CALGARY – University of Calgary running back Matt Walter has made quite the impression on Canada West football coaches in his two-year career.
One season after taking home the conference's rookie of the year award, the sophomore out of Calgary's Bishop O'Byrne High School has been named the winner of the Frank Gnup Memorial Trophy as the most outstanding player in Canada West football in 2008, the conference office announced Thursday.
Walter becomes the Canada West nominee for the Hec Crighton Trophy, awarded annually to the most outstanding player in CIS football. He goes up against Laval quarterback Benoit Groulx, Queen's running back Mike Giffin, and Mount Allison quarterback Kelly Hughes for the national award.
A 5-foot-10, 205-pound science student from Calgary, Walter stepped in as the feature tailback in the Dinos offence when second team All-Canadian Anthony Woodson was injured in Week 2 against Manitoba. Despite splitting the rushing duties with Woodson for two of eight games, Walter won the conference rushing title with 904 yards, finishing third in the nation. He averaged 6.1 yards on 147 carries, including rushes of 69 and 73 yards. He also scored four rushing touchdowns.
“Matt made a name for himself last year as Rookie of the Year, but the big thing for him this year was that when Anthony (Woodson) went down, he was able to step up and fill the void,” said Calgary coach Blake Nill, whose charges host Simon Fraser for the 72nd Hardy Cup Saturday afternoon at McMahon Stadium.
“We're starting to see the development of a real leader who understands his importance to the team. While Anthony's injury was detrimental to us as a team, it pushed along Matt's development.”
Walter becomes the first Dino to win the Frank Gnup Trophy since running back Dean Fisher in 2000 and the ninth in school history. He follows in the footsteps of his offensive coordinator, two-time winner Greg Vavra (1982, 1983) along with two other greats at running back: Elio Geremia (1985) and Craig Kittelson (1991, 1992).
Vavra (1983) and receiver Don Blair (1995) are the only Dinos in history to have won the Hec Crighton Trophy.
While Calgary's wait for a Hec Crighton nominee has been lengthy, third year linebacker Andrea Bonaventura breaks a much longer streak with his nomination for the Presidents Award, given to the top defensive player in CIS football.
Just two Dinos in history have been the conference nominee for the honour: linebacker Wade Buteau (1983) and halfback Darcy Kopp (1985). Of the two, Kopp was successful in winning the national award.
Bonaventura had an outstanding year at linebacker for the Dinos in 2008. A 6-foot-2, 225-pound native of Hamilton, Ont., he racked up a team-high 51 tackles (37 solo, 28 assisted) along with one sack. He added five tackles for loss, a sack and an interception.
His pick was perhaps the turning point in Calgary's season. Down 10-7 to the defending Vanier Cup champion Manitoba Bisons at halftime in Week 2, Bonaventura picked off Bisons pivot John Makie on the first play of the second half, setting up a Calgary major on the very next play. The Dinos never looked back, handing the Bisons their first conference loss in more than two seasons en route to a 5-3 season and the right to host Saturday's conference final.
“Andrea is just a great football player,” said Nill. “He may not test the best, he may not be the most physically gifted player, but he comes from a football family and it shows. He understands the game and how it's supposed to be played, and you're seeing him quickly become a dominant football player.”
Bonaventura started his career with Nill at Saint Mary's in 2005 before following the coach to Calgary. He sat out the 2006 season under the transfer rule, joining the Dinos in 2007. He recorded 30 tackles and two interceptions in his first season with Calgary.
He will represent Canada West for the Presidents Award, joining Ontario nominee Thaine Carter (linebacker, Queen's), Quebec's Joash Gesse (linebacker, Montreal), and Henoc Muamba (linebacker, St. Francis Xavier).
Other Canada West award winners announced Thursday included Saskatchewan offensive lineman Ben Heenan as rookie of the year and UBC defensive end Scott McCuaig as outstanding down lineman. Simon Fraser's David Johnson, who took the Clan from 0-8 to 5-3 and a trip to the Hardy Cup, was named coach of the year, while two-time MVP Teale Orban of Regina was named the Outstanding Student-Athlete Award winner.
The national awards will be presented at the All-Canadian Gala on Thursday, Nov. 20 in Hamilton, Ont. The 2008 Desjardins Vanier Cup goes Saturday, Nov. 22 at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton.
Calgary (6-3) hosts Simon Fraser (6-3) for the 72nd Hardy Cup championship, presented by Calgary Co-op, at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8 at McMahon Stadium. Tickets are available at any Calgary Co-op customer service location, online at goDINOS.com, and at the east gate of McMahon Stadium on game day.
-UC-
2008 Canada West Football Award Winners
FRANK GNUP MEMORIAL TROPHY (Nominee for the Hec Crighton Trophy as Most Outstanding Player)
MATT WALTER, CALGARY
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (Nominee for the Peter Gorman Trophy)
BEN HEENAN, SASKATCHEWAN
OUTSTANDING LINEMAN (Nominee for the J.P. Metras Trophy)
SCOTT McCUAIG, UBC
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Nominee for the Presidents Trophy)
ANDREA BONAVENTURA, CALGARY
OUTSTANDING STUDENT-ATHLETE AWARD (Nominee for the Russ Jackson Award)
TEALE ORBAN, REGINA
COACH OF THE YEAR (Nominee for the Frank Tindall Trophy)
DAVID JOHNSON, SIMON FRASER
---
All-Time UC Dinos Canada West Award Winners
*also won CIS award
FRANK GNUP MEMORIAL TROPHY (Nominee for the Hec Crighton Trophy as Most Outstanding Player)
2008 Matt Walter Running back
2000 Dean Fisher Running back
1995 *Don Blair Receiver
1992 Craig Kittelson Running back
1991 Craig Kittelson Running back
1985 Elio Geremia Running back
1984 Lew Lawrick Quarterback
1983 *Greg Vavra Quarterback
1982 Greg Vavra Quarterback
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Nominee for the Presidents Trophy)
2008 Andrea Bonaventura Linebacker
1985 *Darcy Kopp Halfback
1983 Wade Buteau Linebacker
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (Nominee for the Peter Gorman Trophy)
2007 Matt Walter Running back
2006 *Dalin Tollestrup Quarterback
1990 Rohn Meyer Offensive tackle
1986 Dave Van Bellegham Defensive back
1983 Tony Spoletini Running back
1978 Pat McCune Running back
1977 Gordon Goodwin Running back
OUTSTANDING LINEMAN (Nominee for the J.P. Metras Trophy)
2005 Dan Federkeil Defensive end
2004 Richard Yalowsky Offensive tackle
1998 *Garret Everson Defensive end
1995 Rob Richards Defensive line
1994 Trent Schmuland Defensive line
1992 *Chris Konrad Defensive line
1987 Craig Watson Offensive guard
1983 Dave Fordyce Offensive tackle
1980 *Scott MacArthur Defensive line
1979 Scott MacArthur Defensive line
1977 Rene Deschamps Defensive line
1975 Rene Harrison Offensive guard
