SECOND GENERATION CONFERENCE ALL-STAR

With Thomas Spoletini being named to the 2013 Canada West all-star team, history has been made with the Dinos football team. For the first time since the program was started in 1964 both a father and his son have been named to the Conference all-star team.

Father Tom Spoletini was named to the all Conference team at offensive tackle in 1984 and the following January became the first Canadian trained university player to participate in the prestigious East West Shrine football game.

Both Spoletinis played as pure freshmen in the program. Tom started immediately after joining the team in 1981 at offensive tackle while Thomas saw special team action as a pure freshman from Rundle College in 2009 and dressed in the Vanier Cup loss to Queen’s.

Both were drafted by CFL teams, Thomas by Saskatchewan this past spring and Tom by the Calgary Stampeders in 1985 where he played for six years along the offensive line.

Thomas earned Canada West all-star recognition at the outside linebacker position in 2013 on the strength of his solid play in the six Canada West regular season games.

Young Spoletini had 18 solo tackles, a dozen assisted tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and three quarterback sacks despite missing a pair games due to back spasms. Thomas played a key role in the Dinos having the first perfect season in the regular season in school history, something his father did not accomplish.

Thomas has been a part of a trio of Conference Championship teams. His father was a part of two Conference Championship teams (1983, 1984) and was member of the inaugural Dinos first Vanier Cup Championship team in 1983.

Tom’s passion for the program remains strong 30 years after his departure. He is a fixture at all the team’s games and has been one of the driving forces by the behind the Dinos 5^th Quarter.

“He (Thomas) may have the perfect season and three Conference championships, but I have a Vanier Cup ring,” laughs father Tom when teased about his son’s accomplishments. 

Thomas and the rest of the team working hard to make sure they get a ring in 2013.