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)
Former W.J. Mouat Hawks' star lineman Sheriden Lawley is greeted by his new head coach, UBC's Blake Nill, as fall camp is underway for the Thunderbirds. (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 […]

The trademark of Marcus Davis? It's the breakaway speed of the UBC Thunderbirds' do-it-all. Now, after the adversity of two season-ending knee injuries, a CFL career beckons in Hamilton. (Photo by Bob Frid property of UBC athletics)
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The football journey of Ti-Cats’ draftee Marcus Davis: Two ACL injuries later, there is no doubting the purpose of UBC’s Mr. All-Purpose

VANCOUVER — Marcus Davis has never lost his purpose, and it’s why he’s convinced that he can get back on a football field, this time in the CFL, and show that he is still every bit Mr. All-Purpose.

Pitt Meadows' 6-foot-8 Giovanni Manu puts up his hands on defence against South Kam's 6-foot-11 centre Ripley Martin during B.C. AAA Final 4 clash, March 9 at Langley Events Centre. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca)
Feature High School Boys Basketball University Football

Giovanni Manu: Pitt Meadows’ mammoth man-in-the-middle bids farewell to hoops as UBC football career awaits

PITT MEADOWS — On first glance, and for obvious reasons, 6-foot-8, 320-pound Giovanni Manu has a way of locking down your focus. Yet it’s what happens in the moments after he catches your eye that makes him an irresistible fan favourite.

Windsor Dukes' quarterback Ryan Baker sizzled on the turf of B.C. Place in December, leading Windsor to the Subway Bowl AA title. (Varsity Letters photo by Howard Tsumura)
Feature University Football

Ten years after Billy Greene, UBC tabs another top B.C. quarterback prospect in Windsor’s Ryan Baker

VANCOUVER — The UBC Thunderbirds are bringing B.C. high school football’s touchdown maker to the Point Grey campus.And ‘Birds head coach Blake Nill is not holding back his optimism for the future of Windsor Dukes’ superstar senior Ryan Baker.“To me, Ryan Baker is as close to a can’t-miss prospect as you can have when you […]

UBC's power trio of (left to right) Ben Cummings, Trivel Pinto and Alex Morrison, had plenty of celebratory moments in Saturday's 81st Hardy Cup clashing Calgary, but in the end, the 'Birds fell victim to the longest field goal in Canadian university sports history. (Richard Lam, UBC athletics)
Feature University Football

“It just rips your heart out” — UBC season ends on longest field goal in Canadian university history

It was a game whose conclusion would have defied the logic of a thousand seasoned bettors. It came on a field goal attempt the football gods, 999 times out of that 1,000, would have pushed wide or pulled up short based solely on its audacity.