CALGARY – The 1983-85 University of Calgary Dinos football team hasn't stepped on the field in a quarter century, but the two-time Vanier Cup champions have received another accolade.
The team will be inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in the Class of 2010, the Hall of Fame announced Thursday. The gala induction event will be held at the Capri Centre Hotel in Red Deer on Friday, May 28.
The football Dinos become just the second university team to be enshrined in the Hall, joining the 1994-2000 University of Alberta women's volleyball squad.
Under head coach Peter Connellan, the Dinosaurs won three straight Hardy Cup championships and captured the school's first two Vanier Cup titles in 1983 and 1985. Over the three seasons, the team posted a 19-5 record in the regular season and outscored their opponents 106-41 in the three conference championship games.
The Dinos of that era were stacked, with eight players named first team All-Canadians: Josh Borger, Wade Buteau, David Fordyce, Elio Geremia, Cam Hodgson, Darcy Kopp, Rob Prodanovic, and
Greg Vavra. A total of 20 players from those three seasons also went on to play professionally in the Canadian Football League.
Vavra, Kopp, and Connellan also won major individual awards over the period. In 1983 Vavra became the first Dinosaur in history to win the Hec Crighton Trophy as the national MVP after passing for 2,823 yards, 178 completions, and 21 touchdowns in the regular season. Vavra went on to lead the Dinos past the Queen's Golden Gaels in the Vanier Cup at Varsity Stadium in Toronto by a score of 31-21, passing for 307 yards and two touchdowns. He also booted five field goals in the game – a Vanier Cup record that still stands – and was therefore involved on every one of Calgary's 31 points scored.
After Calgary fell 12-7 in a low-scoring Central Bowl at Alumni Stadium in Guelph in 1984 following a 7-1 regular season, the Dinosaurs were back in 1985. After drubbing Manitoba 52-13 in the western final, Calgary played host to a national semi-final for the first time and laid down a 56-14 dismantling of Carleton in the Western Bowl. Led by Kopp, who won the Presidents' Award as the most outstanding defensive player in the country, and national Coach of the Year Connellan, the Dinos wrapped up one of the most dominant post-seasons in CIS history with a 25-6 win over the Western Mustangs to capture their second Vanier Cup in three seasons.
In the 1985 post-season, Calgary outscored its opponents by a whopping 133-33 margin.
Not only did the 1983-85 Dinos football teams make their mark on the field, but they have been heavily involved off it as well. The players were instrumental in creating the Dinos Fifth Quarter Alumni Association, which has become one of the most dedicated and supportive alumni groups in the nation. Each year the Fifth Quarter provides significant financial, operational, and coaching support to the Dinos football team, which made its first appearance in the Vanier Cup since 1995 last November thanks in large part to the legacy of the 1983, 1984, and 1985 teams – led by offensive coordinator Greg Vavra.
The Fifth Quarter will hold its annual fundraising dinner at Hotel Arts on Thursday, April 22, featuring keynote speaker Jeff Garcia. For further information or to purchase tickets, visit www.dinos5thquarter.com.
-UC-
University of Calgary Dinos Football
1983-85 – Individuals involved with all three teams
Players:
Rob Braden, Bryan Brandford, Wade Buteau, Elio Geremia, Randy Guy, Cam Hodgson, Keith Holliday, Biaggio Iannace, Thom Kaake, Darcy Kopp, Lew Lawrick, Doug Nyhoff, Peter Ohler, Mike Siroishka, Tony Spoletini, Joe Stambene, Craig Steele, Kevin Thurm, Kent Warnock, Craig Watson
Coaches:
Peter Connellan, Rick Coleman, Randy Bergh, Shane Wylie
Support Personnel:
Mike Newans (Manager), Jack Neumann (Sports Information Director)
Administrators:
Dr. Brian Norford (Chancellor), Dr. Norman Wagner (President), Dr. Roger Jackson (Dean)
