Outstanding 1940s UBC football player, received offer to play in the NFL. Later was player and General Manager in the CFL. All-Star at UBC in football and basketball, he helped make pro football and pro soccer popular in BC.
As a freshman in 1944, Herb Capozzi made the UBC Chiefs Intermediate 'A' basketball team and immediately established himself as the team's top scorer, sinking 19 points against the strong Thunderbird team in their initial meeting. "Big Herb Capozzi played another great game in the pivot spot for the Blue and Gold," reported the Ubyssey after an Intermediate' A' playoff game in 1945. In the final game of that particular playoff, Capozzi tied a UBC record by scoring 26 points.
After the 1944/45 basketball season Capozzi, who as a scorer was being compared favourably with Thunderbird star Sandy Robertson, was named the Intermediate 'A' League's Most Valuable Player. Capozzi made further sports news in 1945 by setting a new record in the 20-yard free-style at the UBC Intramural Swimming Championships.
On campus, the friendly and popular Kelowna, BC resident was elected unanimously as president of the freshman class of 1944.
After a brief hiatus during the war years, football returned to the UBC campus in 1945/46 and Capozzi, who had turned down a scholarship offer from St. Mary's College of California, was rated a top newcomer on the Blue and Gold team. "Capozzi was a standout on defense, at times almost single-handedly breaking up the Golden Bear attacks" reported the Ubyssey this season. His ability to block and open holes on the offensive line was a contributing factor in UBC's 1945 Hardy Cup victory over Alberta.
In addition to football in 1945, Capozzi again starred with the UBC Chiefs basketball team. He was the top scorer on this Senior 'A' entry that also boasted victories over U.S. competition. Capozzi this season "... plunked in the leather rather consistently... hoisted the melon through the hemp" and "played his size 62 heart out for the Chiefs" according to one John "Chick" Turner of the Ubyssey -- the same John Turner who would later become Prime Minister of Canada.
In 1946/47 Capozzi was now captain of the football team, a team playing American rules in the U.S. Pacific Northwest Conference. Although the UBC Thunderbirds this season were winless in this competitive league, Capozzi was selected to the All-Conference team as a lineman. Later this year he again was a stalwart on the UBC Chiefs basketball team playing in Vancouver's Senior 'A' league. At this time Capozzi competed in his third campus sport as he entered the UBC wrestling tournament, winning the heavyweight division.
Capozzi's athletic talents were becoming widely recognized as in January 1947 he received a professional contract offer from the New York Giants of the NFL for the 1947/48 season. The offer, however, was turned down. Capozzi again was a standout on the 1947/48 UBC Thunderbirds football team and although the team did not do well in the Pacific Northwest Conference, he was once again named to the All-Conference team. "When Capozzi hit 'em, they stayed down," reported one football writer. When the football season was completed, Capozzi returned to the UBC Chiefs basketball squad of the city Senior 'A' league. With his imposing 235-lb. frame, Capozzi teamed with Art Phillips and Normie Watt to lead the Chiefs to the league final against the defending Canadian champion Vancouver Cloverleafs.
Capozzi graduated from UBC in 1948 as one of the most heralded football players to wear the Blue and Gold as well as a major factor in UBC's success in Senior 'A' basketball.
Capozzi went on to play professional football with the Calgary Stampeders in 1952 and the Montreal Alouettes in 1953, 1954 and 1955, including two Grey Cup appearances. In 1957 at the tender age of 31, Capozzi was appointed General Manager of the BC Lions, a position he held until 1966. He was one of the team's most colorful and successful GMs as the Lions were involved in two Grey Cups during his administration and it was during this time Capozzi provided stability and oversaw the growth of the Lions.
Capozzi, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, was an elected MLA in Victoria as a member of the Social Credit party. Following his political career Capozzi returned to sports as one of the co-founders of the North American Soccer League Vancouver Whitecaps, a venture that was highlighted by it’s NASL championship year of 1979 which was one of the considerations in his induction into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame.
During these years Capozzi continued his athletic competition as he achieved the status of Canadian Masters Raquetball champion. Throughout he was a sought after public and motivational speaker often appearing at UBC functions. Capozzi has since been inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame and in 2014 the BC Football Hall of Fame in the Pioneer Building category.
This Inductee is also in the BC Sports Hall of Fame.
Researched and written by Fred Hume, UBC Athletics Historian
