As the UBC Thunderbirds come out of the Thanksgiving bye week, they're immediately thrust into a massive final two weeks of the Canada West regular season, beginning with Friday night's clash against the Calgary Dinos at Thunderbird Stadium.
Carrying a four game win streak into their second meeting with the Dinos (2-4) in the last three weeks, the T-Birds (4-2) can lock up a home playoff berth with a fifth straight victory.
The annual UBC Legacy Game which will honour a number of prominent alumni features a battle against a desperate Calgary squad fighting for their playoff lives.
It all makes for what could very well be UBC's toughest test of 2024 to date.
"It's a very important two weeks coming up for UBC Football, two quality opponents," said UBC head coach
Blake Nill whose squad can clinch a postseason berth for the fourth straight season. "We're just going to have to be at our best and quickly get ramped up here in the next two days of our prep for Calgary."
Currently sitting alone in second place in the standings just behind the 5-1 Manitoba Bisons, nothing is a sure thing for the 'Birds given a very wide open Canada West field this season. The Dinos find themselves in a three-way tie with Alberta and Regina for the fourth and final conference playoff berth and desperately need a win Friday night to avoid putting their backs against the wall.
"They're a very good football program. I appreciate their offence, their defence is fast," said Nill of the Dinos. "Taylor Altileo with their special teams has done a great job, he of course was with the BC Lions in the same role. Talent wise, coaching wise, schematic wise they present as much of a challenge as anyone in this conference."
Just three weeks ago, the 'Birds managed a 32-30 comeback win against the Dinos at McMahon Stadium scoring the final seven points of the game, all off the foot of veteran kicker
Kieran Flannery-Fleck.
Since a slow start to the season, UBC's offence has improved to about the place it was expected to: Veteran quarterback
Garrett Rooker leads the conference with 1771 yards, running back
Isaiah Knight tops the Canada West with 734 yards (and seven touchdowns) while UBC's offence in general sets the pace, averaging 468.7 yards per game.
But as good as the 'Birds' have been with the ball, their defence has been equally as stellar over the team's current four game win streak. Boasting three of the last four defensive players of the week (
Jaxon Ciraolo-Brown twice,
William Hunter once), UBC's veteran leadership is really starting to come through at just the right time.
"I think what you're seeing defensively is just the chemistry, everyone getting to know each other a little bit better, understanding their strengths, weaknesses and being able to form appropriate game plans," said Nill who's also looking for more overall consistency from start to finish in these final two weeks of the regular season. "It's a team effort. If you're moving well on offence you just have to make sure the offence has the ball more. That requires getting off the field defensively, putting the defence in a good position special team wise; it all circles around offensive success which is a team product, as is defence and special teams. We just have to continue to get better in all aspects of the game, better decision making, consistent effort and a consistent execution."
A big part of Friday's game off the field will be the recognition of this year's Frank Gnup Wall of Honour induction class including the 1987 Western Bowl Championship team, Norman Thomas, Lawrence 'Chip' Barrett, Fred Sturrock, Glenn Wallace, KC Steele, Duncan O'Mahony and Julian Radlein.
"This is a huge moment for the history of the program, honouring those individuals who represented UBC Football to their fullest capabilities. I think this is the most important part of the program, making sure that the legacy remains intact, that the young men we have in the program now beyond the field understand they're playing for the history of the program."
Frank Smith, who coached the T-Birds to two Vanier Cup titles in 1982 and 1986, will also be recognized with a new re-dedication of the Football Academic Centre which will now be named in his honour.
"Coach Smith is still the face of this program. His effort during his tenure brought the team to a higher level of expectation and most years we're chasing that expectation. And so to honour Coach Frank in this way is appropriate and well deserved, of course."
Kickoff for the 2024 Legacy Game against the Calgary Dinos is set for 6:00 p.m. at Thunderbird Stadium on Friday, October 18. Tickets are on sale now and the game will also be streamed live on
Canada West TV.
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