Sinagra captures top U Sports prize
Dinos QB set passing yardage mark and led team to perfect 8-0 season
QUEBEC CITY The best passing season in Canadian university football history earned the ultimate individual prize Thursday.
University of Calgary Dinos quarterback Adam Sinagra received the Hec Crighton Trophy as the nation’s top university football player at the U Sports football awards gala Thursday night at Centre Videotron ahead of Saturday’s Vanier Cup.
His 3,233 passing yards set a new U Sports record as he led the Dinos to a perfect 8-0 season and the most potent offence in the nation, averaging 570.9 yards per game. Sinagra ranked second in the nation in passing touchdowns this season with 23 and led the conference with a passer rating of 126.
“It’s humbling, and it’s a great honour,” said Sinagra. “I couldn’t haven’t done it without the team, though, honestly — the quarterback position, you can’t do it alone. You need all facets of the offence buying in and contributing. The whole team is a part of this.
“I was more comfortable this year and took more ownership, but I didn’t really notice a huge difference from previous years. I just was able to make those extra few plays that I wasn’t last year. We have such a good team around us, and it makes my job a lot easier.”
Sinagra’s teammate, receiver Tyson Philpot, was honoured as the U Sports rookie of the year, while seven Dinos earned all-Canadian status after posting the program’s fourth undefeated regular season.
Joining Sinagra on the first allCanadian squad are second-year offensive lineman Logan Bandy, sophomore defensive back Deane Leonard and placekicker Niko DiFonte. Defensive lineman Joel Van Pelt, linebacker Boston Rowe and receiver Hunter Karl were named second team all-Canadians in 2018.
Sinagra’s honour marks the sixth time a Dinos player has captured the Hec Crighton Trophy, following in the footsteps of program greats: quarterback Greg Vavra (1983), receiver Don Blair (1995) and quarterbacks Erik Glavic (2009) and Andrew Buckley (2014, 2015).
“Adam’s confidence level and his leadership have really emerged this season. It’s something we didn’t see a lot of in his first two years where he was more of a quiet leader.
“Now, he says the right things at the right time and shares the information with his receivers and line,” says Dinos head coach Wayne Harris Jr. “He learned what it’s like to prepare as a professional — the way he watches film, makes notes in meetings on our systems and our opponents has significantly changed. Canada West has its share of fast guys, but it’s nothing like the speed of the CFL and that experience really slowed things down for him and has helped with those reads and adjustments.
“Everything he has learned has helped him be a better quarterback.”
Philpot becomes the fifth University of Calgary player to take home the Peter Gorman Trophy as the nation’s top rookie, an honour most recently won by pivot Eric Dzwilewski in 2010.