Gabe Olivares is back with the UBC Thunderbirds after taking a season away. The former G.W. Graham Grizzlies star is part of a five-man battle to win the team's starting quarterback job this fall. (Photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Football

Who is UBC’s next starting quarterback? Five pivots form preliminary pecking order as the Michael O’Connor era comes to an end

LANGLEY — UBC football fans knew the Michael O’Connor era was officially over early last month when the Toronto Argonauts made him the second-highest selected Canadian quarterback in draft history.

On Thursday, Michael O'Connor found out his CFL home will be in Toronto. On Friday, he goes to NFL rookie mini-camp with the Seattle Seahawks. (Photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics)
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Michael O’Connor: UBC’s humble superstar pivot finds a CFL home with Argos, takes to field with NFL’s Seattle Seahawks on Friday

VANCOUVER — Michael O’Connor wasn’t afraid of taking a road less traveled to achieve his dream of becoming a professional quarterback, and now more than ever, you can see the purpose in his steps.

UBC's All-Canadian safety Stavros Katsantonis played his usual hard-hitting game, here tackling Saskatchewan's Tyler Chow. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca)
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Football ‘Birds unravel late in Hardy Cup semi final loss, coach Nill knows UBC “…is going to be a totally different team next year”

VANCOUVER — When it comes to advancing to the Canada West’s Hardy Cup conference championship, it’s almost felt like the UBC Thunderbirds have been protected by some sort of invisible force field since head coach Blake Nill rolled into town back in 2015.And with just over a minute left in the conference semifinal Saturday, with […]

(Photo by Bob Frid property of UBC athletics) (Photo by Bob Frid property of UBC athletics)
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Mike and Trivel: UBC’s dynamic duo of O’Connor and Pinto forge pure magic as ‘Birds top Alberta to secure playoff berth

VANCOUVER — Over the four seasons in which they have turned home games on the Point Grey campus into appointment viewing, the UBC Thunderbirds football team’s national success has introduced a wave of star players to the growing fan base of the blue-and-gold.

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)
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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.

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)
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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)
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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
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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)