Every weekday until UBC football's home opener on September 9th, GoThunderbirds.ca will release five former T-Birds on the list of 'The Top 100 UBC Football Players'. Follow along on the UBC football page of GoThunderbirds.ca. Support the 2017 version of the UBC Thunderbirds football program by purchasing your season tickets today at GoThunderbirds.ca/tickets.
 
Who is the greatest Thunderbird to ever play football for UBC? A lofty question and one that is hard to quantify. Comparing football players through generations is challenging. The game of football has seen countless changes in rules and equipment, since the first team of what were then called Canadian rugby-football players formed at Point Grey in 1923.
 
These obstacles did not deter UBC defensive coordinator Pat Tracey, however. Tracey, a self-confessed football stats and history 'geek', wanted to compile an easy to digest ranking list for fans and alumni alike. He went to work devising a ranking system to create a final compilation: 'The Top 100 UBC Football Players'.
 
Here are numbers 85-81. Let the debate begin.
 
85) Chris Hoople (DB):

• Hardy Cup Finalist ('96)
• Tied UBC Lead in Interceptions (97)
• Vanier Cup Champion ('97)
• Canada West All-Star ('98)
• All-Canadian ('98) 
• 2nd Rd pick, 12th overall CFL ('99-'04 MTL, CAL, SASK, BC)

 
84) Mark Nykolaichuk (DB):

• Hardy Cup, Western Bowl Champion ('87)
• Led UBC in Fumble Returns, Interception Return Yards and tied lead for Interceptions TD's ('85), including 85-yard vs. Alberta, Nov. 9th, 1985
• Tied UBC lead for Longest Interception Return 62-yards vs. Saskatchewan, Sept. 26^th, 1987
• Led UBC with Longest Interception Return 18-yards vs. Calgary, Oct. 29^th, 1988 
• 8th Rd pick, 63rd overall CFL BC Lions

 
83) Glenn Wallace (RB):

• Hardy Cup Champion ('76)
• Hardy Cup Finalist ('77)
• Led UBC in Carries ('76)
• Set UBC records for Most Carries in a Season (203) and Rushing TD's in a Season (13)

 
82) Mark Wald (DL/OL):

• Hardy Cup Champion ('76)
• Hardy Cup Finalist ('77)
• Hardy Cup and Western Bowl Champion ('78)
• Canada West All-Star (78,79)
• CFL ('80-'81 EDM)

 
81) Jordan Grieve (WR/PR):

• Led UBC in Receiving ('09,'11,'12)
• Led UBC in All-Purpose Yardage ('11)
• Led Can-West Receiving Yardage Leader ('11)
• Canada West All-Star ('11)
• All-Canadian ('11) 
• Set UBC record for longest reception in a Game (98 yards)