Vancouver – The UBC Thunderbirds are excited to announce that they'll be heading south to Mexico for a spring Football showdown, meeting their friends the Monterrey Tech Borregos This Friday, May 3 in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon Mexico.
 
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT and making this unique event even more special will see the matchup officially open the brand-new state of the art 10,000 seat Borregos Stadium. The genesis for the game evolved from an ongoing and beneficial decade long student exchange between the campuses that allows students to study abroad while earning transferable credits. This led to an invite from the Monterey Tech upper administration for the UBC Thunderbirds to be their guest opponents for the ceremonial meeting.


 
This matchup is also just the latest example in UBC Thunderbirds head coach Blake Nill's efforts to grow the game while alerting the North American football establishment that Mexico is quickly becoming a resource and talent pool for players. In fact, this past January Canadian Football League commissioner Randy Ambrosie credited Nill for helping foster a new relationship and talent pipeline between the CFL and Mexico, specifically with Liga de Futbol America. Thanks to much of Nill's behind the scenes work it led to the first ever CFL – LFA draft in Mexico City this past January 14 where 27 Mexican players were selected as part of a three-round draft.


 
"This will be both a rewarding Football experience and a great cultural experience for our young Thunderbird squad heading down south," said coach Blake Nill. "Over the last five years I've been exposed to and impressed by the quality of athlete that is being developed and the high level of Football that is being played in Mexico. I've also been lucky enough to have three standout Mexican players join our program over the last couple of seasons and they've been first class student athletes on our campus. I know this game will only help educate more people to the possibilities and potential that exists in Mexico."


 
The teams have agreed to play NCAA rules for the early May meeting that also helps kickoff the Cinco de Mayo celebration weekend in Mexico. The Thunderbirds will be in tough on the Borregos turf as the visitor's will be limited to a squad largely consisting of first and second year players due to eligibility requirements.
 
"This game will be big challenge for the young group that we'll travel with, but it will be a good learning experience and hopefully it will help some of our new group find some early chemistry heading into next season.  I have a great respect for Monterey Tech as an institution and the outstanding Borregos Football program. It promises to be a great atmosphere as we help open a new stadium while celebrating both institutions healthy relationship."