Opponent: Alberta Golden Bears
Date: Friday, September 4
Time: 6 p.m. (PST)
Location: Edmonton
Radio: CiTR 101.9 FM (CiTR)

A Look at the Thunderbirds
UBC enters week two of the season searching for their first win of the 2009-10 campaign following a 26-7 loss at home to the Simon Fraser Clan last weekend. The T-Birds dominated the clock in the first half to the tune of more than 18 minutes of possession but trailed 10-7 at the half after giving up a late score to the Clan. The momentum stuck with the visitors in the second half as UBC was unable to put together any scoring drives.

Offensively, sophomore quarterback Billy Greene had a great start to the game, going 9-for-13 for 83 yards and his first career touchdown in the first half but a serious of miscues limited what could have been a much better afternoon as he ended the day 14-for-23 for 118 yards.

Jordan Grieve was Greene's favourite target, making five catches including the lone score. In total, nine UBC receivers had receptions on the day, a positive sign for a passing game still finding its identity. UBC had more success moving the ball along the ground with junior Dave Boyd netting 100 yards rushing on just 11 carries while fifth-year Cheng Wei had 62 yards on 10 carries.

Defensively the T-Birds were solid in the 'bend but don't break' model as they held the Clan to four field goals and just two scores despite SFU's advantage in the field position battle. The first touchdown drive started right at midfield while the second major came late in the fourth quarter after a UBC turnover on their own 15.

Safety Alex Babalos was active all afternoon making seven solo tackles to lead the secondary after fifth-year halfback Tyler Codron was injured in the first quarter. Defensive tackle Serge Kaminsky made five tackles including two solo sacks while rush end Shaun Kalkat had two total tackles and a sack. The T-Birds new, and young, defensive line needs to continue to gel as Kaminsky and Kalkat were really the only two to make an impression on Saturday. Linebackers Nathan Kanya (six tackles), Scott Thiessen (four), and Devin Kavanagh (3.5) picked up some of the slack and played well despite the absence of fifth-year Braydon Hobbs who injured his knee in training camp.

On special teams, the T-Birds relied on rookies Billy Pavlopoulos and Michael Guidi for punting and kicking responsibilities and the duo was solid in their first ever CIS games. Guidi was called upon three times, once for a successful PAT and for a pair of kick-offs (44 yard average). Pavlopoulos was the busier of the two, punting nine times for an average of 33.4 yards with a long of 47. The UBC cover teams faced a stiff test in SFU speedster Jeff Thompson who tallied 134 return yards on seven attempts and will need to improve in the coming weeks.

A Look at the Golden Bears
The Alberta Golden Bears are looking to make the Canada West playoffs for the first time in three seasons, but they have to contend with a strong conference, a tough schedule and some big changes to the offensive lineup. An overhauled offence, coupled with a schedule that sees them play the Saskatchewan Huskies (first place, 6-2 in 2008) and the defending Hardy Trophy champion Calgary Dinos (second, 5-3 in 2008) twice, will be the road blocks to success this year.

Another major question mark for the Golden Bears is at starting quarterback with the arrival of former Calgary Dino Julian Marchand who could challenge Quade Armstrong for the starter's role. Armstrong threw for 1,253 yards and five scores last season, respectable numbers in the Canada West, but he was also picked off 11 times and led Alberta to just a 2-6 record last season.

Gone from the Bears are four of their best offensive players from 2008, as linemen Simeon Rottier and Gord Hinse were high draft picks in the CFL draft, while top receivers Aaron Holba and Damon Fraietta have moved on. Also gone from the receiving core is Zach Kohn, who represented the Bears at the 2009 CIS East-West Bowl, because of an injury, forcing him to likely miss the entire season. Sophomores Mike Wasylyniuk (24 catches for 360 yards and one TD) and Matt Orlicz (17 catches for 150 yards and one TD) are the lone returning starters among pass-catchers.

Despite the loss of Rottier and Hinse, the offensive line should be strong with the return of fourth-year offensive lineman Terris Paliwoda, who will anchor the line, while Nicholas Ternovatsky and Ben Downs will be looked upon for leadership as returning starters. Behind them is returning starting running back Tendayi Jozzy (565 yards, four TDs on 114 carries), tailback Matt Jarvis (317 yards, two TDs on 59 carries) and fullback Dale Stevenson (eight catches for 120 yards). The team remains mostly intact on the defensive side of the ball, having lost two starters (DL Kyle Pagnucco and LB Scott Stevenson) to fifth-year status, and one (DE Greg Whelan) to a free-agent contract with the Edmonton Eskimos.

Dan Bass Jr. (fifth) and Jean-Marc Jones (fourth) return to lead the linebackers. Sophomore Craig Gerbrandt, who posted 44.5 tackles and six sacks in his debut season last year, will cause problems from his defensive end position, while the secondary should be buoyed by the return of Chris Muchena and Randon Ralph at the corner positions.

Newcomers looking to make an impact with the defence are Bo Onyschuck, a linebacker transfer from the 2007 Dinos and a two-time CJFL champion with the Edmonton Huskies, and defensive back Hayden Bell, from the Victoria Rebels junior program, where he was the team leader in interceptions in 2008. Defensive end Corey Kuzik could start in Whelan's absence.

T-Birds to Watch
Dave Boyd: The junior running back from Duncan, B.C., was nearly unstoppable last week against SFU when given the ball. He gained 100 yards on the ground on just 11 carries (9.1 yards per carry) and had a long of 30 yards. He looked both speedy and strong, at times going past the SFU defenders and other times right through them. Although fifth-year Cheng Wei was also solid (62 yards on 10 carries) Boyd established himself as the go to guy in the offence. For good measure he also caught a pair of passes out of the back field (19 yards) and should see even more touches this week.

Spencer Betts: Last season's rookie highlight reel, Betts was pretty quiet in the first game of his sophomore year. With the potential to break open any game at any given moment, UBC is going to rely on Betts' big play ability to help swing the momentum of games. A good relationship with quarterback Greene should mean a highlight isn't too far down the road but the T-Birds need that to start this week in Edmonton.

Alex Babalos: All over the field last week for the T-Birds, the second-year safety made an impressive seven solo tackles. His importance went up even more after the secondary lost its leader in fifth-year Tyler Codron to a knee injury in the first quarter and despite his youth Babalos is now the anchor of a talented secondary unit. A run stuffer with a nose from making the big hit, the T-Birds are now going to lean on Babalos to make some big plays in the air.

Save-On Foods on board as new UBC Athletics partner
The UBC Thunderbirds have a new partner for the 2009-10 season in Save-On Foods.

They will be one of the major sponsors of this year's Homecoming on September 26. The UBC Thunderbirds' biggest football event of the year, Save-On Foods will be onsite at Thunderbird Stadium providing hot dogs with all the fixings at the tailgate party which begins at 12:30 p.m. For $2, every T-Bird fan will be able to enjoy a hot dog and a drink with all proceeds benefitting UBC Athletics.

This year's Homecoming game sees the Thunderbirds host the Regina Rams with kick-off scheduled for 2 p.m.