UBC Sports Hall of Fame
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The UBC Thunderbirds football team has an impressive history. As of 2021, the program has won the Canada West Hardy Trophy conference championship 16 times. The team has also won the Vanier Cup national championship 4 times. The late 1990's championships can be directly linked with UBC superstar, Mark Nohra. Mark Nohra, now a successful trial lawyer in Vancouver BC, was a dynamic running back and full back for UBC before turning pro after being drafted by the CFL.
Nohra studied Political Science while he attended UBC and continued to display discipline and perseverance outside the classroom as well as on the field. 1997 was one of UBC's best campaigns ever with the team being led by Nohra. He was selected as both an All-Canadian and the U SPORTS outstanding football player of the year winning the prestigious Hec Crighton Trophy. In addition, Nohra led the team to the Vanier Cup championship and received a nod as game Co-MVP. Nohra was the first Thunderbird ever to win the Vanier Cup and Hec Crighton Trophy in the same year. Nohra set 3 UBC season rushing records, was awarded the Bobby Gaul Award as UBC's outstanding male athlete and ended this final year with being invited to the Buffalo Bills training camp, truly one of the great backs in UBC history.
After graduating from UBC, Nohra decided to continue pursuing football professionally. He played in the CFL for 8 years, most notably with the BC Lions. Nohra ran for 2,042 yards in his CFL careers on 428 attempts, scoring 10 rushing touchdowns. He also caight 58 passes for 573 yards and 2 receiving touchdowns playing for the Lions, Edmonton Eskimos and Ottawa Renegades, 1998 through 2006. During this time, Nohra also served as an assitstant coach with UBC football. UBC rushing records, Hardy Trophy, Vanier Cup, Hec Crighton Award, NFL interest and CFL career - a UBC career for the ages!
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