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JAMIE
BOREHAM SIGNS WITH BIG BLUE |
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The most talented and versatile player in Canadian college football is now a Winnipeg Blue Bomber. The Blue & Gold today signed the all-star safety, punter, placekicker and kick returner Jamie Boreham after acquiring his playing rights from the British Columbia Lions. In exchange, the Leos received the Blue Bombers 6th Round selection in the 2002 Canadian College Draft. Playing for the University of Manitoba Bisons in 2001, Boreham (5-11, 202, Manitoba ’01, DOB: Mar. 29, 1978) was a dual CIS All-Canadian, garnering First-Team honours at placekicker and Second-Team laurels at safety. He was also a First-Team Canada West All-Star at both positions. “We are pleased to add him to our squad,” said eagle-eyed talent monger Brendan Taman, the Blue Bombers vice-president of player personnel. “We feel that he has the tools and the characteristics to play in our league. I’ve watched him play since his junior days in Abbotsford and I was impressed with him then.” Boreham a physical education major at U of M has a reputation as a hard-nosed, punishing hitter who is always around the ball. He possesses determination and a winning attitude to go with his exceptional football skills. Among other standouts, Boreham has drawn comparisons to former Bison safety and current CFLer Will Loftus of the Montreal Alouettes. The Lions originally selected Boreham in the 2nd Round (16th Overall) of the 2001 Canadian College Draft. He attended B.C.’s camp but was released. After that he joined Brian Dobie’s outstanding Bison program, where he helped the Hustlin’ Herd to its best season in 30 years. “I’m very happy,” Boreham said about signing with the club. “It seems like a good situation and a good opportunity to play here after being with the Bisons.” Boreham pretty much did everything for the Vanier Cup finalists. He started at safety, returned both punts and kickoffs, and handled all the kicking duties from punting to field goal attempts. As a punter, he put up CFL-type numbers. He punted 53 times for 2,270 yards for a 42.8-yard average and three punt singles. He was successful on 23-of-31 field goal attempts, which represents a 74.2 percent success rate. He kicked a season-high 55-yard field goal in Winnipeg against the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, Oct. 20, 2001. The kick is the 2nd-longest field goal in CIS History and the University of Manitoba school record. He added a 52-yard field goal against the University of Calgary Dinosaurs at McMahon Stadium, Oct. 29, 2001 and a 50-yarder into a strong headwind against the University of Regina Rams at Taylor Field, Sept. 1, 2001. Boreham scored 114 points in 2001, breaking Dominic Zagari’s single-season school record for points scored of 92, which was set in 1995. Boreham’s point total led both the CIS and Canada West. Boreham’s ability to excel at several positions harkens back to a day when many CFL players performed on offence, defence and special teams. He versatility is appealing to the Bombers. “He is a talented safety and returner and is one of the best kickers to come out of the University of Manitoba Bison program in years,” Taman added. He fortified the Bison secondary with his hard-hitting style at safety. He notched 29 tackles, one interception and one quarterback sack. On special teams he returned a punt for a 66-yard touchdown against the Saskatchewan Huskies, Sept. 8, 2001. In that game he also returned a missed field goal 129 yards for a score, however, it was called back because of a penalty. He took home Canada West Offensive Player of the Week honors Oct. 29, 2001 after tallying 16 points against the University of Calgary Dinosaurs. He also averaged 45.7-yards per punt in that contest. After a stellar regular season with Manitoba, Boreham had an exceptional playoff season. He intercepted McMaster Marauders quarterback and Hec Creighton Trophy winner Ben Chapdelaine in the Churchill Bowl to snuff out an important drive and ensure Manitoba’s victory. He earned CIS Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance in the Churchill Bowl, as he added five tackles, two field goals and a 43.3-yard punting average to his day’s work. He also won the Maury Van Vliet Trophy as the Most Valuable Player in the Churchill Bowl. Then in the Vanier Cup, he had several highlights including a 17-yard interception return of a pass by St. Mary’s Huskies quarterback Ryan Jones. Before joining the Bisons, Boreham spent the 2000 season playing junior football with the Abbotsford Air Force of the British Columbia Junior Football League (BCJFL). Described on the Football B.C. website as “the greatest player to ever wear an Air Force uniform,” he was one of the top performers in the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) that season. He was 1st in CJFL converts, 3rd in scoring and 3rd in field goals. He was also a leader of a defence that placed 1st in Canada in fewest yards allowed, 1st in rushing yards allowed, 2nd in passing yards allowed and 4th in giveaway-takeaway. Boreham was a member of Brian Towriss’ University of Saskatchewan Huskies program prior to his time with Abbotsford. The kicker was a Second-Team All-Canadian and a First-Team Canada West selection at punter for the Huskies in 1999. Boreham placed 2nd in Canada in punting with 2,347 yards on 53 punts for a 44.3-yard average. He cranked off an impressive 87-yard punt that season for Saskatchewan. He also finished 7th in the nation for scoring. Boreham was one of the feature athletes in the inaugural Canadian Football Varsity Stars All-Star Game, held May 6, 2000 in Edmonton. Thanks to an injury in the pre-game warm-up to McMaster University kicker Derek Livingstone, Boreham handled the punting and placekicking chores for both the East and West squads. Until a touchdown was scored with 21 seconds remaining in the game, Boreham had accounted for all the scoring in what became a 12-11 victory for the East team. Despite blustery conditions, he connected on four-of-six field goal attempts and averaged 40.0 yards per punt including a 68-yard punt single. He also played on defence for the entire game, tallying four tackles. In 1997 & 1998, Boreham starred for the Abbotsford Air Force. He did all the punting and placekicking, returned all punts and kickoffs, and played safety and tailback for the club. His 1998 season was one of the greatest ever by a Canadian junior player. Boreham was named the BCFC Defensive Player of the Year for his play at safety. He was a dual CJFL All-Canadian as a safety and placekicker. He took home BCFC All-Star honors as a safety in 1997. Boreham began his post-secondary football career with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in 1996. He recorded 41 points as an 18-year-old freshman with the T-Birds. He recorded 36 kickoffs for 1,695 yards and a 47.1-yard average. He punted 24 times for 887 yards, a 36.9-yard average and eight punt singles. He added nine defensive tackles to his totals for the season. Boreham was an all-around high-school athlete at Vancouver College High School. He competed in football, basketball, wrestling and track-and-field during his years with the Fighting Irish. He also played community-level soccer for the Burnaby Canadians. Boreham was an all-star at kicker and safety as well as runner-up for the province’s Most Valuable Defensive Player in his Grade 12 year. As a Grade 11, he was a member of the Vancouver College team that won the B.C. Provincial Championship. Competing in track-and-field events for the school, Boreham set the Richmond Kajaks High School Meet record for javelin in the junior high division with a toss of 48.12 metres. He later set the event record for the javelin in the juvenile men’s category with a throw of 58.58m. Boreham has also shown his coaching acumen, as he guided the St. Joseph’s Eagles to the British Columbia Under-13 boys basketball provincial basketball championship. He also coached the Saints All-Star. Football runs in Boreham’s family as his uncle is former B.C. Lions member Kevin Konar. FOR
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