The Western Mustangs Champions Club Football Foundation will host the 2011 Wall of Champions Dinner and Induction Ceremony on Friday, April 15. The dinner and ceremony will take place in the Great Hall on campus at the University of Western Ontario.
This year’s inductees are players and builders of the program Dale Creighton (BA ’59), Bob LaRose (BA ’70 MA ’82), and Nigel Wilson (BA ’77 BEd’78 MEd ’96), players George Hill (BA ’71) and Frank Jagas (BA ’94). The 1974 Vanier Cup champion Mustangs are set to be inducted.
Nigel Wilson
The only Mustang player and coach to win five Vanier Cups, Nigel played wide receiver for the Mustangs from 1974 through 1978. During the 1976 season, Nigel set a CIS record for most yards per reception, averaging 39.0 yards per catch – a record which still holds today. He is second all-time in Vanier Cup receiving touchdowns with two in the 1977 game vs. Acadia.
In Wilson’s senior season, he caught four touchdown passes in the first half against Guelph, ranking him second in the CIS for Most Touchdown receptions in a single game. Drafted by the BC Lions, Nigel returned to Western to coach in 1980 and was instrumental in the development of three prominent Mustang receivers – two of them wall of champion inductees – Dave Sapunjis and Tyrone Williams, along with Hec Crighton recipient and all time leading CIS receiver, Andy Fantuz.
Recognized for his coaching contributions, Nigel was awarded the Gino Fracas Volunteer Coach of the Year Award by the CIS in 2007. Nigel Wilson – a Mustang Legend.
Dale Creighton
It was well know that legendary coach John Metras liked tough aggressive fullbacks on his offence, and that’s exactly what he got when Dale Creighton arrived on the Western campus in the fall of 1954. The bruising fullback was named to the all-star team and was one of the main reasons the Mustangs won the 1957 Yates Cup.
His lifelong devotion to all things Mustang, led Dale to assume the Presidency of the W Club in the 1980’s and oversee the many fundraising projects for athletics, including the refurbishing of J.W. Little Stadium in 1983. In recognition for his contributions to Western athletics, and football in particular, Dale was inducted into the W Club Hall of Fame in 1994. Dale is also a member of the Mustang Football Founders Club, where he and his wife Marion donated $50,000 for football scholarships. Dale Creighton – a Mustang Legend.
Bob LaRose
Originally a basketball player for the Mustangs, John Metras convinced Bob LaRose to come out for football in 1968. Tall and athletic, Bob established himself as one of the best defensive backs to play for Western. In 1969 he intercepted five passes, which ranks him third in the Mustang record book for most interceptions in a season.
After winning the Dr. Claude Brown Trophy as Western’s Male Athlete of the Year, he caught the attention of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers who selected Bob in the first round of the CFL draft. Bob played seven seasons in the CFL, mostly with Winnipeg, and established himself as one of the top pass receivers of his era. Bob was an assistant coach in 1979 and then returned in 1984 to become the Mustangs defensive coordinator.
During Bob’s 20-year coaching career with the Mustangs, he won two Vanier Cups in 1989 and 1994 and coached two players awarded the CIS Defensive Player of the Year. Under Bob’s tutelage Western had 23 defensive All Canadians and had 11 defensive players make Canadian Football League rosters. Bob was inducted to the W Club Hall of Fame in 1986, and in 1992 was the interim head coach of the Mustangs leading Western to the playoffs and a 7-3 record.
Bob LaRose – a Mustang Legend.
Frank Jagas
Starting every game in his five-year career, Frank Jagas became the most prolific scorer in the history of Mustang football. As the punter and kicker for Western from 1990-1994, his 392 points is first all time on the Mustang list and second in the CIS record book. Jagas’ school records are numerous: 70 field goals, 142 converts and 36 singles. Frank also holds the CIS record for most field goals in a game with six, and was awarded OUA All-Star status in 1992, 1993 & 1994.
Known for his clutch field goals in big games, none was bigger than the Vanier Cup in 1994. With seconds remaining and the Mustangs down 3 points, the Saskatchewan Huskies called a timeout to freeze Jagas. The ploy failed however, as Jagas hit a 42-yard field goal to send the game into overtime, which the Mustangs won 50-40. That final field goal also set a record for most field goals in a Vanier cup with 5. Frank Jagas – A Mustang Legend
George Hill
George Hill was known as one of the top leaders to ever don the purple and white. Arriving on Western’s campus in the fall of 1968, George was originally a running back, but in 1970 George moved to linebacker and became a stalwart of the Mustang defence.
Elected captain of the Mustangs in his third and fourth year, he helped build the Western defence into a stingy, hard hitting group, which culminated in the Mustang’s first Vanier Cup win in 1971 – a 15-14 victory over the Alberta Golden Bears. Recognized for his outstanding play on defence, George was named All Canadian in 1971 and was the recipient of the Dr. Claude Brown Trophy awarded to Western’s top male athlete. George Hill – A Mustang Legend
The 1974 Mustangs
Not much was expected of the 1974 Mustangs. They were a young team and their starting quarterback for the past 5 years had departed. One thing this team had was youthful exuberance with enough veteran leadership to make it work and a transfer veteran quarterback who had taken his team to a Vanier Cup Championship the year before. This team had the right chemistry, work ethic and belief that anything could be achieved.
The odds on favourite to win the Vanier in 1974 were the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, who had gone through the season like a hot knife through butter. They were unbeatable; in fact they beat the Mustangs in the last game of the regular season quite handily. To even get to the Vanier Cup, Western had to claw and fight for every yard, every touchdown, every field goal. Toronto breezed to the final. It would be David vs. Goliath. For Toronto, the game was as good as won. The question was not if they would win, but by how much. This Mustang team, which was young at the beginning of the season, had gained much maturity by its end.
Head Coach Frank Cosentino and defensive coordinator Darwin Semotiuk had won a Vanier Cup in 1971. Western knew how to win the tough games. Toronto hadn’t been in a tough game all season.
The defensive plan was simple. Stop the Blues running game. Force their offence to become frustrated. Instill fear. Create Panic. The Mustang defence caused havoc all night long, and gave the Western special teams and offence a chance. One special teams touchdown just before the half, and a touchdown bomb from quarterback Bill Robinson to receiver Jay Parry sealed the Blues fate. Western 19 Toronto 15. What couldn’t happen did.
With grit and determination, Western won its second Vanier Cup. Linebacker Ian Bryans was name the Ted Morris Trophy as the game most Valuable player, the first defensive player to win the award. Cliff Summers was the inspirational captain, defensive end Phil Monckton and quarterback Bill Robinson were named to the All Canadian Team; receiver Curt Rush, defensive back Chris Skopelianos, offensive lineman Tom Fumich, defensive lineman Paul Barchesi and running back Rick Scarborough were OUA All Stars. The Mustangs of 1974 were once again National Champions.
Cocktail reception begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Great Hall with the dinner and induction ceremony to follow at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $150 per person or $1500 for a table of ten and include complimentary parking at the Weldon Library lot.
For more information on purchasing tickets please call 519-661-2111 x88960 or email [email][email protected]
The Champions Club was founded by the late Michael Kirkley (BSc ’85) and Jeffrey Fischer (BA ’87) as a way to directly support the Mustangs football program. The Wall of Champions Awards Dinner recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Mustangs football. To date 52 Mustangs football alumni and four teams have been inducted.
This year’s dinner is hosted by Newstalk 1290 AM CJBK’s Tom McConnell and will recognize five individuals, as well as one team to be added to the Wall of Champions.
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