# UBC Thunderbirds football

The UBC Thunderbirds football team represents the University of British Columbia athletics teams in U Sports and is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Thunderbirds program has won the CWUAA Hardy Trophy conference championship 17 times, which is third all-time among competing teams. On a national level, the team has won the Vanier Cup championship four times, in 1982, 1986, 1997 and, most recently, in 2015. The team has also lost twice in the title game, in 1978 and 1987. The Thunderbirds program has also yielded three Hec Crighton Trophy winners: Jordan Gagner in 1987, Mark Nohra in 1997, and, most recently, Billy Greene in 2011.

## Recent history

Following four straight seasons of playoff drought from 2007 to 2010, UBC finished with a 6–2 record in 2011 earning second place in the Canada West with an appearance in the Hardy Cup. Quarterback Billy Greene would also become the third Thunderbird to win the Hec Crighton Award that year. However, all team accolades would be for naught as an ineligible student-athlete, who played in all eight games, would force UBC to forfeit all six regular season wins as well as its post-season results from that year. The school was fined and the program was placed on probation for the following season. This seemed to halt any progress that was made as the team finished 2–6 for the 2012 season and out of the playoffs for the fifth time in six years.
In 2013, the team bounced back with a 4–4 regular season record led by a solid defense and running back Brandon Deschamps, who was one of only three running backs in Canada to rush for more than 1,000 yards. They would lose in the Canada West semifinal to the eventual Mitchell Bowl champion Calgary Dinos 42–28. The program would regress again in 2014 as they finished with another 2–6 record and out of the playoffs.
During the following off-season in 2015, UBC Athletics would draw the Dinos head coach, Blake Nill away from the Calgary Dinos in what was the most high-profile coaching change that year. Nill's impact was immediate as he was able to recruit quarterback Michael O'Connor, who was the ranked the sixth best quarterback by ESPN among the 2014 recruiting class. The Thunderbirds achieved a turnaround in Nill's debut season at the UBC helm to finish the 2015 regular season with a 6–2 record, placing second in the CWUAA standings. During the ensuing post-season drive of three straight single-elimination playoff games on the road, UBC upset the heavily favoured Calgary Dinos in the Hardy Cup game at Calgary; then defeated the St. Francis Xavier X-Men to earn its historical first Uteck Bowl victory at Antigonish, to advance to the national title game. In the 51st Vanier Cup championship, the Thunderbirds narrowly defeated the defending CIS champion Montreal Carabins, by scoring the game's last possession field goal to end the fourth quarter. The victory was UBC's fourth Vanier Cup overall, tying the Calgary Dinos for the all-time record among CWUAA member universities.

## Rivalries

Competing against the cross-town Simon Fraser University, the Thunderbirds and Simon Fraser Clan previously shared a long-standing local rivalry, which had been dormant since 2010. That year, SFU left the CIS for the NCAA's Division II Great Northwest Athletic Conference. These two teams did not play within the same governing bodies until 2002 (SFU played, prior to then, in the NAIA while UBC has always competed in U Sports), they would compete in an annual match-up known as the Shrum Bowl, named after Gordon Shrum. After SFU's realignment to NCAA Division II was confirmed, it seemed as though the annual match-up would be decommissioned. However, the two teams went on to renew the Shrum Bowl game as a one-off exhibition on October 8, 2010, at Thunderbird Stadium playing Canadian rules. After years of conflicts in their respective competition schedules, the two teams played again in 2022. While another game was scheduled for 2023, it was ultimately cancelled as SFU cancelled their football program in April 2023.

