November 6, 2008
2008 OUA FOOTBALL MAJOR AWARD WINNERS
HAMILTON, Ont. – Ontario University Athletics (OUA) is pleased to announce its 2008 football major award winners.
On the strength of their undefeated regular season, the Queen's Gaels have four major award winners. Running back Mike Giffin (Kingston, Ont.) is the Most Valuable Player of OUA. He earned his second consecutive OUA rushing title in 2008, running for 1,061 yards during the regular season. He averaged just over seven yards per carry. Giffin also led OUA and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) in touchdowns with 14 touchdowns, with 12 coming on the ground.
Giffin rushed for over 200 yards in three games in 2008, and had a string of 14 consecutive regular games with over 100 rushing yards that spanned three seasons. A knee injury in the final game of the regular season ended his 2008 campaign prematurely, as Giffin was not able to take part in a semi-final loss to Ottawa. He is OUA's nominee for the CIS Hec Crighton Award as the outstanding university football player in Canada.
Teammate Osie Ukwuoma (Mississauga, Ont.) is the OUA Lineman of the Year. Ukwuoma gave opposing quarterbacks fits in 2008, sacking pivots 9.5 times to lead OUA. This was good for a share of top spot in CIS with UBC's Scott McCuaig.
Ukwuoma participated in the CIS East West Bowl in 2008, and was named one of the Top 10 prospects for the upcoming CFL Canadian Draft in 2009. He is blessed with the tools to be an elite player, benching 225 points 18 times during fall testing, while running a 4.73 in the 40-yard dash. He will look to improve on these skills in anticipation of an invite to the 2009 CFL Evaluation Camp. Ukwuoma is the OUA's nominee for the J.P. Metras Award, given to the top lineman in the CIS.
Another teammate, linebacker Thaine Carter (Nanaimo, B.C.) is named OUA's Standup Defensive Player of the Year. Carter made 44 tackles, including 33 solos, 18 assisted tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. He also had two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Carter is the OUA's nominee for the Presidents' Trophy, given to the top defensive player (excluding linemen) in the nation.
The Gaels defence gave up an average of just 87 rushing yards along the ground per game this season, good for the top mark in OUA. Queen's was No. 3 in OUA with a total of 2,591 yards against during the 2008 regular season. The Gaels had the stingiest defence allowing just 116 points against, an average of 14.5 per game. Carter, Ukwuoma and Giffin were all named OUA First Team All-Stars.
It takes a great coach to lead a great team, which is why Pat Sheahan of Queen's is named the OUA Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. No Gaels team had ever finished a regular season with eight wins, and it marked the eighth perfect season in Queen's history. Other undefeated regular seasons came in 1923 (4-0), 1924 (4-0), 1925 (4-0), 1963 (6-0), 1964 (6-0), 1978 (6-0) and 1989 (7-0).
Sheahan is the first consecutive winner of the OUA Coach of the Year award since Laurier's Gary Jeffries had a monopoly on the award between 2003 and 2005. Sheahan was also the OUA Coach of the Year in 2001. Sheahan was also named OQIFC Coach of the Year in 1990 and 1998 when he led the Concordia Stingers. Sheahan is a nominee for the Frank Tindall Trophy as CIS Coach of the Year.
The Waterloo Warriors are a promising young team led by linebacker Jordon Verdone (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.). In his first season in university football, Verdone earned 44 solo tackles, ranking him second in OUA. He also recorded 17 assisted tackles, 3 sacks, 1 break up and 1 interception. He is named the OUA's Rookie of the Year as a result of his efforts.
He has grown as a leader on the Warriors in such a short period. Verdone was in charge of calling defensive fronts and on-field adjustments. He also played an important role on special teams, and also got the call as a fullback in short yardage situations. In his one carry he gained three yards and a first down. Verdone is the OUA nominee for the Peter Gorman Trophy as CIS Rookie of the Year.
Quarterback David Hamilton (Mississauga, Ont.) is the second consecutive member of the Toronto Varsity Blues to be named the OUA's nominee for the Russ Jackson Award, given to the CIS player which exhibits outstanding achievement in three areas: athletic ability, academic achievement and citizenship. Hamilton enjoyed his first career win as a member of the Blues when Toronto ended its CIS record 49-game losing streak on Labour Day against Waterloo. Hamilton followed that up with his first ever win against cross-town rival York Lions.
Hamilton finished the season sixth in CIS in passing yards (2,139), seventh in CIS in completion percentage (59 percent), sixth in CIS in touchdown passes (12), sixth in CIS in passing yards per game (267), and fourth in CIS in completions (164).
Hamilton is among the top of his class in a challenging and competitive Human Biology program. In 2007, he was named a CIS Academic All-Canadian for maintaining a 3.8 GPA. Hamilton has written his MCAT's and will be entering Medical School following his graduation in July.
Hamilton does extensive volunteer work within the community, specifically the pediatric department of Toronto East General Hospital, Evergreen Youth Shelter and Athletes in Action. He was also the Varsity Blues top fundraiser for Athletes in Africa.
