50TH VANIER CUP INTERVIEW SERIES: 1986
A conversation with...
Rob Ros, slotback, University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
In Vanier Cup XXII, slotback Rob Ros caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Eric Putoto with four seconds left in regulation to lift the UBC Thunderbirds to a thrilling 25-23 victory over the Western Ontario Mustangs at Varsity Stadium in Toronto. It marked the second Vanier Cup win over Western Ontario in five years for the T-Birds, who had also defeated the Mustangs 39-14 in the 1982 national final. Ros, who was playing in his final university game in 1986, was a freshman on UBC’s first championship team.
What is your major memory of the Vanier Cup week and the overall experience?
It was a great experience as we spent the better part of two weeks in snowy Eastern Canada.
We spent our first week in Lennoxville, a small city in Quebec, where we prepared to play the Bishop’s Gaiters in the Central Bowl. We had beaten Calgary, the defending Vanier Cup champions, 49-3 the previous week in the WIFL conference final and went into the national semi-final with a lot of confidence. Bishop’s played inspired football in front of a raucous, capacity crowd of over 5,000 and gave us all we could handle. We were down at halftime but fought back to take the lead. Our running back, Terry Cochrane, led the way on offence with three touchdowns but the key play was made by defensive end Doug Bryson on our goal-line late in the fourth quarter to deny Bishop’s a two-point conversion, and a chance to tie the game. We were fortunate to come out on top, 32-30.
Then it was on to Toronto, where we began preparing for the Vanier Cup and a rematch with Western Ontario.
What is your one major lasting memory of the actual game?
It was a great game to be a part of -- probably the most exciting Vanier Cup up to that point. We were ranked number one in the country and were undefeated, while Western was number two and also undefeated. The atmosphere leading up to and surrounding the game was electric. We knew the Mustangs would be tough, as they were returning 55 players from a team that had lost to Calgary in the 1985 Vanier Cup. Moreover, they looked very impressive on film and we knew they were a team on a mission. One player our defence had to key on was Blake Marshall, their bruising fullback and winner of the Hec Crighton Trophy that season.
(Note: In the first 49 years of the championship game, only four Vanier Cup finals have featured two undefeated teams, including StFX vs. Waterloo Lutheran in 1966, UBC vs. Western Ontario in 1986, Wilfrid Laurier vs. Saskatchewan in 2005, and Laval vs. Calgary in 2013)
What do you remember as the key play of the game? And yourself, what was your personal greatest play?
We controlled the first half and a number of turnovers by Western contributed to our 17-1 lead at halftime. Our two Jordan’s made some big plays for us. Jordan Leith, our cornerback, had an interception and recovered a fumble, while quarterback Jordan Gagner was throwing darts all over the field and passed for two touchdowns before the break.
No-one was celebrating at halftime, however. Our execution on offence could have been better and we had caught a huge break late in the first quarter on a punt return. We clearly fumbled the ball, which led to an easy Western score. But the play was called back and we kept the ball. Fortunately for us, there were no challenge flags back in 1986.
The second half was a different story. We turned the ball over early in the third quarter and Western suddenly found their stride. They scored touchdowns on three consecutive possessions to take a 23-18 lead early in the fourth quarter. Offensively, we had lost our rhythm and our defence was on its heels. The Mustangs had us on the ropes.
In a game of big plays and momentum swings, the key play came with four seconds left. Down 23-18 at the Western four-yard line, our backup quarterback Eric Putoto, who had entered the game a few minutes earlier, fired a pass my way for the game-winning touchdown. What a thrill! We did it! 33-Arrow. Coach Frank Smith had drilled that play in practice and we knew he was saving it for the right moment. We had never run it in a game but when the call was made in the huddle, we knew what to do. Coach Smith deserves a lot of credit for making that call.
What was the feeling going into that final drive?
Our defence gave us one last chance as they stuffed the Mustangs on two running plays and forced a punt. A heads-up play by punt returner Matt Pierce led to a no-yards penalty against Western and we got the ball at our 45-yard line with 1:10 left on the clock. There was no panic in the huddle, as we knew we had enough time.
