50TH VANIER CUP INTERVIEW SERIES: Bill Kubas, Wilfrid Laurier (1991)

50^TH VANIER CUP INTERVIEW SERIES: 1991

A conversation with...

Bill Kubas, quarterback, Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks

In Vanier Cup XXVII, the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks claimed their first national title thanks to a 25-18 win over the Mount Allison Mounties in front of a partisan crowd of 30,191 at SkyDome in Toronto. Bill Kubas, a sophomore quarterback from Brampton, Ont., was behind centre for the Hawks on that day and threw for 148 yards and one touchdown. He would win the Hec Crighton Trophy as the top player in the country three years later, in his final CIAU season.     

What is your major memory of the entire Vanier Cup week and the overall experience?

It was a humbling experience in that we were one of two teams across the entire nation still practising in the snow and sleet. It felt great. We stayed in the then-famous SkyDome hotel, attended the awards dinner, and practised in the Dome. Those are memories I’ll never forget.

What is your one major lasting memory of the actual game?

Carrying the ball off the field and handing it to Coach Newbrough. And also playing in front of over 30,000 crazy fans.

(Note: The 1991 Vanier Cup week was a memorable one for legendary coach Rich Newbrough, who had claimed the Frank Tindall Trophy as CIS coach of the year two days before guiding the Hawks to their first national title. He was at the helm at Laurier for a decade from 1984 to 1993)

What do you remember as the key play of the game?

There are too many to recall. I just remember the dominating performance by our defence and offensive line.

(Note: The Hawks’ defence held Mount Allison to 12 first downs and under 300 yards of net offence in the game, while the offensive line allowed Laurier to amass 232 yards on the ground)

What was your personal greatest play or moment?

The touchdown pass on a wheel route to Andy Cecchini.

(Note: Kubas’ 19-yard TD pass to Cecchini increased the Golden Hawks’ lead to 24-4 late in the third quarter. Cecchini, a running back playing in his final university contest, was named game MVP after he racked up 130 rushing yards and two majors on 22 carries, in addition to his TD reception)  

Did anything unusual or out of the ordinary happen during the game or during Vanier week?

We were treated to an all-you-can-eat event at the SkyDome’s McDonald’s two days before the game by a Laurier alumnus.

Did the coaches do anything different from normal routine in the preparation for the game?

We were very relaxed all season and that continued into Vanier Cup week. We even had a baseball bat and a ball on the field to see who could hit home runs and we fired up our ball machine to see if we could hit the roof.

How did you or the team react to the stadium and the crowd?

It was inspiring. We had played in the Dome the week prior in the Churchill Bowl, where we came back from a 22-3 halftime deficit to beat Queen’s 42-22 in front of 16,000 fans. I believe that experience helped us get off to a fast start in the Vanier Cup.

(Note: Laurier built an 11-0 lead after the first quarter in the 1991 Vanier Cup on a rouge, a field goal and Cecchini’s first touchdown of the day on a one-yard run)

What are your memories of the post-game celebrations on the field and/or in the dressing room?

I remember interviews with TSN personalities, interacting with fans, family celebrations, teammates hugging, and of course hoisting the Cup for the first time in our school’s history.

What are your memories of the trip back home?

It was a fired-up bus ride home. In fact, there were literally no cars in front of us on the 401 and a huge convoy behind us. We blared Stompin’ Tom the entire ride home. Best ride of my life.

What was the reaction on campus when the team returned?

Fantastic... once everyone returned from the game! I believe each of our 4,000 students were at SkyDome. The campus rocked with excitement for weeks.

At the time, how did winning the Vanier Cup change your everyday life?

I really don’t think it did. We had both a confident and humble team.

How did the Vanier Cup triumph impact your Hec Crighton-winning season three years later?

The feeling of winning a team award is far more rewarding than an individual one. While I’m proud of my individual accomplishments, I would have traded my Hec Crighton Trophy anytime for another Vanier Cup.

What did it mean to you to lead Laurier to its first Vanier Cup title?

Tremendous pride. There were some great teams at Laurier that had come just short, and us winning in ’91 felt like we had won for all those teams from the past.

How often to you reminisce about your Vanier Cup win?

I have my Vanier Cup ring in my office and when I look upon it, I remember how hard we worked as a team to get to our goal. This Vanier Cup has bonded our ‘91 team, with friendships that will last a lifetime.

What did you study at Laurier and what career path did you follow after graduation?

I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education and have used that to have a successful 20-year career in IT sales.