Greg Vavra

Last updated
Greg Vavra
Date of birth (1961-02-19) February 19, 1961 (age 63)
Place of birth Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Career information
CFL status National
Position(s) Quarterback
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight195 lb (88 kg)
Canada university Calgary
High school Calgary (AB) Bishop Grandin
CFL draft 1983 / round: TE
Drafted by Calgary Stampeders
Career history
As coach
2006–2010 Calgary Dinos
(Offensive coordinator)
2015–2016 Calgary Dinos
(Quarterbacks coach)
As player
1983 Calgary Stampeders*
1983 Edmonton Eskimos*
1984–1985 Calgary Stampeders
1986 Edmonton Eskimos*
1986–1987 BC Lions
1988 Edmonton Eskimos
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Honours First Team All-Canadian (1983)
Retired #s Calgary Dinos #17
Career stats
Pass attempts524
Pass completions253
Percentage48.3
TD–INT 17–31
Passing yards3236

Greg Vavra (born February 19, 1961) is a Canadian former professional football quarterback who played five seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Calgary Stampeders, BC Lions and Edmonton Eskimos. He played CIAU football for the Calgary Dinosaurs and won the Hec Crighton Trophy in 1983.

Contents

Early life

Vavra attended Bishop Grandin High School in Calgary, Alberta.

University career

Vavra played CIAU football for the Calgary Dinosaurs as a quarterback, placekicker, and punter from 1979 to 1983. On October 7, 1983, he set the CIAU record for most passing yards in a game with 627 yards in their game against the Saskatchewan Huskies. [1] He set a single season record for passing yards that year with 2,823, which was surpassed in 2002 by Tommy Denison. [2] For the season, he was named a First Team All-Canadian and was awarded the Hec Crighton Trophy. [2] In his final year in 1983, the Calgary Dinosaurs won the 19th Vanier Cup, with Vavra throwing two touchdowns, as well as kicking five field goals and one convert in the game. [2] For his career, he completed 611 passes out of 1200 attempts for 8,401 passing yards and 63 passing touchdowns. [3]

On November 4, 1983, Vavra became the first University of Calgary student-athlete to have his uniform number (17) retired by a varsity team of the school. [4] He was inducted into the University of Calgary Athletic Hall of Fame on October 12, 1995. [4] Vavra was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame as a university player in 2020. [5]

Professional career

Vavra was drafted as a territorial exemption by the Calgary Stampeders in the 1983 CFL Draft but was traded to the Edmonton Eskimos for Mike Levenseller on June 22, 1983. [6] [7] He was released in July 1983 and returned to the Calgary Dinos to complete his university eligibility. [8]

He re-signed with the Stampeders in 1984 where he played in 11 games as a rookie and started nine while posting a 4–5 win–loss record as a starter. [9] [10] That year, he completed 161 passes from 324 attempts for 1,901 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. [8] In 1985, Vavra was used more as a back-up as he played in 10 games and started in just two, where he completed 32 passes on 73 attempts for 391 yards with one touchdown and five interceptions. [10] [8] With a 1–1 record as a starter that year, he was the last Canadian quarterback to start and win a game until Brandon Bridge accomplished the feat in 2017. [10]

As a free agent in 1986, Vavra signed again with the Edmonton Eskimos, but was released in June 1986. [8] He later signed with the BC Lions, where he played for two years and dressed in 23 games, and completed 50 passes on 101 attempts for 829 yards, five touchdowns, and seven interceptions. [8] He started his last game at quarterback on October 11, 1987, but the Lions lost to the Stampeders. [10] After the 1987 season, Vavra signed with the Eskimos in 1988 for a third time and suited up as a back up quarterback that year, playing in 11 games and completing 10 passes from 26 attempts for 105 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. [8]

Vavra retired after the 1988 season in order to complete his law degree and work in the oil and gas industry. [11]

Coaching career

Vavra joined the coaching staff of the Calgary Dinos in 2006 to serve as the team's offensive coordinator; a position he held for five years. [11] He re-joined the team in 2015 as the quarterbacks coach and served in that capacity for two years. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Ray</span> American football player (born 1979)