The CIS All-Canadian Awards Gala will be held at the Hamilton Convention Centre on Thurs., Nov. 20 as part of the Desjardins Vanier Cup festivities.
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
On the strength of their undefeated regular season, the Queen's Gaels have four major award winners. Running back Mike Giffin (Kingston, Ont.) is the Most Valuable Player of OUA. He earned his second consecutive OUA rushing title in 2008, running for 1,061 yards during the regular season. He averaged just over seven yards per carry. Giffin also led OUA and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) in touchdowns with 14 touchdowns, with 12 coming on the ground.
Giffin rushed for over 200 yards in three games in 2008, and had a string of 14 consecutive regular games with over 100 rushing yards that spanned three seasons. A knee injury in the final game of the regular season ended his 2008 campaign prematurely, as Giffin was not able to take part in a semi-final loss to Ottawa. He is OUA's nominee for the CIS Hec Crighton Award as the outstanding university football player in Canada.
Teammate Osie Ukwuoma (Mississauga, Ont.) is the OUA Lineman of the Year. Ukwuoma gave opposing quarterbacks fits in 2008, sacking pivots 9.5 times to lead OUA. This was good for a share of top spot in CIS with UBC's Scott McCuaig.
Ukwuoma participated in the CIS East West Bowl in 2008, and was named one of the Top 10 prospects for the upcoming CFL Canadian Draft in 2009. He is blessed with the tools to be an elite player, benching 225 points 18 times during fall testing, while running a 4.73 in the 40-yard dash. He will look to improve on these skills in anticipation of an invite to the 2009 CFL Evaluation Camp. Ukwuoma is the OUA's nominee for the J.P. Metras Award, given to the top lineman in the CIS.
Another teammate, linebacker Thaine Carter (Nanaimo, B.C.) is named OUA's Standup Defensive Player of the Year. Carter made 44 tackles, including 33 solos, 18 assisted tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. He also had two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Carter is the OUA's nominee for the Presidents' Trophy, given to the top defensive player (excluding linemen) in the nation.
The Gaels defence gave up an average of just 87 rushing yards along the ground per game this season, good for the top mark in OUA. Queen's was No. 3 in OUA with a total of 2,591 yards against during the 2008 regular season. The Gaels had the stingiest defence allowing just 116 points against, an average of 14.5 per game. Carter, Ukwuoma and Giffin were all named OUA First Team All-Stars.
It takes a great coach to lead a great team, which is why Pat Sheahan of Queen's is named the OUA Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. No Gaels team had ever finished a regular season with eight wins, and it marked the eighth perfect season in Queen's history. Other undefeated regular seasons came in 1923 (4-0), 1924 (4-0), 1925 (4-0), 1963 (6-0), 1964 (6-0), 1978 (6-0) and 1989 (7-0).
Sheahan is the first consecutive winner of the OUA Coach of the Year award since Laurier's Gary Jeffries had a monopoly on the award between 2003 and 2005. Sheahan was also the OUA Coach of the Year in 2001. Sheahan was also named OQIFC Coach of the Year in 1990 and 1998 when he led the Concordia Stingers. Sheahan is a nominee for the Frank Tindall Trophy as CIS Coach of the Year.
The Waterloo Warriors are a promising young team led by linebacker Jordon Verdone (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.). In his first season in university football, Verdone earned 44 solo tackles, ranking him second in OUA. He also recorded 17 assisted tackles, 3 sacks, 1 break up and 1 interception. He is named the OUA's Rookie of the Year as a result of his efforts.
He has grown as a leader on the Warriors in such a short period. Verdone was in charge of calling defensive fronts and on-field adjustments. He also played an important role on special teams, and also got the call as a fullback in short yardage situations. In his one carry he gained three yards and a first down. Verdone is the OUA nominee for the Peter Gorman Trophy as CIS Rookie of the Year.
Quarterback David Hamilton (Mississauga, Ont.) is the second consecutive member of the Toronto Varsity Blues to be named the OUA's nominee for the Russ Jackson Award, given to the CIS player which exhibits outstanding achievement in three areas: athletic ability, academic achievement and citizenship. Hamilton enjoyed his first career win as a member of the Blues when Toronto ended its CIS record 49-game losing streak on Labour Day against Waterloo. Hamilton followed that up with his first ever win against cross-town rival York Lions.
Hamilton finished the season sixth in CIS in passing yards (2,139), seventh in CIS in completion percentage (59 percent), sixth in CIS in touchdown passes (12), sixth in CIS in passing yards per game (267), and fourth in CIS in completions (164).
Hamilton is among the top of his class in a challenging and competitive Human Biology program. In 2007, he was named a CIS Academic All-Canadian for maintaining a 3.8 GPA. Hamilton has written his MCAT's and will be entering Medical School following his graduation in July.
Hamilton does extensive volunteer work within the community, specifically the pediatric department of Toronto East General Hospital, Evergreen Youth Shelter and Athletes in Action. He was also the Varsity Blues top fundraiser for Athletes in Africa.
The CIS All-Canadian Awards Gala will be held at the Hamilton Convention Centre on Thurs., Nov. 20 as part of the Desjardins Vanier Cup festivities.
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
