With a new head coach, a rebuilt field and a fresh set of players, energy and excitement are buzzing through the air at Thunderbird Stadium.
“I want the players to have pride in the team, enjoy what they’re doing and believe in what’s happening,” says Shawn Olson, who is heading into his debut season as head coach of the Thunderbird football team. One of Olson’s first moves was to hire new coaching staff—all alumni. This is part of a new initiative to engage the alumni and create a new community.
“We can make the playoffs, we have enough talent. All we need is a few wins early in the season.”
The Thunderbirds haven’t made the playoffs since 2006, and haven’t won the Vanier Cup since 1997, when Olson was a quarterback for UBC. Now, there’s a growing optimism that this season could be different.
The university’s football team has undergone a re-haul since Olson was hired in January. The grass field has been replaced by synthetic turf; Olson has hired new coaching staff; and there will be 50 new faces on the field this fall.
The turf field represents a renewed support from UBC’s athletics department. The old grass field was dangerous, scattered with potholes, and during the rainy fall football season, it transformed into a mud pit. With the new turf, the team can get more use out of the field, practicing and playing on it. It can also be used by other varsity teams and for recreational activities.
With 50 new players, and 60 returning, the team will be larger than normal. Olson recruited high school graduates who can grow with the team. But, he also brought in guys who are ready to play, including junior players and transfer students from Simon Frasier University (SFU) who want to stay in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport league instead of following SFU to the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
“I want them to compete every single day” says Olson. We will push each other to be the best team we can be.”
Devin Kavanagh, a fourth-year linebacker who has been the T-Birds’ captain for the past two years, advises incoming players to “be excited for what you’re becoming a part of.”
The kinesiology student says the team was really down after the efforts of the last couple of seasons didn’t materialize into success. Kavanagh says Olson’s attitude has made a difference.
“He’s serious about the team,” says Kavanagh. “He knew how to make this work and got right to it.”
One of Olson’s first moves was to hire new coaching staff — all alumni. This is part of a new initiative to engage the alumni and create a new community.
“It’s about feeling like you’re part of something. For that, you need strong, motivated and passionate supporters,” says Olson, who played for UBC between 1996 and 2000.
“I have a vision of returning to everything at the heart of this sport: integrity, character, hard work, pride and passion.”
