50TH VANIER CUP INTERVIEW SERIES: Don Blair, Calgary (1995)

50^TH VANIER CUP INTERVIEW SERIES: 1995

A conversation with...

Don Blair, receiver, University of Calgary Dinosaurs

In Vanier Cup XXXI, in front of a crowd of 29,178 at Toronto’s SkyDome, the Calgary Dinosaurs set a CIAU championship game scoring record and captured the fourth national title in school history thanks to a 54-24 win over the defending champion Western Ontario Mustangs. Two legendary figures bid farewell to the Dinosaurs that day: Hall of Fame head coach Peter Connellan and all-Canadian receiver Don Blair. Thanks to his game-MVP performance, Blair became the only player in history to claim the Hec Crighton Trophy, the Vanier Cup and the Ted Morris Memorial Trophy in the same season.       

What are your memories leading up to the Vanier Cup in 1995?

It was all about momentum. The team kept getting stronger. In 1993, we had lost late in the Vanier Cup game to Toronto; we seemed happy to be there. Then, the 1994 season was a huge disappointment for us. That year, we had a good team but were not solid as a group.

In 1995, we knew the Hardy Cup final against Saskatchewan would likely be for a trip to the Vanier. It was one of the greatest games I have ever been a part of, not because of my personal performance, but just an epic football game. A great catch by Brett Campbell on the sidelines set up our field goal to tie the game. I remember that game like it was last week. Our league was so tough that year. We were in lots of close games and went 6-2.

(Note: Calgary lost 37-34 to Toronto in the 1993 Vanier Cup and 34-17 to Saskatchewan in the 1994 Hardy Cup. In 1995, the Dinosaurs and Huskies finished league play with identical 6-2 records but Calgary was awarded first place in the standings thanks to a pair of head-to-head wins. The rivals met for a third time that season in the Canada West final, with the Dinosaurs edging their archrivals 32-30 in overtime to advance to the Churchill Bowl, where they easily handled Ottawa, 37-7)

What do you remember most from the events during Vanier Cup week?

I remember how professional and locked-in we were as a group. We knew what do and what the expectations were. We were internally confident despite being underdogs going into that game. That played into our strength. They (Western Ontario) had no idea what they were in for. We had been waiting for this since 1993.

Explain the dynamics of the team in 1995.

We all saw each other as peers. We had a group of key guys that kept each other accountable. It was not one or two players but a lot of leadership from within.

Did you feel additional pressure to become a Vanier Cup champion after winning the Hec Crighton Trophy that season?

We thrived on the possibility that teams could take me out of the play. We had other options, I didn’t feel I had to win games by myself, thus I never felt any pressure. We had numerous weapons such as Chris Lewis and Gene Stahl in the backfield, receivers Brett Campbell, Kevin Klein, Ryan Carruthers and Tarek Jayoussi, plus we had a fabulous offensive line.

It was exciting to have all the attention but it was a different type of attention than being in the pros. In college, we were young; all the attention we garnered was positive and we fed off it.

(Note: Blair had one of the best performances in Vanier Cup history in 1995 with four touchdowns, including three on receptions of 13, 34 and 13 yards, and one more on a blocked punt he recovered in the end zone. His four majors, 24 points and three TD catches (tied) are all Vanier Cup records. While Blair was a worthy recipient of the Ted Morris Trophy, Jayoussi and Lewis also put up impressive statistics in the win: the former finished the contest with eight receptions for 188 yards and a score, and the latter with 104 yards and two majors on the ground)

What do you feel was the key play in the game?

The blocked punt was the dagger but our defence made some big stops on the Mustangs and their strong running attack. Our defence set the tone for the game with their strong play. We had very good defensive players on the team – guys like lineman Rob Richards and defensive back Danny Geremia come to mind.

(Note: With five minutes remaining in the first half, Blair recovered a blocked punt in the end zone to score his second touchdown of the day and increase Calgary’s lead to 26-7)

When starting quarterback Jason Assen got injured early in the game, how confident was the team that backup Sasha Blaskovich could do the job?

It never slowed us down one bit. Both were prepared to play and knew the expectations.

(Note: Blaskovich, a fourth-year senior from Calgary, was stellar in relief, going 15-of-22 for 294 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. The CIAU leader in the regular season with 21 TD passes, Assen had connected with Blair late in the first quarter for his first major of the game before being sidelined)

How did it feel to become the first player to win the Hec Crighton and Ted Morris Trophies in the same year, and what effect did it have on you?

I never thought of it having an effect. Everything built up during the season. It kept snowballing. The whole process just kept getting better. Going to the East-West Shrine Game down in the United States as the first Canadian-trained player at a skill position invited to the game, then getting invited to Hula Bowl. It was nice to be kind of a trailblazer in that area for other CIS players. 1995 was the perfect storm for me.

How often do you think back to that magical 1995 season?

Nowadays, not that often as my kids are eight and six. A few years ago, TSN did a feature on the top-10 Vanier Cup moments and it included my four-touchdown game. It brought back lots of memories. My phone blew up that day. It was so much fun to be a part of that experience. Nothing compares to that year, including winning the Grey Cup with the BC Lions. Professional sport is different than college. There are no trades and no free agents; you make the best of what you’ve got. These are guys that you go to school with. 

Do you see much of your teammates from 1995?

We don’t see each other that much but when we do, it’s awesome. It seems just like yesterday.

What are you doing these days?

I am with Boston Scientific, testing surgical devices, something I have done for eight years now. My official title is senior territory manager in Western Canada, so I’m on the road quite a bit.

How has football helped you in your post-playing career?

One of the lessons you learn is how to be a winner. That is one thing companies are looking for. It is a culture of winning. The Dinos program under Blake Nill is a winning program. Winning becomes the norm and football is a huge team sport, which makes the team dynamics important. Football is the greatest team sport going. You have to pull together as a team with others, just like one does in the business world.

MORE ABOUT DON BLAIR:

Blair’s last university game was the Vanier Cup win in 1995. A few months later, he became the first non-lineman Canadian university player to play in the prestigious East-West Shrine Game in the United States. With Blair participating in the annual prospects showcase along with Ohio State’s Eddie George, it marked the first time that the Hec Crighton and Heisman Trophy winners suited up in the game in the same year. Blair’s performance in the East-West Game led to an invitation to the Hula Bowl in Hawaii.

After receiving, early in the spring, the Howard, Mackie Award (now the BLG Award) as the CIAU male athlete of the year for 1995-96, Blair was the first overall selection by the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian college draft. The Ottawa native then attended the training camp of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League, before embarking on an eight-year CFL career with Edmonton (1996-1998), BC (1999-2001) and Calgary (2002-2003), winning the Grey Cup with the Lions in 2000.

Blair currently resides in Calgary with his wife, Linda, a former national team speed skater, and their two children.