David Sidoo's playing career at UBC starting in 1978 spanned five memorable years followed by a career in the CFL and in the 2000s, an influential and successful builder of sport at UBC.
With the completion of the 1980 season, Sidoo was voted UBC football's Most Valuable Player. He was also selected to the Canada West All-Star team for three consecutive years, 1980, 1981 and 1982. Sidoo was selected not only for his work on special teams but also for his excellent play as a defensive back.
In 1981, Sidoo was selected the Shrum Bowl Defensive Player of the Game and in addition was awarded the prestigious Tom Pate Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is given annually by the Canadian Football League to a student athlete who embodies the qualities of outstanding sportsmanship, contribution to his team and contribution to his community.
Heading into the 1982 season Sidoo held two UBC career records; most kickoff return yardage and most punt return yardage, two career marks that were later broken by Laurent DesLauriers. Sidoo did set a UBC playoff record this season returning a kickoff 96 yards against Manitoba.
In 1982 Sidoo helped captain UBC’s football team to its first Vanier Cup victory. This same 1982 season Sidoo was selected to the All-Canadian Team as a safety – one of six Thunderbirds to make the All-Canadian Team that season. In a career spanning 1978-1982, Sidoo totaled 1054 yards in punt returns and 731 yards in kickoff returns. In '81 and '82 alone, he recorded 8 interceptions for 96 yards.
At the end of 1982 Sidoo was drafted by the BC Lions yet signed with Saskatchewan in 1983 where he played five years for the Roughriders before returning to BC in 1988 to play one year with the Lions.
Sidoo and his 1982 UBC teammates were inducted as a team into both the UBC Sports Hall of Fame and the BC Football Hall of Fame.
Since graduating with a BPE in 1983, David Sidoo has become a well-known story in Vancouver and as a UBC alumnus has enthusiastically engaged in and supported both UBC and UBC Athletics. For example, in 2013 and 2014 Sidoo led a group of successful UBC alumni in raising money to not only “save” UBC football but to elevate the program to become among the best in the nation. In fact, in 2015 this rejuvenated team went all the way, winning the Vanier Cup. Sidoo’s intentions along with those of his “team” is to serve not just football but other UBC sports as well. In 2013 Sidoo was appointed by the province to the UBC Board of Governors while continuing to play an integral role in helping build sport at UBC and in 2014 Sidoo received the CFL Bob Ackles Award from the BC Football Hall of Fame.
A catalyst in bringing together the community, Sidoo is quoted as saying “Sports are just so galvanizing. You’re one team, all doing it together.”
Researched and written by Fred Hume, UBC Athletics Historian
