FlagPlus Football Interview Series Part 5: Rory Semerjian

I recently had a chance to talk with 9-time FPF All-Star Rory Semerjian. He is a polarizing player, who is family-orientated, and someone who is all about winning at any cost. We talked about football, family, food, his 10-game suspension, and a few other topics.

You have been in FPF since 2017. How did you get involved in the league?

“I knew that FPF held games at the field in the West Island that was down the street from my house. I wanted to get in the league, so I put my name on the free agency list, a few days later (veteran player and Captain) Stef Fennes reached out to me and offered me a spot on his team the Smokin Axolotls.”

What was your experience playing football prior to FPF?

“I played tackle when I was younger for Lakeshore and the North Shore Lions, but I stopped playing when I was 15.”

What is your attraction to football?

“I have a burning love for the game. I love football because it is a team game. In soccer and basketball one guy can dominate. I like the pressure of being relied on and relying on others to do their job. There are so many moving pieces that need to go the right way. If one piece stops moving everything can go wrong. I also like the camaraderie and meeting new people.”

Even in flag, football can be a fast and violent game. What is your opinion of the violence that goes together with the sport?

“There is violence, but it is a controlled violence. At every level of the game from pee wee to the pros, there are physically demanding things that are required to play ball at an elite level. There is more than just violence, there is also an energy. It is the way people express it. It’s not just anger. It’s something different.”

Your older brother Sean also plays in the league. Just like you he has grown into a dominant player that has been putting up great numbers the last few seasons. When he first started in FPF, there were some rocky times. How did he overcome them, and what is the key to his recent success?

“Basketball. Sean is a hooper. He is much better at basketball. He played in Spain, and at the University of Boston in the NCAA Div. He uses his basketball skills on the football field. Boxing out, positioning, and leaping ability. There are a lot of translatable skills. Yes, he struggled at first. I was on his ass. I expected him to be as good at football as he was at basketball. Sean is 31. He got better because he believes in hard work and doesn’t like to do something if he can’t be good at it. Everyday he is on the field putting in work. He drives all the way from Ottawa to play. That shows his dedication. He is my biggest influence. He only plays to ensure my legacy.”

Your brother has basketball. What sport other than football do you love?

“Boxing. Boxing is a science. The mind games, eye movement, shoulder, and head movement. It is like running a route super fast and making a cut on a dime. On offense there is an advantage. To land a punch or run a route. Having a QB use their eyes, shoulder moves to toss a pass or throw a Receiver open. In both sports you must create deception. There are so many parallels between both sports.”

You and Sean are obviously close. Describe your relationship with your brother.

“He is my best friend. For some siblings it isn’t the case, but for us it really is. To me, he is the most important person on the planet. Playing my favourite sport with him, I would do it everyday if I could.”

What does winning mean to you?

‘’I just want to win. Playing with people I care about makes the sensation of winning that much better, but I would have to say that winning with my brother is above everything. Sharing a special moment with the people I love is what it is all about.”

You have played on several teams during your FPF tenure. What has being on different teams taught you?

“Going through a variety of different experiences. Wins, losses, getting to know and playing with different people, learning how to get better. I like being a sponge and soaking it all up.”

You have over 11,000 yards and 293 touchdowns. You’re 28 years old. How much longer do you see yourself playing at the level you have established?

“Until I can’t. l will keep going until my legs fall off. My goal is to preserve my body to prolong my prime.”

What drives you to keep playing every year?

“Winning another championship drives me most. It’s my top goal.”

You have three championship losses on your resumé, including two Finals losses on the same day. What was your biggest takeaway from those defeats?

“It takes so much to win. You need more than just crazy athletes. You need a good system. Sometimes politics get involved, but guys must overcome it and find a way to buy in and remove their egos from the situation.”

You won your first championship last summer. How did it feel to finally get over the hump, and what did you learn from it?

