Thursday 30 October 2014

Reflections on the 1983 Vanier Cup



You started the season 0-2 in what was the Western Intercollegiate Football League and then managed to win eight straight games and capture the Vanier Cup with a new Head Coach. What turned the season around and when were you confident that you could perhaps win the Conference title?
The fact it was Peter’s (Connellan) first year took everyone time to gel. There was no panic from the coaches, the system did not change and we found our way. We knew we had talent on both sides of the football. When we ran off four straight wins we knew we would be in the mix in our Conference that was so tough.

What is your memory the events surrounding the Vanier Week festivities in 1983?
I was in Toronto the year before for the nomination for the Hec Crighton but it was special to have the entire team with me in 1983. I remember the warm up and throng of Queens fans entering the stadium. We knew we were in a hostile environment that was very collegiate. I remember they (Vanier Cup organizing committee) did a very good job staging the events we attended, it was first-class.

What was the pressure during the week and going into the game against Queens with you being the University of Calgary’s first Hec Crighton Trophy winner and trying to win the school’s first ever Vanier Cup?
I do not remember feeling the pressure but was comfortable with the people I was surrounded with. We were very good friends and knew if everyone played well we would be fine. It was a very novel situation so I enjoyed every minute of it.

What is your fondest memory of the Vanier Cup win over Queens?
The last touchdown drive that put us in front is a lasting memory. What was very special was having our families down there (Toronto). The event that University put on afterwards made it very special for the players and families.

You led the entire game by a large margin until Queens recovered a punt fumble to go ahead before your game winning touchdown drive what is your recollection of that drive and how confident were you could take lead back?
I remember everyone being calm. We went into that drive with just over three minutes remaining. No one was in panic mode. There was a concern that we missed on some drives to score touchdowns instead of field goals. We knew what we needed to get the game won.

What do you remember of the celebrations once you returned home with the Vanier Cup?
We all were surprised by the media coverage and the engagement from the city as a whole. It was great fun to be treated so well by everyone. The entire community was behind us.

Explain the bond that currently exists to this day between the players and parents from the 1983 Vanier Cup Championship team?
We all went on, got married and raised families and have our careers. My wedding party was three players from that team. We have gone on to give something back to the community and the program. The combination of personalities and success basically is the bond that ties everyone together for such a long period of time. The entire group, players, coaches, and support staff remains a special group, very special even after all these years.

What did the Vanier Cup win do for you inside and outside of football?
Inside of football it created a chance for me to go to the next level, outside the name recognition allowed me to go into business. There was an element of trust when I showed up to meet someone I did not know that created opportunity for me that would not have been there if I had the 1983 season.

What did you after your varsity career?
Greg went on to play five years in the Canadian Football League. In 1984 he became a starting quarterback for the Calgary Stampeders winning six games. He graduated with BComm and Law degrees from the University of Calgary. He operates an oil and gas company in Calgary with his father that he still is involved with today.  He served as Offensive Coordinator for the Dinos for five years under Head Coach Blake Nill. Greg remains extremely active with the Dinos football alumni (Dinos 5th Quarter) serving as their President giving back to program. He was inducted into the inaugural class of the University of Calgary Athletic Hall of Fame and along with his teammates are members of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame along with the 1983 and 1985 Vanier Cup Championship teams.


Reflections on the 1985 Vanier Cup



What is your fondest memory of your Vanier Cup win in 1985?
Winning the game, basically shutting them (Western Ontario) out except for the first drive. It was my last college game and a good way to end my college career with the guys I played with for four years.

What was the difference between winning in 1983 and winning again in 1985?
In 1983 the focus was on our offense with Greg Vavra, Tim Petros and our offensive unit.  We had such a prolific offensive attack, but this team was built on defense. Field conditions were poor so defense was so important in the 1985. 

