BURNABY MOUNTAIN — If there’s one area that any wannabe Shrum Bowl historian will find tough sledding, it’s determining the reasons why the series stuck to either U.S. or Canadian rules for extended periods of time throughout its history.
For example, as local broadcaster and Football Canada president Jim Mullin points out, the reason the first four games (1967-70) were played under American rules was that UBC was still playing a large number of its games against U.S. foes each year, dove-tailing perfectly with the fact that the new SFU program was determined to make its way against an otherwise all-U.S. schedule.
By the time the eighth edition of the game rolled by in October of 1980, the Shrum Bowl was in its fourth straight of what would be six straight years under Canadian rules.
That season, Simon Fraser won for the fifth time (5-2-1), and the quarterback of the winning team, despite his distinct lack of three-down experience, led his team to a 30- 3 win.
Why weren’t the two teams alternating rules each year, as had become the custom prior to the Red Leafs move to join UBC in what is now U SPORTS for a number of years in the early 2000’s?
“I am not sure why,” said Jay Prepchuk, one of the most enduring figures in the B.C. football community and the MVP of Shrum Bowl VIII. “But I can tell you one thing… I didn’t mind at all. I actually liked that big Canadian field better. Yes, you had one extra guy, but for me it was kind of like the Red Sea parted. I just went ‘Whoa, this field is gigantic.’”
Saturday’s game, of course, will be played under U.S. rules on the SFU campus. The last time that happened was in 2009.
Interestingly enough, Simon Fraser seemed to make a habit of playing at least one early-season Canadian foe per season during Prepchuk’s playing career on the hill, allowing them to gain a little more crispness as they prepared to move to Canadian rules against UBC.
And in that 1980 Shrum Bowl, Prepchuk went 12-of-19 for 184 yards, and three touchdowns, including a 51-yard strike to Dave Amer in the third quarter.
“That game, winning that game at Empire (Stadium) was the highlight of my career,” Prepchuk admitted earlier this week.
And although it’s been a dozen years since the game has been played, and the younger athletes may not fully understand the enormity of the rivalry between the alumni of both schools, Prepchuk says it won’t take but one meeting to make everything crystal clear to both sides.
“Absolutely… no question, especially at this time of the year with the seasons being over for both teams,” said Prepchuk. “It’s for total bragging rights. I don’t think it’s going to take any time at all to have this rivalry as intense as it should be and can be. They are going to go right at.”
Clearly, he is one of a handful of locals whose life has been ingrained in the crosstown classic.
Prepchuk, who both quarterbacked and coached North Vancouver’s Handsworth Royals, was for the past two seasons the quarterback coach at Simon Fraser where he worked closely with Red Leafs’ starter Justin Seiber.
Prepchuk, of course, was also the quarterbacks coach at UBC for three seasons (2016-18) where he worked with B.C. Lions quarterback and Vanier Cup winner Michael O’Connor.
And, he was also the head coach at UBC for three seasons and went 1-2 in three Shrum Bowls against SFU, including a 48-21 win in 2000 under Canadian rules at Thunderbird Stadium, a victory which had knotted the overall series at 11-11-1.
If you’re reading this story or viewing these photos on any website other than one belonging to a university athletic department, it has been taken without appropriate permission. In these challenging times, true journalism will survive only through your dedicated support and loyalty. VarsityLetters.ca and all of its exclusive content has been created to serve B.C.’s high school and university sports community with hard work, integrity and respect. Feel free to drop us a line any time at howardtsumura@gmail.com.
