CALGARY – Three University of Calgary Dinos brought home hardware as Canada West announced its 2010 football award winners Friday.

Second-year linebacker Sam Hurl was named the conference's outstanding defensive player, while quarterback Eric Dzwilewski earned rookie-of-the-year honours and offensive tackle Paul Swiston took the award for outstanding down lineman.

The Dinos (7-2) host the Alberta Golden Bears (4-5) in the 74th Hardy Cup championship Saturday at McMahon Stadium, with the winner earning the right to host the Atlantic champion in the CIS Mitchell Bowl next week. Kickoff is 3 p.m., live on Shaw TV and qr77.com.

SAM HURL
Canada West Defensive Player of the Year

Sam Hurl was Mr. Everything for the Calgary defence in 2010, earning the conference's nomination for the Presidents' Award in just his second year of eligibility.

After a rash of injuries during training camp, Hurl moved from his halfback spot up to linebacker for the opening game of the season against the Saskatchewan Huskies – then promptly recorded 12.5 tackles in the game, a season-high in Canada West. He went on to record 42 tackles on the season, including 35 solos, before an injury on the opening kickoff of the final game of the season forced him to the sidelines.

Hurl played multiple positions in the Calgary defence, moving from middle linebacker to rover to weak-side linebacker, and even taking a few reps at his old halfback spot. He was named to the Canada West all-star team at linebacker.

The product of Calgary's Centennial High School is a second year student in the Haskayne School of Business, majoring in finance.

“Sam's value to the program was exemplified this season as he played no fewer than three positions at various points,” Calgary head coach Blake Nill said. “He has tremendous instincts on defence, which allow him to react to the play quickly. Sam's attitude toward the game will make him a key member of the Dinos for years to come.”

Teammate Andrea Bonaventura was the last Dino to win the Canada West outstanding defensive player award, taking home the honour in 2008. Defensive back Darcy Kopp remains the lone Calgary player to win the national award, earning the Presidents' Trophy in 1985.

ERIC DZWILEWSKI
Canada West Rookie of the Year

It was supposed to be a year to watch and learn for quarterback Eric Dzwilewski – but that all changed when Hec Crighton winner Erik Glavic was injured in Week 1, forcing the 18-year-old into the spotlight for the Calgary Dinos.

And the rookie from Boise, Idaho, responded. He won his first four Canada West football starts and was named the Canada West offensive player of the week after his first game, a 23-17 win over Regina Sept. 10. In five starts and change, Dzwilewski (pronounced de-LESS-key) threw for 894 yards and six touchdowns while adding another 446 yards along the ground. He was the Dinos' second-leading rusher on the season and finished seventh in Canada West rushing.

The graduate of Boise's Centennial High School finished the season 4-1 as a starting quarterback and was the unanimous choice of the Canada West coaches to be the conference's nominee for the Peter Gorman trophy as CIS rookie of the year. He is studying first-year history at the University of Calgary.

“You could argue that Eric Dzwilewski was the MVP of the Dinos in 2010,” said Nill. “To have an 18-year-old quarterback step in unexpectedly and win his first four starts speaks volumes of his on-field talent and mindset. Eric is a dual-threat athlete who can make big plays through the air or with his feet. The Dinos will be in good shape with Eric at the helm over the next four years.”

It is the second consecutive season and the fourth time in five years that the top rookie in Canada West has worn the red and white of the Dinos following DL Linden Gaydosh (2009), Matt Walter(2007), and Dalin Tollestrup (2006). Tollestrup and Gaydosh went on to win the national award.

PAUL SWISTON
Canada West Lineman of the Year

Third-year left tackle Paul Swiston of the Calgary Dinos is the Canada West lineman of the year and the conference's nominee for the J.P. Metras Trophy.

Standing six-foot-nine and weighing in at 342 pounds, the hulking Swiston anchored a Calgary offensive line deep in talent and featuring three conference all-stars. Once again they paved the way for the Calgary rushing attack, which was tops in the conference by more than 600 yards on the season, and gave quarterbacks Erik Glavic and Eric Dzwilewski time to deliver the ball.

Swiston, a graduate of Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School, is studying economics in the University of Calgary's Faculty of Arts. He was a Canada West all-star at his position.

“Paul has enjoyed a breakout year with the Dinos in 2010,” said Nill. “It is clear he has become another stalwart amongst an already solid offensive line. After battling serious injuries over the last two seasons, Paul's potential was obvious this season.”

He is the first Dino since NFLer Dan Federkeil (2005) to be named the outstanding lineman in Canada West. Garret Everson was the last Calgary player to win the national honour, winning the J.P. Metras trophy in 1998.

The Saskatchewan Huskies also grabbed two awards, with quarterback Laurence Nixon earning the Frank Gnup Memorial Trophy as the conference's most outstanding player. Huskies bench boss Brian Towriss was named Canada West coach of the year.

Manitoba's Thomas Hall took his second consecutive Student-Athlete Award.

The six Canada West winners become nominees for the CIS major awards, which will be handed out at the All-Canadian gala prior to the Desjardins Vanier Cup in Quebec City.

2010 Canada West Football Awards
*denotes unanimous selection

FRANK GNUP MEMORIAL TROPHY – MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
Nominee for the Hec Crighton Trophy
QB Laurence Nixon, Saskatchewan

OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER
Nominee for the Presidents' Trophy
LB Sam Hurl, Calgary

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Nominee for the Peter Gorman Trophy
QB Eric Dzwilewski, Calgary*

OUTSTANDING DOWN LINEMAN
Nominee for the J.P. Metras Trophy
OT Paul Swiston, Calgary

STUDENT-ATHLETE AWARD
Nominee for the Russ Jackson Award
Thomas Hall, Manitoba

COACH OF THE YEAR
Nominee for the Frank Tindall Trophy
Brian Towriss, Saskatchewan

-UC-