ARSHY MANN
The Ubyssey (University of British Columbia)

VANCOUVER (CUP) — The University of British Columbia Thunderbirds football team has forfeited its entire 2011 season after it was found that it was fielding an ineligible player.

The player, defensive lineman Connor Flynn, had already completed his eligibility at the beginning of the season, after having played five years of junior football with the Vancouver Trojans before being recruited to UBC in 2009. According to a Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) statement, UBC “self-disclosed” the violation and co-operated fully with the investigation. It went on to say that the violation was unintentional.

The UBC Thunderbirds will forfeit all six of their wins in the 2011 season.

In 2009, the CIS amended its eligibility rules to state that “a student-athlete shall complete his eligibility within seven academic years, calculated from the beginning of the academic year immediately following the earlier of his high school graduation or completion of high school eligibility … an exception is granted to any student-athlete listed on a 2009–2010 eligibility certificate.”

Due to an error by UBC’s football program, which was coached by Ted Goveia at the time, Flynn was not listed on an eligibility certificate.

UBC’s breakthrough 6-2 season will now be recorded for posterity as 0-8, with 1-0 victories for all of UBC’s opponents.

UBC will also be fined $1,250 and has been placed on probation until 2013.

Since the University of Saskatchewan Huskies defeated UBC 36-33 in their only match of the regular season, the Huskies’ 5-3 record did not change. While Manitoba and Calgary each gained one win from the forfeit and Regina and Alberta each gained two wins, the changes were not enough to affect Saskatchewan’s second place finish.

The playoff game between Saskatchewan and UBC that saw the Huskies lose 27-22 is now listed as a 1-0 win for Saskatchewan. Calgary’s 62-13 win against UBC in the following round still stands. The playoffs will not be replayed.

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Photo: Geoff Lister/The Ubyssey