University of Canberra Firebirds
Encyclopedia
The University of Canberra Firebirds are an American Football
club established in 1993 to compete in the ACT Gridiron
league.
Based in the Belconnen area in the northern part of Canberra
, the Firebirds were one of five clubs originally formed for the seniors competition and one of only two still remaining.
Funding and support by the University of Canberra
Union resulted in the club adopting the organisation's colours – yellow, red and blue. The original playing strip consisted of yellow jerseys and yellow helmets.
The Firebirds have won the most championships in ACT Gridiron
history with seven Capital Bowl victories from 11 appearances. The club has also won eight minor premierships by having the best regular season win-loss record (1994, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011).
The Firebirds are five-time winners of the Charity Bowl (2001, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011), which is annually held in the first week of the season between the previous season's winners of the Capital Bowl and Charity Bowl. If one team holds both trophies, the opponent is the Capital Bowl runner-up.
During this period, the Firebirds under 18s team won ACT championships in 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005 and 2006. The 1999 championship was as the University Rockets - a joint venture with the ACT Astros
side then competing in the NSW Gridiron League.
An 11-year championship drought ensued before the Firebirds claimed a second title in 2005 with a 15-14 overtime win against the Astros in Capital Bowl XIII. With the score tied at 7-all at the end of regulation, the Astros scored a touchdown on the first drive of overtime, with the successful PAT giving them a 14-7 lead. The Firebirds responded with a 10-yard touchdown run by slot receiver Andrew Jackson. Head coach Shawn Willis decided to go for a two-point conversion. Running a counter to the right, running back Travis Ford cut back up the middle and into the endzone for the winning points. Ford was named Capital Bowl MVP with 40 carries for 121 yards and one TD.
The Firebirds followed up in 2006 with the club’s second perfect season, posting an 8-0 regular-season record and a 19-7 victory over the Tuggeranong Tornadoes in Capital Bowl XIV. Travis Ford won a second consecutive Capital Bowl MVP with 212 rushing yards and one TD on 23 carries. He also recorded six total tackles and one interception as middle linebacker.
A third consecutive title came from the Firebirds' 12-6 double-overtime win over the Tornadoes in Capital Bowl XV. With less than three minutes remaining, the Firebirds were trailing 6-0 and faced with a fourth down and five near midfield. Quarterback Luke Kominek successfully ran an option left and pitched to running back Travis Ford, who ran for a 10-yard gain. After Kominek scrambled for another first down, he hit receiver Mark Skinner with a 21-yard touchdown pass to tie the score. Kominek won the game in the second period of overtime with a 20-yard scramble for touchdown around the left end.
Firebirds Head Coach Shawn Willis became the first coach in ACT Gridiron
history to win four consecutive championships in 2008 as the Firebirds beat the Tornadoes 21-6 in Capital Bowl XVI. The Firebirds lost league-leading rusher and 2008 ACT Gridiron
MVP Jeremy Milne to a broken leg early in the second quarter when leading 7-6, but used touchdown runs by back-up David Hicks and fullback Reece Cheater to secure the win. Firebirds quarterback Luke Kominek was named Capital Bowl MVP.
The Firebirds' sixth championship came with a 28-11 win over the Woden Valley Gladiators to close out a 9-1 season in 2010. Jeremy Milne was named Capital Bowl XVIII MVP after racking up 157 total yards (133 rushing, 24 receiving) and one touchdown off 17 touches (13 carries, four receptions). Quarterback Luke Job threw two touchdown passes to receiver Beau Kennett and scored another on a one-yard sneak. Linebackers Reece Cheater and James Case each recorded 10 solo tackles.
Current Firebirds captain Sam Babic represented Australia in 2001 and 2003. He was selected as a center for the national team after his performances at the Gridiron Australia
national championships in both years.
Travis Ford and Garry Coates were members of the Australian under 18s squad that played games against US all-star squads at the Down Under Bowl on the Gold Coast in 2004.
David Hicks, John Tolsher, Ben Collett, Garry Coates and Jason Ray were all named in the Australian under 18s side following the 2006 National Junior Championships on the Gold Coast.
