. on Twitter @Herbgarbutt AIRE ONE MADNEss sAlE! HigH EfficiEncy fURnAcE & cEnTRAL AiR ONLY $ PACKAGE INCLUDES: * 3990 $ $ * 95.5% EFF. 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