UBC's Alex Morrison started off the 2017 season Wednesday with six catches in a win over Alberta. (Richard Lam/UBC athletics)
Feature University Football

UBC’s Alex Morrison returns to ‘Birds for football ‘finishing school’, new tight end gig preps him for CFL future

VANCOUVER — UBC’s Alex Morrison may not have made the final cut with the Montreal Alouettes this past June, but he’s determined to make the CFL his future, and the big man in his corner back home at Thunderbird Stadium is doing everything he can to help ensure that happens.To that end, ‘Birds head coach […]

UBC receiver Will Watson was a key part of the 'Birds dynamic first-half offence Wednesday night in Kamloops. (Richard Lam, UBC athletics photo)
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TSUMURA: My ‘Top 5 takeaways’ from ‘Birds preseason football opener as UBC tops Alberta 33-30

The UBC Thunderbirds’ youthful ways led to some anxious moments on Wednesday.Yet its first-unit players, in all three phases, looked as devastating as they ever have as the Blake Nill-era entered its third season in the Southern Interior.With quarterback Michael O’Connor and a healthy UBC offence, bolstered by a deep core of running backs and […]

UBC freshman running back Shane Noel (right) takes a handoff from quarterback Parker Simson during fall camp practice in Vancouver. (Richard Lam/UBC athletics)
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‘Sugar Shane’ brings sweet feet to Thunderbird Stadium, ex-STMC back ready to take flight with ‘Birds

VANCOUVER — If the reports from training camp carry over into the regular season, then a popular touchdown anthem at Thunderbird Stadium this fall is going to be a sound bite of the line ‘Sugar, Sugar’ from that infectious 1969 bubble-gum pop smash by The Archies.

Wyatt Gilson (right) of North Vancouver's Carson Graham Eagles is off to Halifax to suit up at linebacker for the St. Mary's Huskies. (Photo courtesy Blair Shier of www.blair.photo)
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Varsity Letters’ B.C. Recruits List 2017: Football

Welcome to Day 2 of Varsity Letters’ 2017 Recruits List week.Yesterday, we opened with soccer. Today, it’s time to look at football.The following is our schedule for the rest of the week:Thursday, July 6 — VolleyballFriday, July 7 — BasketballSaturday, July 8 — The entire list, including baseball, cross-country, field hockey, golf, hockey, lacrosse, rowing, […]

UBC's Michael O'Connor has ridden both sides of the emotional roller-coaster over his first two seasons as the Thunderbirds' starting quarterback. (Richard Lam/UBC athletics)
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Michael O’Connor: UBC’s QB-1 on how his humbled ‘Birds prep for redemption in 2017

VANCOUVER — In those on-field moments, when he breaks contain and puts his feet to work, UBC Thunderbirds’ quarterback Michael O’Connor is a guy that can make you miss.

SFU and Notre Dame grad Ante Litre was one of four Clan players and one of three B.C. high school football grads selected in Sunday's CFL draft. (Ron Hole/SFU athletics)
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CFL Draft 2017: SFU sends four to pros, plus Terry Fox, Notre Dame and STM grads enjoy proud moments

BURNABY — Simon Fraser University may not have won a football game this past season, but Canadian Football League scouts saw plenty of talent atop Burnaby Mountain, its teams selecting a total of four Clan players Sunday in the CFL draft.

UBC receiver Alex Morrison missed most of 2016 with a broken arm, but he's got his health back and is headed off to New York Giants' rookie mini-camp on May 11. (Bob Frid, UBC athletics)
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UBC Thunderbirds receiver Alex Morrison answers call to duty at New York Giants rookie mini-camp

VANCOUVER — While gaining an invitation to the New York Giants rookie mini-camp offers UBC Thunderbirds’ receiver Alex Morrison no guarantee of an NFL future, recent history has shown that his particular destination packs a ton of karma in the pursuit of a professional football career.