(File photo by Ron Hole, SFU athletics)
SFU head coach Kelly Bates saw his team battle in the fourth quarter of an eventual loss Saturday in Phoenix. (File photo by Ron Hole, SFU athletics)
Feature University Football

SFU’s makeshift O-line, QB Richardson impress, but Clan football falls in season opener

In keeping with the theme of last-minute school supply shopping, you could say that the offensive line that the Simon Fraser Clan debuted Saturday night in Phoenix was being held together by paper clips and scotch tape.Except when Clan head coach Kelly Bates marched out two pure freshmen and two converted defensive linemen, the makeshift […]

UBC head coach Blake Nill had nothing to smile about after his team fell by 16 points in its Canada West opener Friday in Regina. (Glen McMurchy photo for UBC athletics)
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‘Birds boss Nill pulls no punches, announces gut-check time after UBC falls in penalty-fest fashion at Regina

It was a conference-opening effort that tried to dispel the notion that the UBC Thunderbirds had actually held practices before they took to the field on Friday night at Regina’s new Mosaic Stadium.Of course they had, and of course they remain one of the nation’s most talented teams.Yet the No. 7-ranked ’Birds (0-1) can’t exactly […]

After a four-year apprenticeship at middle linebacker, Jordan Leech moves into Jordan Herdman's starting spot Saturday in Phoenix. (Ron Hole, SFU athletics)
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Soaking it all up, Clan senior linebacker Leech brings patience, Herdman-mentality to new starting role

BURNABY MOUNTAIN — As a health sciences major at Simon Fraser University, Clan middle linebacker Jordan Leech is aware of two different definitions of the word ‘osmosis’.

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

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.