Thunderbird Athletics
Don’t expect any surprises when you ask UBC Thunderbirds football head coach Casey
Smith how he feels about his team’s chances in 1997. Likely as not, he will
respond with the usual guarded optimism and a statement about how the CIAU’s Canada
West conference is always the toughest.
But just how good is Smith’s 1997 squad? And is his statement about the competitiveness
of the league an accurate one?
With 16 starters returning from last year’s Hardy Cup finalist squad, including
stand-out pivot Shawn Olson and all-Canadians Mark Nohra and Bob
Beveridge, T-Bird fans have reason to be genuinely enthusiastic about the
1997 campaign. As for the league, let’s look at some facts.
There are 24 teams playing football in the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic
Union (CIAU), yet eight of the last 15 Vanier Cup Championships have gone to
teams from the five-member Canada West conference. More specifically, those
eight national championships have been shared by just three teams — UBC, Saskatchewan
and Calgary. The statement is accurate — the West is best. As for the most
recent history, last year’s Vanier Cup went to Saskatchewan while the 1995 crown
went to Calgary.
The 1997 debut for UBC is, appropriately enough, a Sept. 5th date at home
with Saskatchewan. UBC won its final three games of last season to finish 5-3
and capture a play-off spot, but was eliminated by Saskatchewan in the Hardy
Cup (CWUAA Championship) Nov. 4 in Saskatoon. Saskatchewan returns what could
well be the best defense in the country. The Husky defensive unit will see only
three new faces on UBC’s side of the line of scrimmage as a total of nine starters
return to the T-Bird offensive line-up.
Led by Olson, a second-year quarterback who sparked the UBC offense beginning
mid-way through last season, the T-Birds should be equally threatening on the
ground as in the air. The ground game will revolve around running back Akbal
Singh, a second-year speedster who transferred to UBC last year from the
Renfrew Trojans, and Nohra, a fifth-year fullback who was UBC’s MVP last year
and a draft pick of the Hamilton Tiger Cats.
The backfield will be aided in very large measure by an impressive offensive
line, led by Bob Beveridge, a 1997 first-round pick by the B.C. Lions and last
year’s Bobby Gaul Award winner as UBC’s Most Outstanding Graduating Male Athlete.
At 6-6 and 295 lbs., Beveridge will anchor an offensive line which features
three other fifth-year seniors in 1995 CWUAA all-star Jim Cooper (6-1,
246 lbs.), David Pol (6-3, 275 lbs.) and Andrew Plant (5-11, 272
lbs.).
Despite the loss of second-team all-Canadian receiver Simon Beckow,
the T-Bird aerial attack will be a source of concern for all opposition secondaries.
Expectations are high for fifth-year all-purpose veteran Dino Camparmo
and second-year sensation Brad Coutts, who produced 725 yards on 40 receptions
last year, as well as Andrew Newton, a third-year player who showed tremendous
improvement in the second half of last season. One of the more promising newcomers
is freshman Joe Orel, an all-Canadian last year with the Vancouver Island
Sharks of the B.C. Junior Football League (BCJFL).
While the Birds clearly have the firepower to put the ball in the end zone,
the kicking game remains the biggest concern for T-Bird coaching staff. The
loss of both Nathan Ngieng and Jamie Boreham has left coaches
looking for both a kicker and a punter.
The defense returns seven starters, but perhaps most significantly it has
a new coach. Former Abbotsford Air Force head coach Dave Johnson was
named as the UBC defensive co-ordinator during the off-season. With the graduation
of 1996 CWUAA all-star linebacker Cory Bymoen and defensive lineman Steve
Hansen, Johnson will build a defensive front around fourth-year linemen
Alex Charles and Benjie Hutchison as well as sophomore Ryan Attwell.
The linebacking corps sees the return of Canada West all-stars Dan Elliott
(6-2, 225 lbs.) and 1995 CWUAA all-star Casey Souter (6, 208 lbs.), however,
both Smith and Johnson are enthusiastic about a number of new players, particularly
5-11, 200 lbs. Stuart Scherck, a second-year transfer from Western Montana;
5-11, 229 lbs. BCJFL all-star Tyson St. James from Abbotsford Air Force
and 5-11, 192 lbs. B.C. High School all-star Patrick Rogers (Vancouver
College).
Look for the secondary to have some great competition with veteran returnees
Ryan McWhinney (1995 CWUAA Rookie-of-the-Year); Strachan Hartley,
Chris Hoople, Mark Peppin, Dan Rootes, Art Tolhurst and fifth-year
seniors Paul Girodo and Curtis Galick, all fighting for starting
assignments. Hartley, who sat out last season after a severe leg injury in the
1995 season, made a big impression in spring training. Transfers Shane Sommerfeld,
a fourth-year all-American transfer from Dickinson State, and Greg Hallifax
from Rocky Mountain College will also push the veterans for starting assignments.
In total, a solid nucleus of 42 players from the 1996 season will return to
the Thunderbird locker room this season, and several of the 24 new recruits
are expected to step in and contribute right away.
"We feel we have the right mix of youth, experience and personalities
to take us through the regular season and beyond," states Smith. "I
was very proud of the way our guys turned it around mid-way through last season.
The goal for this season is to take the next step and win the playoffs, but
a lot of hard work has to be done by everyone to get there."
In addition to head coaching duties, Smith will serve as offensive co-ordinator
and quarterback coach. Defensive co-ordinator Johnson will also specialize with
the defensive front seven and will be assisted by CFL veteran Chris Tsangaris.
Noel Thorpe returns to work with the defensive secondary as well as strength
and conditioning. Former T-Bird all-Canadian centre Andrew Butschler
is back for a third year on the coaching staff and will oversee the offensive
line. The receivers will be coached by Craig Smith and running backs
by Brad Driscoll.
T-Bird Football Schedule
All home games (bold) played at Thunderbird Stadium
Fri. Sept. 5 vs University of Saskatchewan, 7 p.m.
Sat. Sept. 13 at University of Alberta
Fri. Sept. 19 vs University of Calgary, 7 p.m.
Sat. Sept. 27 at University of Manitoba
Sat. Oct. 4 Shrum Bowl at Swangard Stadium, 7 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 11 at University of Saskatchewan
Fri. Oct. 17 vs University of Alberta, 7 p.m.
Sat. Oct 25 at University of Calgary
Fri. Oct 31 vs University of Manitoba, 7 p.m.
Sat. Nov. 8 Canada West Final
Sat. Nov. 15 CWUAA at AUAA
Sat. Nov. 22 Vanier Cup, Toronto, Skydome