Sunny Dhindsa, John Tolsher, Sam Zielke, David Wilkins, Matt Lang, and Beau Kennett were all selected for the Australian Outback Junior Representative Squad that toured in Arizona and California in August 2008.
Linebacker James Tolsher was part of the Australian team for the World Cup qualifying match against New Zealand played in Canberra in January 2009. New Zealand won the match 12-7 to secure a place in the International Federation of American Football 2009 Junior World Cup.
Passing yards
Receiving yards
Receptions
Touchdowns
Tackles (combined)
Sacks
Interceptions
(*) indicates that a player’s record may be higher and is likely to be adjusted as pre-1997 interception and pre-1998 tackle statistics become available.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
club established in 1993 to compete in the ACT Gridiron
ACT Gridiron
ACT Gridiron or ACTG is the governing body for gridiron in the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. ACT Gridiron currently has six teams. The season culminates with the grand final, known as the Capital Bowl....
league.
Based in the Belconnen area in the northern part of Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, the Firebirds were one of five clubs originally formed for the seniors competition and one of only two still remaining.
Funding and support by the University of Canberra
University of Canberra
Over the years the Stone Day program has gradually become larger and larger, taking up a whole week and now Stonefest is one of Australia's most popular music festivals. The first foundation celebrations were held in 1971. In 1973 Stone Day celebrations were held over two days, which was expanded...
Union resulted in the club adopting the organisation's colours – yellow, red and blue. The original playing strip consisted of yellow jerseys and yellow helmets.
The Firebirds have won the most championships in ACT Gridiron
ACT Gridiron
ACT Gridiron or ACTG is the governing body for gridiron in the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. ACT Gridiron currently has six teams. The season culminates with the grand final, known as the Capital Bowl....
history with seven Capital Bowl victories from 11 appearances. The club has also won eight minor premierships by having the best regular season win-loss record (1994, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011).
The Firebirds are five-time winners of the Charity Bowl (2001, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011), which is annually held in the first week of the season between the previous season's winners of the Capital Bowl and Charity Bowl. If one team holds both trophies, the opponent is the Capital Bowl runner-up.
During this period, the Firebirds under 18s team won ACT championships in 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005 and 2006. The 1999 championship was as the University Rockets - a joint venture with the ACT Astros
Astros
Astros in sports may refer to:*The Houston Astros, a Major League Baseball team*Astros , an American football team in Australia*Astros Field, now renamed Minute Maid ParkAstros may also refer to:...
side then competing in the NSW Gridiron League.
The championship seasons
The Firebirds' first championship came in 1994 when it finished the regular season with an 8-0 record, followed by a 28-0 victory over the Belconnen Thunderbolts in Capital Bowl II. The side was coached by John Etminan.An 11-year championship drought ensued before the Firebirds claimed a second title in 2005 with a 15-14 overtime win against the Astros in Capital Bowl XIII. With the score tied at 7-all at the end of regulation, the Astros scored a touchdown on the first drive of overtime, with the successful PAT giving them a 14-7 lead. The Firebirds responded with a 10-yard touchdown run by slot receiver Andrew Jackson. Head coach Shawn Willis decided to go for a two-point conversion. Running a counter to the right, running back Travis Ford cut back up the middle and into the endzone for the winning points. Ford was named Capital Bowl MVP with 40 carries for 121 yards and one TD.
The Firebirds followed up in 2006 with the club’s second perfect season, posting an 8-0 regular-season record and a 19-7 victory over the Tuggeranong Tornadoes in Capital Bowl XIV. Travis Ford won a second consecutive Capital Bowl MVP with 212 rushing yards and one TD on 23 carries. He also recorded six total tackles and one interception as middle linebacker.
A third consecutive title came from the Firebirds' 12-6 double-overtime win over the Tornadoes in Capital Bowl XV. With less than three minutes remaining, the Firebirds were trailing 6-0 and faced with a fourth down and five near midfield. Quarterback Luke Kominek successfully ran an option left and pitched to running back Travis Ford, who ran for a 10-yard gain. After Kominek scrambled for another first down, he hit receiver Mark Skinner with a 21-yard touchdown pass to tie the score. Kominek won the game in the second period of overtime with a 20-yard scramble for touchdown around the left end.
