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Dan Dorazio, who was part of the B.C. Lions’ staff for 15 years, helped UBC get to the Vanier Cup final last year and tutored tackles Giovanni Manu and Theo Benedet, who both went to the NFL
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Published Aug 28, 2024 • Last updated 16 hours ago • 4 minute read
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UBC football coach Blake Nill directing the troops at UBC’s Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver, BC, August 21, 2019. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG
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Dan Dorazio’s fingerprints will be on the UBC Thunderbirds’ game plan for this upcoming football season and years to come from the sounds of it.
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Dorazio was an offensive line coach with a variety of teams for more 40 years. He worked in the NCAA with likes of the Washington Huskies and Maryland Terrapins. In the CFL, he was a favourite assistant of Wally Buono, and was part of Buono’s staff with both the Calgary Stampeders and B.C. Lions. He spent 15 years over two stints with the Lions.
Dan Dorazio during his time with the B.C. Lions in 2018. Photo by Francis Georgian /PNG
Dorazio coached last season with the Thunderbirds and helped them advance to the Vanier Cup national final, where they lost 16-9 to the Montreal Carabins. His charges included offensive tackles Giovanni Manu and Theo Benedet, who both moved onto the NFL this year, with Manu drafted by the Detroit Lions and Benedet signing a free-agent deal with the Chicago Bears.
Dorazio died Aug. 13 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 72.
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UBC opens its season Friday, playing host to the Alberta Golden Bears at Thunderbird Stadium. Dorazio had been working with T-Birds players over the summer. The plan had been for him to return to UBC for this season.
“This group is going to be an extension of Dan for quite a while,” UBC head coach Blake Nill said of this year’s offensive line corps.
“Dan wouldn’t not have wanted his passing to be any sort of distraction and alter the pathways of any of these players. They’re taking his wishes and the way he did things to heart. They’re going about their business with the same tenacity as if he was in the room with them.
“The habits that were established under Coach Dorazio are evident. They are working as hard as they did for Dan. They’re using the techniques they learned from Dan.”
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We are mourning the loss of legendary offensive line coach Dan Dorazio.
In his short time on the T-Birds staff he made an immeasurable impact due to his enthusiasm, attention to detail & an unmatched love of football.
Our thoughts are with the entire Dorazio family.
RIP. pic.twitter.com/C2advNMfeg
— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) August 15, 2024
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Peter Buckley has taken over as offensive line coach. He had been UBC’s special teams coordinator. He was also in charge of UBC’s tight ends, so he worked closely with Dorazio in that regard.
Nill signed on with UBC in 2015 and guided the T-Birds to the Vanier Cup that season, with quarterback Michael O’Connor leading the way. Prior to running the T-Birds’ sidelines, Nill had success in the Canadian university ranks coaching both the Saint Mary’s Huskies and Calgary Dinos.
He was a guest coach at Stampeders training camp in 1998, which was Dorazio’s first year with the team. Their paths crossed over the years. Their connection, as you’d expect, strengthened when Dorazio came to work with the T-Birds, according to Nill.
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“He was just an outstanding individual,” Nill said. “He was a man totally committed to the game of football and to the young men that he mentored.
“At his celebration of life, it was impressive how many men in their 50s and maybe approaching their 60s who told the same stories. He did the same thing over generations. It was incredible. I feel fortunate and our athletes feel fortunate that we could be a part of that.”
The T-Birds were the No. 3 team in the U Sports rankings that came out this week, trailing Montreal and the Western Mustangs. Manu and Benedet were UBC’s most noteworthy losses to graduation. Their most celebrated returnee is starting quarterback Garrett Rooker, the fourth-year pivot from League City, Texas.
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Rooker’s 2022 season was cut short due to a hip injury that required surgery and was so severe that there were concerns for a time his football career might be finished. He certainly rallied last year, throwing for 3,471 yards, along with 23 touchdowns compared to just six interceptions, to lead UBC to a 9-3 record.
“I think he’s ready to have his best year,” Nill said of Rooker, who’s listed at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds. “He was at about 75 per cent most of last year. This year, he’s 15 pounds heavier, looks bigger and stronger, and is extremely motivated.”
Nill wasn’t ready to confirm the makeup for the five-man offensive line unit that will look to give Rooker time and space on Friday versus Alberta and beyond. He talked about going with two young tackles as successors to Manu and Benedet. He also spoke about possibly moving some veterans guards to the outside.
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“We’re going to look at it in two ways,” Nill said.
Manu, who was a fourth-round pick of the Lions, was named to Detroit’s 53-man opening roster on Tuesday. Benedet was waived by the Bears on Tuesday. No word on what’s next for him. He was picked in the second round of the CFL Draft by the Lions.
Benedet became the first offensive player to win two straight J.P. Metras Trophies as the top down lineman in U Sports last season. He was also a first team all-Canadian for the second straight year. Manu was a second team all-Canadian the past two seasons.
@SteveEwen
SEwen@postmedia.com
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Fitnessnacks – #UBC #opens #football #season #death #Oline #coach #fresh #minds
Courtesy : https://theprovince.com/sports/university/ubc-thunderbirds-open-football-season-honour-passing-of-o-line-coach-dan-dorazio