Vancouver – Due to precautions surrounding COVID-19 and physical distancing protocol the UBC Thunderbirds football program has been forced to call an audible to engage the T-Birds talent of tomorrow. The 'Birds are set to launch their first ever virtual junior day where over 100 prospective student-athletes from across North America who are concluding their grade 11 year have been invited to log on for a presentation describing the benefits of studying at UBC and competing for the blue and gold under head coach
Blake Nill.
To handle both the interest and bandwidth, virtual junior day will consist of four separates two-hour sessions spread over two days this Wednesday, April 15 and Thursday, April 16. Information sessions have been spear headed by
Shomari Williams, who enters his second year as the Thunderbirds Recruiting Coordinator and Defensive Line coach.
"We had two in person junior days scheduled for mid-April but because of what's going on in the world we decided to shift everything to a virtual format, said Williams. Virtual junior day will still be a chance for players to meet the coaching staff, meet the academic support staff, meet the strength and conditioning coach and get an overview of the football program and the University."
Williams, a former first overall selection in the 2010 Canadian Football League draft also spoke to the logistics of putting what he knows to be the only virtual junior day offered up by a Canadian University.
"The toughest part for the staff has not being able to get together and sit across the table with fellow coaches," continued Williams. "However, everyone has stepped up and collaborated through all the technology that is now available to us to put a presentation together. In advance the Coaches have been meeting on the popular web video conference meeting platform, Zoom which is also where we'll host the junior day. The challenge is we're so used to being in front of people and it will be tough not seeing the athletes in person but we're adapting and we'll make the best of it."
Over a decade ago Williams was a highly sought-after high school prospect who had to decipher many messages from collegiate programs before landing with the Queen's Golden Gaels where he helped lead the team to a 2009 Vanier Cup championship. The five-year CFL veteran says he can relate to the young men that will be making tough decisions on where to play and he looks forward to providing some clear and honest guidance about the benefits of playing at UBC.
"What I want to get across is that UBC is focused on helping them maximize their potential both academically and athletically. We're a top University and we're a football program that will put the resources in front of you so you can earn your degree, that is a huge key for our program, we want you to graduate. In terms of athletic potential, we want to produce as many pro players as possible and give players as many opportunities to use football to the best of their abilities. We have a top-notch staff and we'll push you to get the most out of you in the classroom and on the football field to maximize your potential. Coach Nill has a proven track record of building programs that support schooling and football in combination and we want to try and start a relationship with the recruits that we like, show them that we're more than just a coaching staff, we want the best for you and your family and junior day will be a good start for us to show that."