Firebirds Head Coach Shawn Willis became the first coach in ACT Gridiron
ACT Gridiron
ACT Gridiron or ACTG is the governing body for gridiron in the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. ACT Gridiron currently has six teams. The season culminates with the grand final, known as the Capital Bowl....
history to win four consecutive championships in 2008 as the Firebirds beat the Tornadoes 21-6 in Capital Bowl XVI. The Firebirds lost league-leading rusher and 2008 ACT Gridiron
ACT Gridiron
ACT Gridiron or ACTG is the governing body for gridiron in the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. ACT Gridiron currently has six teams. The season culminates with the grand final, known as the Capital Bowl....
MVP Jeremy Milne to a broken leg early in the second quarter when leading 7-6, but used touchdown runs by back-up David Hicks and fullback Reece Cheater to secure the win. Firebirds quarterback Luke Kominek was named Capital Bowl MVP.
The Firebirds' sixth championship came with a 28-11 win over the Woden Valley Gladiators to close out a 9-1 season in 2010. Jeremy Milne was named Capital Bowl XVIII MVP after racking up 157 total yards (133 rushing, 24 receiving) and one touchdown off 17 touches (13 carries, four receptions). Quarterback Luke Job threw two touchdown passes to receiver Beau Kennett and scored another on a one-yard sneak. Linebackers Reece Cheater and James Case each recorded 10 solo tackles.
Season records
| Year | Regular season | Win | Loss | Tie | Rank | Head Coach | Playoffs | Win | Loss | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1st | Shawn Willis | 1 | 0 | Champions | ||
| 2010 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1st | Shawn Willis | 1 | 0 | Champions | ||
| 2009 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2nd | Shawn Willis | 0 | 1 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 2008 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2nd | Shawn Willis | 2 | 0 | Champions | ||
| 2007 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1st | Shawn Willis | 1 | 0 | Champions | ||
| 2006 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1st | Shawn Willis | 1 | 0 | Champions | ||
| 2005 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3rd | Shawn Willis | 2 | 0 | Champions | ||
| 2004 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1st | Shawn Willis | 0 | 1 | Runners-up | ||
| 2003 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 3rd | Shawn Willis | 0 | 1 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 2002 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2nd | Shawn Willis | 1 | 1 | Runners-up | ||
| 2001 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 4th | John Schofield (1-1), Shawn Willis (1-6) | |||||
| 2000 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1st | John Schofield | 0 | 1 | Runners-up | ||
| 1999 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 3rd | Ross Dorward | |||||
| 1998 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2nd | Simon Clancy (1-0), Ross Dorward (2-4) | 0 | 1 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1997 | 1st | Simon Clancy | 0 | 1 | Runners-up | |||||
| 1996 | - | - | - | - | No team entered | |||||
| 1995 | ||||||||||
| 1994 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1st | John Etminan | 2 | 0 | Champions | ||
| 1993 | ||||||||||
Team MVPs
| Year | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Ian Lanham | RB/TE/DE/DT |
| 2009 | Jeremy Milne | RB |
| 2008 | Jeremy Milne | RB |
| 2007 | Garry Coates | RB/WR/DB |
| 2006 | Luke Kominek | QB |
| 2005 | Chris Czerny | LG/DT |
| 2004 | Luke Kominek | QB |
| 2003 | Luke Kominek | QB |
| 2002 | Wayne Vickers | RB |
| 2001 | Chris Czerny | T/DL |
| 2000 | Simon Davis | WR/QB/KR |
| 1999 | Aaron Froud (offense) | RT |
| Tim Silver (defense) | SS | |
| 1998 | Nathan Long (offense) | RB |
| Tim Silver (defense) | SS | |
| 1997 | Adam Shain (offense) | RB |
| Mike Chambers (defense) | LB |
Representative honours
A number of Firebirds have gone on to represent Australia at both a Junior and Senior level.Current Firebirds captain Sam Babic represented Australia in 2001 and 2003. He was selected as a center for the national team after his performances at the Gridiron Australia
Gridiron Australia
Gridiron Australia is the governing body of American football in Australia. It is an approved sporting association under federal government regulations and is a member of the International Federation of American Football . The organisation was formed in 1996.Gridiron Australia oversees the...
national championships in both years.