The Dinosaurs were just 2-2 at the midway point of the 1985 season then went unbeaten the rest of the way outscoring their opponents in the playoffs by huge margins including the Freezer Bowl against Carleton Ravens in Calgary. What turned the season around?
We had a veteran team and were motivated after what happened in 1984 when we had such a great team coming up short at Guelph after winning in 1983. We wanted to go out on top as many of us were in our final year of school. Our conference was really tough that year. We went 6-2 but some of our wins were really close games.

Describe the feeling of winning two Vanier Cups in the span of three years?
Simply an awesome feeling with great friendships of the guys we had from 1983. In 1983 I was in my first year as a starter and only in my second year with the team. In 1985 I was a senior with experience.

After Western Ontario scored on their initial drive of the game, they never made it beyond your 45 yard line for the remainder of the game, how confident were you in your defence?
We knew we had a great defense with a solid front seven and great secondary. All the media attention was on them in the Ontario press. I believe, their quarterback Samways was the All-Canadian so we knew to be ready, and had confidence our defence would be able to stop them. We were not fazed at all after the first drive. We blocked the convert and took it from there. We had great experienced coaches such Peter Connellan and Rick Coleman and just reloaded. Darcy Kopp anchored our secondary and Wade Buteau was an awesome middle linebacker, both were experienced leaders and players.

What is your fondest memory of the trip home?
Having the Vanier Cup next me on the plane ride was awesome. Somehow I wound up with it and a picture of that was on the front page of the Calgary Herald.

How did winning the Vanier Cup affect your professional career in football and your career after football?
It had a great influence. I had the opportunity to go the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp and was a final cut. Playing in big games definitely helped my experience in so many ways. I was fortunate to be on two Vanier Cup Championship teams and two Grey Cup Championship teams in football which is a total team sport.  

How do you remain in touch with the players that you played with on those two Championship teams?|
I look back at the bond of friendships I had made with the teammates. We are still friends with many of those guys. The bulk of our guys were local players and southern Alberta players. Our parents were close and we remain close after these years. We see other around town all the time and with myself coaching I see lots of the guys. A couple of their sons now play for us.

What are you doing now?
I am defensive line coach with the Dinos and work for a medical device company BSN that manufactures medical products. Football helped me get the job because of the creditability as a patient and one of the products we sold was casts. I took the career from there. Never come across any situation in business where the honesty you get from film with your peers, good or bad, makes you accountable. Kent was drafted first overall in the Canadian Football League Draft in 1986 and had tryout with Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League and was one of their last cuts. He also played in the prestigious East West Shrine game. He joined the Calgary Stampeders and later played for the BC Lions winning Grey Cups with both teams. He was CFL all-Canadian in 1990.

Wednesday 1 October 2014

BADLANDS IS BACK!

DINOS FOOTBALL 5TH QUARTER ASSOCIATION IS PROUD TO PRESENT THE “BADLANDS” AS A PREGAME TAILGATE EVENT PRIOR TO THIS WEEK’S CANADA WEST FOOTBALL GAME FEATURING OUR UC DINOS AND THE VISITING UNIVERSITY OF REGINA RAMS. THIS INVITATION IS EXTENDED TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE “DINOS FOOTBALL FAMILY” INCLUDING, UC STAFF AND STUDENTS, DINOS FAMILY AND FRIENDS, 5Q DINNER SUPPORTERS AND ALL DINOS ALUMNI. EVENT DETAILS:

WHAT: DINOS FOOTBALL PREGAME TAILGATE AND CASH BAR

WHEN: OCTOBER 4, 2014 - 12:00 NOON TO GAME TIME (2:00PM)

WHERE: McMAHON STADIUM – RED AND WHITE CLUB

WHY: BECAUSE THE “13TH MAN” WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

WHO: THE ENTIRE DINOS FOOTBALL FAMILY

ADMISSION: CHILDREN UNDER 6 AND STUDENTS - $15.00
             
ALL OTHERS - $20.00
      
 GAME TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR - $12.00

PLEASE HELP US PLAN BY PURCHASING YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE AT WWW.DINOS5THQUARTER.COM