Michael Thibault/The Ubyssey

For the third time in UBC football history, a T-Bird has won the Hec Crighton.

Fourth-year pivot Billy Greene took home the CIS most valuable player award Thursday night at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

“I’m very happy for Billy,” said UBC head coach Shawn Olson. “It’s always good to see a guy rewarded for the amount of work he puts in and to see a player start to fulfill his potential.

“This is as big as it gets. It’s a huge honour and it’s something that I think every CIS player dreams about.”

Running back Mark Nohra won the Hec in 1997 and Jordan Gagner won the award in 1987.

The product of Holy Cross Secondary led the nation with 2558 passing yards and total offence with 380 yards per game. Greene also threw 20 touchdowns with only 4 interceptions. His touchdown to interception ratio was the best in the country and his 20 end zone strikes was tied for best in the CIS.

“[The Hec] has always been a goal of mine,” said Greene. “I’ve done a lot of work with coach Olson for the past 18 months, since he’s been hired. He truly got me ready to be a quarterback in the CIS and I owe thanks to him for this award as well as my teammates. It’s a great feeling, I couldn’t have done it without them.”

At the helm of an explosive offence, Greene helped reinvigorate a UBC program that had stagnated for the past five years. UBC finished the regular season 6-2, after going 2-6 last year, made the playoffs and advanced to the Canada West final for the first time since 1999.

Greene was also named a First Team All-Canadian. UBC receiver Jordan Grieve was named to the Second Team after leading UBC with 768 receiving yards. Cornerback Sam Carino was also named to the Second Team after a season that saw him intercept 2 passes, make 26 tackles and routinely shut down top receivers from opposing sides.

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