“I felt relief. Being on the losing end is no fun, so it felt great to get it done. In the process, I learned that a lot of things need to go your way. Control those things. How you lead teammates and how you interact with them. Allow them to be their own character too. Promote individuality because it will allow them to be confident. Winning one gives you the thirst for more.”

With a championship already under your belt, and several accolades as well, what is left for you to accomplish in FPF?

“I want to try Co-ed. There are a lot of good players in that division. I want to try it. It looks like a lot of fun. I also want to pull a Julien Paiement and Mike Pierrecin and win multiple championships on the same day. I would also like to try and play Quarterback again. I played two games, and I threw five interceptions. I thought like a Receiver the whole time. I locked on to one guy. It didn’t come natural to me, and I gave up too quickly. I felt like I was letting my team down. I would like the chance to do it again in a lower division.”

You play with a lot of energy and anger. How would you describe yourself away from the field?

“I am super family and friend oriented. Gives me passion. Love and experiences with the people I care about. On the field you see an angry and passionate psycho. It’s cause of the environment we’re in. Away from the field I am nothing like that.”

You’re a foodie. What is your favourite food?

“Tacos. The flavours are different with every bite. I love Mexican culture, and I love to eat with people. Sharing food is a good moment. That’s how you get to know ppl.”

You recently returned from a 10-game suspension going back to the Winter Season. How good did it feel to step back onto the field, and what did you learn from your time away?

“I am happy and excited to be back. There was no nervousness, only excitement in my return. I was humbled. I realized that I let a lot of people down. I did a lot of self-reflection after the brawl, and I realized that it had nothing to do with football. I don’t regret it, but I regret the outcome. I didn’t get to play in two championship games. Friendships were lost, but that is just life. Outside stuff spilled onto the field. Time heals all, but I have no interest in going out of my way to rekindle those friendships. I am not looking for problems or going out of my way to start anything. I hope they’re cool. Me and my bro, we are good on our side. I want to be clear that I didn’t hit anyone. My fist lifted while I was pulling bodies off each other in the pile. Someone fell back, and it looked like I threw a punch. I should have been suspended, but not for the same length as some of the other guys (AJ Gomes, Isaiah Allard, Sean Semerjian). The biggest lesson that I learned, was that something that I took for granted, a thing that I loved the most was taken away from me.”

How do you feel people looked at you before and now after the incident?

“The perception some people have of me has tarnished some relationships. I can’t change the way I play but I will channel that energy in a different way. I won’t let people get under my skin and bring that negativity on to the field. Let a lot of people down. I learned that. That won’t happen again.”  

When you finally hang up your cleats, what do you want your legacy to be?

“I want to be seen as one of the best. As someone who played with crazy passion and always had the mindset to win and took into account all the things that came with it. I also want to be remembered as a player who always put the team first.”  

You are the Captain of The Infantry, where did that name come from?

“The name revolves around a collective. It is a collection of individuals, but it isn’t individualistic or a singular action. That is what this game is all about.”

Rapid Fire – guests must answer questions in about 10 words or less.

Why do you wear number 24?

“Kobe and Champ Bailey.”

What is the best way to describe you on the field?

“A dog and a weirdo.”

Who is your favourite football team?

“Denver Broncos.”

If you had to lose another championship game, who would you want it to be against?

“Jeff Rosenblatt. He is my friend. I hope he gets it if I don’t.”

Is there a player or team you refuse to play with?

“Braves. I’ll never wear the green and black.”

Who is your favourite boxer?

“Tank Davis.”

Who are the top five players you have played against?

“Kevin Wyeth, Pat Jérome, Quaysie Gordon-Maule, Isiah Allard and Anthony Brisebois.”

Who are the top five players you have played with?

“Sean Semerjian, James Drysdale, Kevin Wyeth, Pat Jérome and Paul Lapierre.”

What is your profession?

“I work for Damotech, the worldwide leader in rack and safety equipment.”