## Recent regular season results

| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Ties | PCT | PF | PA | Standing | Playoffs |
| 1997 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 688 | 195 | 130 | 1st in CW | Defeated Calgary Dinos in Hardy Cup 39–21 Defeated Mount Allison Mounties in Atlantic Bowl 34–29 Defeated Ottawa Gee-Gees in 33rd Vanier Cup 39–23 |
| 1998 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0.750 | 262 | 151 | 2nd in CW | Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in Hardy Cup 31–28 |
| 1999 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0.875 | 227 | 131 | 1st in CW | Defeated Calgary Dinos in CWUAA semi-final 27–14 Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in Hardy Cup 31–24 |
| 2000 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0.375 | 206 | 231 | 4th in CW | Lost to Manitoba Bisons in CWUAA semi-final 14–4 |
| 2001 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0.250 | 132 | 233 | 5th in CW | Out of Playoffs |
| 2002 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0.250 | 144 | 141 | 5th in CW | Out of Playoffs |
| 2003 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0.000 | 132 | 260 | 7th in CW | Out of Playoffs |
| 2004 | 8 | 5 | 3 | – | 0.625 | 235 | 212 | 3rd in CW | Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in CWUAA semi-final 39-0 |
| 2005 | 8 | 4 | 4 | – | 0.500 | 210 | 200 | 4th in CW | Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in CWUAA semi-final 32-6 |
| 2006 | 8 | 4 | 4 | – | 0.500 | 287 | 209 | 3rd in CW | Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in CWUAA semi-final 35–16 |
| 2007 | 8 | 3 | 5 | – | 0.375 | 167 | 198 | 5th in CW | Out of Playoffs |
| 2008 | 8 | 2 | 6 | – | 0.250 | 117 | 160 | 6th in CW | Out of Playoffs |
| 2009 | 8 | 3 | 5 | – | 0.375 | 110 | 263 | 5th in CW | Out of Playoffs |
| 2010 | 8 | 2 | 6 | – | 0.250 | 164 | 255 | 6th in CW | Out of Playoffs |
| 2011 | 8 | 0 | 8 | – | 0.000 | 58 | 72 | 2nd in CW | Defeated Saskatchewan Huskies in CWUAA semi-final 27–22 Lost to Calgary Dinos in Hardy Cup 62–13 Playoff results forfeited |
| 2012 | 8 | 2 | 6 | – | 0.250 | 193 | 297 | 5th in CW | Out of Playoffs |
| 2013 | 8 | 4 | 4 | – | 0.500 | 256 | 215 | 4th in CW | Lost to Calgary Dinos in CWUAA semi-final 42–28 |
| 2014 | 8 | 2 | 6 | – | 0.250 | 175 | 293 | 6th in CW | Out of Playoffs |
| 2015 | 8 | 6 | 2 | – | 0.750 | 289 | 239 | 2nd in CW | Defeated Manitoba Bisons in CWUAA semi-final 52-10 Defeated Calgary Dinos in Hardy Cup 34–26 Defeated St. Francis Xavier X-Men in Uteck Bowl 36–9 Defeated Montreal Carabins in 51st Vanier Cup 26–23 |
| 2016 | 8 | 3 | 5 | – | 0.375 | 250 | 245 | 4th in CW | Defeated Regina Rams in CWUAA semi-final 40–34 Lost to Calgary Dinos in Hardy Cup 46–43 |
| 2017 | 8 | 6 | 2 | – | 0.750 | 231 | 172 | 2nd in CW | Defeated Regina Rams in CWUAA semi-final 28–21 Lost to Calgary Dinos in Hardy Cup 44–43 |
| 2018 | 8 | 5 | 3 | – | 0.625 | 174 | 190 | 2nd in CW | Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in CWUAA semi-final 31–28 (OT) |
| 2019 | 8 | 2 | 6 | – | 0.250 | 163 | 311 | 6th in CW | Out of Playoffs |
| 2020 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021 | 6 | 3 | 3 | – | 0.500 | 135 | 221 | 4th in CW | Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in CWUAA semi-final 39–17 |
| 2022 | 8 | 4 | 4 | – | 0.500 | 182 | 186 | 3rd in CW | Defeated Regina Rams in CWUAA semi-final 28–14 Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in Hardy Cup 23–9 |
| 2023 | 8 | 6 | 2 | – | 0.750 | 271 | 156 | 1st in CW | Defeated Manitoba Bisons in CWUAA semi-final 29–21 Defeated Alberta Golden Bears in Hardy Cup 28–27 Defeated St. Francis Xavier X-Men in Mitchell Bowl 47–17 Lost to Montreal Carabins in 58th Vanier Cup 16–9 |
| 2024 | 8 | 5 | 3 | – | 0.625 | 216 | 222 | 2nd in CW | Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in CWUAA semi-final 38–33 |
^ A. In 2011, due to an administrative sanction, UBC retroactively forfeited its six regular season wins. UBC's ensuing post-season games were also removed from record by the Canada West Universities Athletic Association, citing UBC Athletics' submission of an erroneous eligibility declaration regarding one of its active roster players.

