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Greg Vavra joined the University of Calgary Dinosaur football team in the fall of 1979 from Bishop Grandin High School in Calgary. Midway through his freshman season he became the starting quarterback and went on to establish numerous school and national records during his brilliant five-year career that concluded in 1983.
Vavra earned Conference all-star honors four consecutive seasons (1980-83) and was Canada West Player of the Year in 1982 and 1983. In 1983 he was unanimously named Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (CIAU) All-Canadian quarterback and winner of the Hec Crighton Trophy as the Most Valuable Player in Canadian college football.
On November 19, 1983, he concluded his varsity career when he quarterbacked the Dinosaurs to their first National Championship (Vanier Cup) triumph before a national television audience when the Dinos defeated Queen’s University 31-21.
Not only was Greg an outstanding quarterback, he also handled the team’s placekicking and often punted. When his varsity career ended he held four career passing records, three single season records, and the record for the longest field goal—52 yards, most yards passed in a single game 627, and most consecutive completions in a single game –20. In addition he was the school’s sixth all-time leading scorer when he graduated.
On November 4, 1983 Greg has the distinction of having his uniform number “17” retired which was the first time a University of Calgary student-athlete was afforded this honor.
Vavra was University of Calgary Male Athlete of the Year in 1983 and was inducted into the University of Calgary Athletic Hall of Fame on October 12, 1995.
Greg graduated from the University of Calgary with Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law degrees and eventually played professionally in the Canadian Football League.