Travis Ford and Garry Coates were members of the Australian under 18s squad that played games against US all-star squads at the Down Under Bowl on the Gold Coast in 2004.
David Hicks, John Tolsher, Ben Collett, Garry Coates and Jason Ray were all named in the Australian under 18s side following the 2006 National Junior Championships on the Gold Coast.
Sunny Dhindsa, John Tolsher, Sam Zielke, David Wilkins, Matt Lang, and Beau Kennett were all selected for the Australian Outback Junior Representative Squad that toured in Arizona and California in August 2008.
Linebacker James Tolsher was part of the Australian team for the World Cup qualifying match against New Zealand played in Canberra in January 2009. New Zealand won the match 12-7 to secure a place in the International Federation of American Football 2009 Junior World Cup.
Statistical leaders
Rushing yards- Career:
- 3,579 - Jeremy Milne
- 3,102 - Andrew Jackson
- 1,966 - Luke Job (Kominek)
- Season:
- 1,201 - Jeremy Milne (2009)
- 1,193 - Jeremy Milne (2010)
- 1,189 - Andrew Jackson (2004)
- Game:
- 297 - Adam Shain (1997)
- 237 - Jeremy Milne (2009)
- 232 - Wayne Vickers (2002)
Passing yards
- Career:
- 3,987 - Luke Job (Kominek)
- 807 - Matt Cottrell
- Season:
- 807 - Matt Cottrell (2000)
- 767 - Luke Job (2004)
- 646 - Luke Job (2009)
- Game:
- 230 - Luke Job (2009)
- 149 - Luke Job (2010)
- 142 - Luke Job (2006)
Receiving yards
- Career:
- 888 - Matt Hatcher
- 663 - Todd Pendergast
- 584 - Ross Dorward*
- Season:
- 550 - Matt Hatcher (2004)
- 403 - Ross Dorward (2000)
- 270 - Todd Pendergast (2000)
- Game:
- 118 - Craig Sconce (2006)
- 107 - Ronnie Carr (1997)
- 99 - Ross Dorward (1999)
Receptions
- Career:
- 44 - Todd Pendergast
- 41 - Matt Hatcher
- 37 - Ross Dorward*
- Season:
- 25 - Ross Dorward (2000)
- 24 - Matt Hatcher (2004)
- 21 - Beau Kennett (2010)
Touchdowns
- Career:
- 45 - Jeremy Milne
- 33 - Luke Job (Kominek)
- 29 - Andrew Jackson
- Season:
- 18 - Jeremy Milne (2008)
- 15 - Jeremy Milne (2009)
- 12 - Jeremy Milne (2010)
- Game:
- 5 - Jeremy Milne (2010)
- 4 - Jeremy Milne (2009)
- 4 - Jeremy Milne (2008)
- 4 - Donald Kirkland (2001)
Tackles (combined)
- Career:
- 397 - Tim Silver*
- 259 - Dan Simpson
- 248 - Sam Babic
- Season:
- 73 - Dan Simpson (2007)
- 58 - Dan Simpson (2009)
- 56 - Tim Silver (1998)
Sacks
- Career:
- 14 - Chris Czerny
- 11 - Sam Babic
- 7.5 - Andrew Cumpston*
- Season:
- 4 - Chris Czerny (2002)
- 4 - Sam Babic (2002)
- 3.5 - Chris Czerny (2005)
- 3.5 - Dan Simpson (2007)
Interceptions
- Career:
- 11 - Dan Simpson
- 9 - Jonathan McCaskill
- 8 - Tim Silver
- Season:
- 6 - Joel Hennessy (2008)
- 5 - Dan Simpson (2004)
- 5 - Dan Simpson (2006)
- 5 - Jonathan McCaskill (2006)
- Game:
- 4 - Jonathan McCaskill (2006)
- 3 - Dan Simpson (2006)
- 3 - Nathan Long (2007)
(*) indicates that a player’s record may be higher and is likely to be adjusted as pre-1997 interception and pre-1998 tackle statistics become available.