Ricky Ray is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback. Ray spent the majority of his professional career with the Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He also briefly spent time in the af2, as well as with the San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). Ray is the all-time leader in passing yardage, pass completions, and passing touchdowns for both the Edmonton Elks and Toronto Argonauts. He won a Grey Cup championship four times as a starter, in 2003, 2005, 2012, and 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Dickenson</span> American gridiron football coach and former player

David Dickenson is a Canadian-American professional football head coach and general manager for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played as a quarterback with the Stampeders and the BC Lions, where he won the 2006 Grey Cup and was named the game's MVP. Dickenson played college football for the Montana Grizzlies, where he led the team to the 1995 NCAA Division I-AA college football championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Burris</span> American gridiron football player and coach (born 1975)

Henry Armand Burris Jr. is an American former professional football quarterback, and a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. He is currently the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Florida A&M. Burris played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1998 to 2016. He won three Grey Cup championships, two with the Calgary Stampeders, in 1998 and 2008, having spent 10 years of his career with them, and one with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2016. He was also a sports broadcaster and football analyst at TSN, appearing as a panel member on the network's CFL on TSN broadcasts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Dunigan</span> American football player

Matt Dunigan is an American broadcaster and former professional football player and executive. He is a Canadian Football League (CFL) sportscaster for Canadian sports television channel TSN. Dunigan is a former quarterback, coach, and executive in the CFL. In 2006, Dunigan joined the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, and was voted one of the CFL's Top 50 players (#39) of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny McManus</span> American gridiron football player (born 1965)

Danny McManus is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He passed for over 53,000 yards in 17 seasons. He currently serves as the assistant general manager and director for U.S. scouting for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He played every season in the league from 1990 to 2006, as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, BC Lions, Edmonton Eskimos, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and finally with the Calgary Stampeders. He is a five-time Grey Cup champion, having won three times as a player and twice in a front office capacity. He is fifth all-time in passing yards in the CFL and is the all-time leading passer for the Tiger-Cats. He has also worked as a color commentator for TSN's CFL broadcasts, having previously appeared as a guest analyst on the CFL on CBC late in his playing career.

John Coleman Hufnagel is an American special advisor for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He has previously served as the Stampeders' President, General Manager, Head Coach, and Offensive Coordinator. He played quarterback for fifteen professional seasons in the CFL and National Football League (NFL). Prior to his hiring to the Stampeders on December 3, 2007, he was the offensive coordinator of the New York Giants of the NFL.

Tracy Ham is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played for the Edmonton Eskimos, the Toronto Argonauts, the Baltimore Stallions, and the Montreal Alouettes. He was known for his abilities as a dual-threat quarterback. He played college football for the Georgia Southern Eagles, where he became the first quarterback to rush for 3,000 yards and pass for 5,000 yards in a career. Ham is an inductee of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Ham is currently the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Georgia Southern University.

Gerry Dattilio is a former professional Canadian football quarterback in the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">78th Grey Cup</span> 1990 Canadian Football championship game

The 78th Grey Cup was the 1990 Canadian Football League championship game played between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Edmonton Eskimos at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Blue Bombers defeated the Eskimos, 50–11.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Calgary Stampeders season</span> Canadian football team season

The 2007 Calgary Stampeders season was the 50th season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 69th overall. After promising second-place finishes in the West Division in 2005 (11–7) and 2006 (10–8) they finished third in the West Division in 2007, with a disappointing 7–10–1 record, their first losing record in three seasons. They were defeated in the Western Semi-Final 26–24 by the eventual Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders. The season was the last in which the team recorded more than two consecutive losses in the regular season in 10 years, recording three consecutive losses to close out the 2017 Calgary Stampeders season.

The 2011 CFL season was the 58th season of modern-day Canadian football. Officially, it was the 54th season of the Canadian Football League. The complete schedule was released on February 18 and featured the defending Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes opening the season against the visiting BC Lions on Thursday, June 30, 2011. The season was among the most notable in the modern era for the competitiveness of the teams; going into the final week, five teams were tied for first place in the league, a first in modern CFL history. It was also the first time since 1982 that all teams finished with fewer than 12 wins in the regular season. As well, for the first time since 1950, the start of the modern era, all four teams competing in the division finals were different from the four teams that had competed in the division finals the previous year. Newly renovated BC Place Stadium in Vancouver hosted the 99th Grey Cup on November 27, with the hometown Lions defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 34–23 in front of a sold-out crowd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trevor Harris</span> American gridiron football player (born 1986)

Trevor Harris is an American professional football quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2010. Harris has also played in the Arena Football League (AFL) and United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Edinboro University. As Edinboro's starting quarterback, he broke "every career passing record in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference" and was a two-time finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, awarded each year to the individual selected as the most valuable player in NCAA Division II.

