Following the success and response to last summer's unveiling of 'The Top 100 UBC Football Players' of all time on gothunderbirds.ca the man that spearheaded and compiled that list, third-year Thunderbirds Defensive Coordinator Pat Tracey is back with the selections for 'UBC's All-Decade teams', beginning with the 1970's.
 
In selecting 'UBC's All-Decade teams', Tracey used a similar ranking system as the 'The Top 100'.  He then consulted with legendary UBC Head Coach Frank Smith and former players of this decade to compile an outstanding representation of Thunderbirds from 1970-1979.                             
 
"The football program is nearing 100 years of sporting history and we wanted to continue our celebration of honoring the program by bringing the past and future together.  We are recognizing the greats of past eras, by selecting a team with the best at all positions," said Tracey. "Choosing the final list of players was a difficult task, especially with so many two-way stars. Some are obvious but when you are selecting players who have risen above their peers you must look at the biggest moments and greatest achievements.  It is our goal to select a team for the 1980's, 1990's, 2000's and 2010's in the coming years, as well as unveiling the "Football Wall of Distinction."
 

Introduction:

The decade of the 1970's was highlighted by Hardy Cup Championships in 1976 with a 36-10 victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies and in 1978 with a 26-8 victory over the Calgary Dinosaurs.  The program also reached the conference finals in 1977 and in 1979.   The Thunderbird Football All-Decade-Team was selected based on conference statistics, awards, records, leadership, All-Star and All-Canadian selections, CFL recognition and input from coaches and players.  Many consider this to be the decade of resurgence by the Thunderbird football program as they transitioned from the Evergreen to the Canada-West conference producing several gridiron greats, and future UBC Sports Hall of Fame Inductees. 

 

Under the leadership of coaches - Frank Gnup ('70-'72), Norm Thomas ('73) and Frank Smith ('74-'79), the Thunderbirds accumulated 48 victories, 36 conference All-Stars, and had 31 CFL draft selections.


 
The Shrum Bowl with cross-town rival SFU was revived on November 25^th, 1978 with all proceeds going to the United Way of Canada and drew a record crowd of 14,600.  The game was played at Empire Stadium and under Canadian rules for the first time, with the Thunderbirds as national championship contenders.  The Thunderbirds won 22-14, and won again in 1979 with a 4-3 victory.
 
The All-Decade-Teams will help to preserve the history of the program and strengthen the bond to the present-day players, while continuing the legacy of gridiron excellence.
 

Special Teams

 
Kickoff Returner:  
 
Arnie Francis, led Can-West ('76) 293 yards-16.3 average. 
 
Al Chorney, 2^nd in Can-West ('78) 286 yards-23.8 average.


 
Punt Returners:   
 
Al Chorney, Can-West ('78) 473 yards-12.4 average.
 
Vic Wasilenko, led Can-West ('75) 406 yards-10.1 average.
 
Specialist:  
 
Punter- Al Chorney, Hardy Cup Champion ('76,'78) 8,423 career yards, led UBC ('75,'76,'77,'78)
 
Kicker-Gary Metz, Hardy Cup Champion ('76,'78), led UBC in Scoring ('74,'75,'77,'78)
 
Special Teams Honorable Mentions:  
 
Bill Baker (Kick Returner), Don Cameron (Punter/Kick Returner), Jack Hirose (Punt/Kick Returner), Paul Pearson (Punt Returner), Henry Theissen (Punter), Doug Young (Punt Returner).
 

Defense

Secondary:  
 
Al Chorney, Hardy Cup Champion ('76,'78), All-Star ('78) 1^st rd. CFL- pick, 2^nd overall by Saskatchewan ('79)
 
Eric Ford, Hardy Cup Champion ('76,'78)
 
Jack Hirose, Hardy Cup Champion ('78), interceptions in ('78,'79), All-Star ('79), All-Canadian ('79), 1^st rd.  CFL- pick, 2^nd overall by Saskatchewan ('80)
 
Craig Miller, Hardy Cup Champion ('76,'78)
 
Tom Reimer Hardy Cup Champion ('76), led UBC in Interceptions ('77), 6^th rd. CFL- pick, 46^th overall by Calgary ('77)
 
Vic Wasilenko All-Star ('75), 1^st rd. CFL territorial exemption-pick, Toronto ('76) 
 
Linebackers:  
 
Kevin Konar, Hardy Cup Champion ('76,'78), UBC Sports HOF Inductee ('14), Bobby Gaul Memorial Trophy ('80), All-Canadian ('78,'79), All-Star ('77,'78,'79), Can-Am Bowl ('77,'78), 1^st rd. CFL- pick, 5^th overall by BC Lions ('80)


 
Marshal MacLeod, Hardy Cup Champion ('76), All-Star ('75)
 
Mike Mackay-Dunn, Hardy Cup Champion ('76), Team Captain ('74,'75,'76).
  