## National postseason results

Vanier Cup Era (1965–present) :
| Year | Game | Opponent | Result |
| 1976 | Churchill Bowl | Western | L 8–30 |
| 1978 | Churchill Bowl Vanier Cup | Laurier Queen's | W 25–16 L 3–16 |
| 1982 | Atlantic Bowl Vanier Cup | St. FX Western | W 54–1 W 39–14 |
| 1986 | Churchill Bowl Vanier Cup | Bishop's Western | W 32–30 W 25–23 |
| 1987 | Churchill Bowl Vanier Cup | Laurier McGill | W 33–31 L 11–47 |
| 1997 | Atlantic Bowl Vanier Cup | Mount Allison Ottawa | W 34–29 W 39–23 |
| 2015 | Uteck Bowl Vanier Cup | St. FX Montreal | W 36–9 W 26–23 |
| 2023 | Mitchell Bowl Vanier Cup | St. FX Montreal | W 47–17 L 9–16 |
UBC is 7–1 in national semi-final games and 4–3 in the Vanier Cup.

## Head coaches

| Name | Years |
| Gordon Burke | 1923–1936 |
| Maury Van Vliet | 1937–1941 |
| John Farina | 1942 |
| No team | 1943–1944 |
| Greg Kabat | 1945–1947 |
| Don Wilson | 1948 |
| Orville Burke | 1949–1950 |
| Hjalmer “Jelly” Anderson | 1951–1952 |
| Don Coryell | 1953–1954 |
| Frank Gnup | 1955–1972 |
| Norm Thomas | 1973 |
| Frank Smith | 1974–1994 |
| Casey Smith | 1995–1997 |
| Dave Johnson | 1998 |
| Jay Prepchuk | 1999–2001 |
| Laurent DesLauriers | 2002–2005 |
| Ted Goveia | 2006–2009 |
| Shawn Olson | 2010–2014 |
| Blake Nill | 2015–present |

## Awards and honours
### National award winners

* Hec Crighton Trophy: Jordan Gagner (1987), Mark Nohra (1997), Billy Greene (2011)
* J. P. Metras Trophy: Tyson St. James (1999), Theo Benedet (2022, 2023)
* Presidents' Trophy: Mike Emery (1981, 1982), Mark Norman (1986)
* Peter Gorman Trophy: Glen Steele (1981)
* Russ Jackson Award: Nathan Beveridge (2004)
* Frank Tindall Trophy: Frank Smith (1978, 1987)

### UBC Awards

* Michael O'Connor 2016 UBC Thunderbirds Male Athlete of the Year Co-winner
* 2016 du Vivier UBC Team of the Year Award

#### UBC Hall of Fame

* 2016 inductee: Jordan Gagner, Quarterback
* 2021 inductee: Akbal Singh

## Thunderbirds in the CFL

As of the end of the 2024 CFL season, nine Thunderbirds alumni were active in the Canadian Football League, having transitioned to professional football:
* Ryan Baker, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
* Luke Burton-Krahn, Edmonton Elks
* Nic Cross, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
* Elliot Graham, Calgary Stampeders
* Ben Hladik, BC Lions
* Stavros Katsantonis, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
* Lake Korte-Moore, Saskatchewan Roughriders
* Daniel Kwamou, Toronto Argonauts
* Kyle Samson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
As of the start of the 2024 NFL season, three former UBC players are on NFL teams' rosters:
* Theo Benedet, Chicago Bears
* Dakoda Shepley, Dallas Cowboys
* Giovanni Manu, Detroit Lions