We needed a drive starter and we got it from our running back, Terry Cochrane. Eric threw Terry a little check-down pass for a first down. Next, wide receiver Mike Bellefontaine made a tough catch over the middle. Tom Munro, who had played well all afternoon, then caught a pass along the sideline and got out of bounds to stop the clock. All of a sudden, we were on the Western 15-yard line. After an incompletion, Eric was flushed from the pocket and scrambled to the four for a first down. The next play saw Mike make a great effort on a ball deep in the end zone that was just beyond his reach. This set the stage for the winning play.
Personally, the memorable thing about the final drive and the game from an offensive standpoint was the contributions we got from so many players. We entered the game with a reputation of having a balanced attack and it was certainly on display. The offensive line, led by all-Canadian left tackle Leo Groenewegen, did a great job of opening up holes for our backs and giving our quarterbacks time to make plays.
Did anything unusual or out of the ordinary happen during the game or during Vanier week?
With about three minutes to go in the game and down by five points, we looked up in the huddle and realized that a new quarterback was calling the plays. Eric Putoto didn’t have a speck of mud on his white uniform and, at 6’5’’, he really stood out. Many of us thought that Jordan had been hurt. We soon realized that Coach Smith had decided to change quarterbacks. Jordan had played well to that point but we didn’t give him much help in the second half as we dropped some catchable balls, allowed some sacks and committed some drive-stopping penalties. Eric deserved a lot of credit as he entered the game in a tough circumstance and performed admirably.
(Note: Gagner, who would win the Hec Crighton Trophy the following season, completed 17 of 29 passes for 254 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in the 1986 Vanier Cup. Putoto went 4-of-9 for 51 yards and the winning TD in the final minutes of the contest, which was enough to earn game-MVP honours)
How did you or the team react to the stadium, the crowd, the weather?
There were close to 20,000 fans at the game and we knew it was being televised live back home. Varsity Stadium was a classic venue with cramped locker rooms, melting snow turning the field to mud and a pro-Western crowd. We loved it! Today, you might call it a tough ‘mudder.’
What are your memories of the post-game celebrations on the field and/or in the dressing room?
Before the game, you could hear a pin drop in the locker room as we were all business. Players were getting taped, attending to their pre-game rituals and rehearsing their assignments. For Jack Beetstra, Dwayne Derban and me, this was very much like 1982. We knew our coaches had prepared us well. To a man, we had that quiet confidence that we were ready to play a great game. The only negative was the fact that Jack, an all-Canadian linebacker, wouldn’t be able to play. He had hurt his neck a few weeks earlier in practice and had been ruled out for the game.
After our captains, Leo, Terry, Dwayne and Jack, accepted the Vanier Cup on behalf of the team, we found ourselves together in that same small, cramped locker room. What a contrast to the pre-game atmosphere. Players, coaches, trainers, equipment men and UBC staff celebrating a great team win.
What are your memories of the trip back home?
The best part of our return trip to Vancouver had to be the welcome we received at the Vancouver International Airport. The support and encouragement we received from family, friends and the UBC community was humbling and it felt great to be back with them.
At the time, how did winning the Vanier Cup change your everyday life?
Winning the Vanier Cup was a proud moment for UBC. Reaction on campus was very positive, especially from the other athletes. Life returned to normal pretty quickly as our academic responsibilities took precedence. No one was complaining, however. With a successful season behind us, we looked forward to our academic pursuits and involvement in other aspects of campus life.
How often to you reminisce about your Vanier Cup win?
I feel very fortunate and thankful to be a member of two Vanier Cup-winning teams. I have many great memories from 1986 and whenever I get a chance to visit with teammates and coaches, it’s always fun.
I was very pleased to see the 1997 Thunderbirds bring home another Vanier Cup. My hope is that many more future UBC athletes can experience the thrill of winning a Vanier Cup.
What did you study at UBC and what career path did you follow after graduation?
I graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Physical Education and followed up with a Teaching Certificate. I taught at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary, in North Vancouver, from 1988 to 2000. Since then, I have been teaching at West Vancouver Secondary.