Anthony Lawrence Parker is a former professional Canadian football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Calgary Stampeders and played with that organization for seven years, winning a Grey Cup championship in 2014. He played CIS football for the Calgary Dinos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Sinopoli</span>

Bradley Sinopoli is a former Canadian football wide receiver who played for nine years in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was originally a quarterback with the Calgary Stampeders before being converted to wide receiver in 2013. He then joined the Ottawa Redblacks where he was twice named the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian, was named an East Division All-Star three times, and a CFL All-Star in 2018. He won two Grey Cup championships, after winning with the Stampeders in 2014 and with the Redblacks in 2016, the latter of which he was also named the game's Most Valuable Canadian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marc Mueller</span> Canadian gridiron football coach (born 1989)

Marc Mueller is the offensive coordinator for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a two-time Grey Cup champion as an assistant coach with the Calgary Stampeders. In university, he played quarterback for the Regina Rams of the CIS from 2007 to 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bo Levi Mitchell</span> American gridiron football player (born 1990)

Bo Levi Mitchell is an American professional football quarterback for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He originally signed with the Calgary Stampeders in 2012 and became the team's starting quarterback for the 2014 season, setting a number of club and league records including best record for a first time starting quarterback in league history. He won the 102nd Grey Cup in 2014, the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award in 2016 and 2018, and the 106th Grey Cup in 2018. With his second Grey Cup win as starter, he became the first quarterback to start and win multiple Grey Cup games with the Stampeders organization.

Tommy Denison is a former quarterback in Canadian Interuniversity Sport and a football coach. He is currently an analyst for the Edmonton Elks of the CFL, a role he has held since 2023. Previous to this he was the offensive coordinator for York University's football team, the York Lions of U Sports. As a player, he is a two-time All-Canadian and two-time winner of the Hec Crighton Trophy in 2002 and 2003. He played professionally for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Calgary Stampeders, and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dakota Prukop</span> American gridiron football player (born 1993)

Dakota Prukop is an American professional football quarterback for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for Montana State from 2013 to 2015 and for Oregon in 2016. Prukop has also been a member of the Toronto Argonauts, Calgary Stampeders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, New Jersey Generals, and BC Lions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calgary Dinos football</span> University of Calgary sports team

The Calgary Dinos football team represents the University of Calgary in the sport of Canadian football in U Sports. The Dinos program has been in operation since 1964, winning the Vanier Cup national championship five times, the most out of any of the Canada West teams. The Dinos have also won the Hardy Trophy conference championship 18 times, including six consecutive wins from 2008 to 2013. The team appeared in the 2013 and 2016 Vanier Cup, but lost both years to the Laval Rouge et Or.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Arbuckle</span> American gridiron football player (born 1993)

Nicholas Arbuckle is an American professional football quarterback for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He has also been a member of the Calgary Stampeders, Ottawa Redblacks, and Edmonton Elks.

References

  1. ↑ "Vavra recalls Dinos path to glory in becoming Canadian football hall of famer". Calgary Sun. November 16, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Greg Vavra, Class of 2020". Canadian Football Hall of Fame . Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  3. ↑ "U Sports football records" (PDF). U Sports . Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Greg Vavra". Calgary Dinos . Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Canadian Football Hall of Fame unveils 2020 induction class". Canadian Football League. July 16, 2020.
  6. ↑ "CFL Draft Tracker". Canadian Football League . Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  7. ↑ "FOOTBALL CFL". Prince George Citizen. June 22, 1983.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Greg Vavra". cflapedia.com. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Stamps sign Vavra to two-year deal". Ottawa Citizen . November 30, 1983. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Game Notes" (PDF). Canadian Football League . Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  11. 1 2 "Greg Vavra". Calgary Dinos . Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  12. ↑ "2015 Football Coaching Staff". Calgary Dinos . Retrieved June 19, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.