Lineman:
  
Brent Racette, Hardy Cup Champion ('78), 4^th rd. CFL- pick, 28^th overall by Toronto ('79)


 
John Turecki, Hardy Cup Champion ('76), Nestle Pre-Season All-Canadian ('76), All-Star ('75,'76,'77), 2^nd rd. CFL- pick by BC Lions ('76)


 
Mark Wald, Hardy Cup Champion ('76,'78), All-Star ('78,'79) CFL- free agent by Edmonton ('80)
 
Brian Westall All-Star ('72), 5^th rd. CFL- pick, 38^th overall by Toronto ('73)
 
Defensive Honourable Mentions:  
 
Doug Biggerstaff (DL), Kevin Chin (DL), Bernie Crump (DB/LB), Arnie Francis (DB), Ron Fowler (LB/RB), Sal Giacomazza (DB), Michael Moore (DL), Dave Neber (DL). 
 

Offense

Receivers:  
 
Bill Baker, led UBC in receptions, punt and kickoff returns ('73), led Can-West most receiving yards in a game ('73), 3^rd rd. CFL pick, 23^rd overall by Toronto ('74)
 
Chris Davies, (WR) Hardy Cup Champion ('76,'78), led Can-West in receptions and yards ('78), led UBC in receptions and yards ('79), All-Star ('78,'79), Can-Am Bowl ('78), 2^nd rd. CFL pick, 36^th overall by Edmonton ('79)


 
Evan Jones, Hardy Cup Champion ('76), Nestle Pre-Season All-Canadian ('76), led UBC in receptions ('75),  All-Star ('75,'76,'77,'79), 1^st rd. CFL pick, 4^th overall by Winnipeg ('78)


 
Paul Pearson, (WR/PR/KR) led Can-West in TD's and receiving yards ('77), All-Star ('77), 1^st rd. CFL- pick, 1^st overall supplementary draft by Calgary ('78)
 
Offensive Line:  
 
Al Cameron, (OT) Hardy Cup Champion ('76), All-Star ('75,'76)
 
Rick Faoro, Hardy Cup Champion ('76,'78)
 
Dave Kirzinger, Hardy Cup Champion ('76), 1^st rd. CFL- pick, 1^st overall by Calgary ('78)


 
Don Lumb, All-Star ('70), 2^nd rd. CFL- pick, 15^th overall by Calgary ('70)
 
John Marquardt, Hardy Cup Champion ('76), Team Captain ('76)


 
Neil Quilter, All-Star ('77), 1^st rd. CFL- pick, 6^th overall by Montreal ('78)
 
Toni Ricci, Hardy Cup Champion ('76), 10^th rd. CFL- pick by BC Lions ('76).
 
Running Backs:
 
Dave Corcoran, led UBC in rushing attempts, yards and kickoff returns ('70), 5^th rd. CFL -pick, 39^th overall by BC Lions, signed as a free-agent by the San Francisco 49ers- NFL.
 
John MacKay, Hardy Cup Champion ('78), led Can-West in rushing and TD's ('78), All-Star ('78), All-Canadian ('78), 5^th rd. CFL -pick, 57^th overall by BC Lions.
 
Gordon Penn, Hardy Cup Champion ('76,'78), Nestle Pre-Season All-Canadian ('76), Gnup Conference MVP ('76), Maury Van Vliet Trophy ('78), Can-West rushing leader ('76), led UBC in rushing ('72,'75,'76), scoring and receptions ('76), All-Star ('75,'76), 9^thrd. CFL -pick, 80^th overall by Calgary.


 
Glenn Wallace, Hardy Cup Champion ('76), led UBC in Carries ('76), led UBC in Rushing and TD's ('77), led Can-West in carries and yards ('77), All-Star ('77), 8^th rd. CFL- pick, 65^th overall by BC Lions.
 
Quarterback: 
 
Dan Smith, Hardy Cup Champion ('76,'78), UBC Sports HOF Inductee ('97), Nestle Pre-Season All-Canadian ('76), Frank Gnup Conference MVP ('78), led Can-West in passing yards and TD's ('77,'78), All-Star ('75,'77,'78), Can-Am Bowl ('76,'77), led UBC in passing ('74,'75,'76,'77,'78).
 
Offensive Honorable Mention:
 
Larry Harbord (OL), Don Heinz (RB), Bob Janzen (OL), Ian Jukes (OL), Digby Leigh (REC), Mike McLeod (RB), Berry Muis (REC), Dave Negrin (RB), Dick Stein (OL), Jim Tarves (QB), Ron Warner (OL). 

Of note members of the 1970's UBC All-Decade team will be recognized during the T-Birds homecoming game this season on Saturday September 22, when they host the Calgary Dinos for a 5 p.m. kickoff at Thunderbird Stadium.

Pat Tracey and the T-Birds look forward to following up the 1970's All-Decade team with the unveiling of the 1980's team scheduled to be released in the summer of 2019. In the meantime head coach Blake Nill and the 'Birds are preparing for another exciting season with training camp set to begin in mid August ahead of their season opener on Saturday September 1, when they host the Manitoba Bisons for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Thunderbird Stadium. For ticket information and purchase click here.