Although they have made two Final 8 national tourney appearances since, UBC Thunderbirds' head coach Kevin Hanson has his team at the event's traditional Halifax site for the first time since it lost in the semifinals back in 2011. It's a first-time trip for star guard Jadon Cohee. (Photo by Bob Frid property of UBC athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

UBC hoops back in Halifax! On long journey to Final 8 nationals, here’s why you can stamp these underdog ‘Birds as ‘battle-tested’

VANCOUVER — Over the course of a 17-game in-conference win streak which defined its Canada West regular season schedule, it was sometimes difficult to wonder if the UBC Thunderbirds were getting the level of competition which would best serve them on the road towards qualifying for the ultimate challenge.

The 1999-2000 CCAA national men's basketball champs from UCFV. On ladder (left to right) Tycson Boult, Mike Lee. Back row (left to right) Pat Lee (head coach), Aaron Wells, Dan Young, Jamie Armstrong, Anthony Toth, Ryan Haviland, Jarami Reid, Brad Petersen, Pat McKay. Front row (left to right) Tom Antil (assistant coach), Mike McLaverty, Wayne Jones. (Photo property of University of the Fraser Valley athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
UBC's Trivel Pinto was more than ready to shoulder a heavy loud, carrying a Calgary Dinos' defender across the goal line Saturday at the stadium as part of a 43-yard touchdown catch. (Photo by Bob Frid property of UBC athletics)
Feature University Football

UBC football: In its darkest hours yet, on the tails of another defeat to Dinos, veteran ‘Birds say team’s resolve won’t be wasted

VANCOUVER — Michael O’Connor was standing along the Thunderbird Stadium sidelines on a post-game Saturday night, far from the emptying grandstand which just moments earlier had some 9,534 fans on the edge of their seats.

The most productive receiver in all of B.C. high school football, Handsworth's Keelan White said Saturday that he's headed to play for the UBC Thunderbirds next season. (Photo by Blair Shier property of www.Blair.photo)
Feature High School Football University Football

A grand entrance to the blue-and gold! Handsworth star Keelan White picks UBC Thunderbirds at halftime of Homecoming Saturday

VANCOUVER — One of B.C.’s most explosive high school football talents announced Saturday that he is ready to make the green, green grass of Thunderbird Stadium his football home for up to the next five seasons.Handsworth Royals’ wide receiver Keelan White announced at halftime of the UBC Thunderbirds’ annual Homecoming Game against the arch-rival Calgary […]

For so much of the second-half, the UBC Thunderbirds and Regina Rams battled in the trenches. But over the final three minutes, there were enough big plays for an entire game. (Photo courtesy Piper Sports Photography)
Feature University Football

UBC’s game-ending, 30-yard penalty gives Regina a chip-shot field goal victory as ‘Birds endure another walk-off loss

It’s too bad the football gods won’t implement a quota for the number of walk-off losses a Canada West football team must be forced to endure over a pre-determined span of time, because with any kind of reasonable number, the UBC Thunderbirds wouldn’t have to worry about getting their hearts ripped out for quite a […]

There is no question what kind of an impact UBC's Marcus Davis could have this Friday in Regina in a potential return from last season's ACL injury. Here, Davis is shown grinding out some hard yards against those very Rams. (Photo by Glen McMurchy, Regina athletics)
Feature University Football

UBC at Regina: Injured ‘Birds vets Cummings, Pinto, Griffiths, Davis could all return Friday, but so too must blue-and-gold heartbeat

VANCOUVER — Want to know the location of the quietest place in Vancouver this past Sunday morning? Try the UBC Thunderbirds’ football film room.

The UBC Thunderbirds suffered a major setback in their season following a 57-7 loss in Calgary to the Dinos. (Photo by David Moll property of Dinos Digital Media
Feature University Football

After UBC’s 57-7 loss at Calgary, ‘Birds coach Nill says “Let’s be honest, we were intimidated on the field…”

The most lopsided loss of the Blake Nill era at UBC was so decisive that its head coach and sole architect couldn’t help but ask some pretty heavy questions.

After UBC's RB-1 Ben Cummings went down with an injury, back-up Kory Nagata answered the call by scoring two touchdowns in the 'Birds season-opening 30-20 win over Manitoba. (Photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics)
UBC's huge class of incoming players gathered Thursday on the Point Grey campus in advance of its 2018 fall camp. (Photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics)
Feature University Football

UBC FOOTBALL: How the ‘Birds new 2018 class can lean on and learn from 2015’s rookie class of Vanier Cup champions

VANCOUVER — His imprints may still seem fresh, yet with his fourth fall training camp at the helm of UBC football officially set to open today, you could say that Thunderbirds’ head coach Blake Nill has finally got some blue-and-gold tradition of his own to lean on.On Thursday afternoon, 16 sleeps ahead of its Canada […]