VANCOUVER - Blake Nill says he could be taking on the biggest challenge of his career. Mason Cole Cardinals Jersey .The University of British Columbia Thunderbirds introduced Nill as the new head coach of their football team on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after he resigned from the same position with the Calgary Dinos.It was something that I thought about long and hard, but I was convinced in my discussions with the athletic department, with the backers, that it was time for UBC, Nill said at his introductory new conference. They wanted to step up and they wanted to put their football team as the flagship and get them back on the map.Ive always felt B.C. is rich with talent, the university is rich with tradition, and now its just a matter of combining everything (and) changing the culture ... making sure the kids understand what it takes to be successful, and I think Im capable of doing that.Known for his ability to recruit, Nill might have his work cut out for him in the short term. UBC hasnt won a conference championship since winning the Vanier Cup in 1997 and is coming off a 2-6 campaign that cost head coach Scott Olson his job.The Thunderbirds have not had a winning season since 2004 and are a combined 24-56 over the last 10 years, but Nill said there is reason for optimismI can honestly say this may be the most talent-laden team that Ive taken over, he said. I think (its) more or less installing a new culture. Installing a culture of work ethic, of speed, of strength, of accountability.Once the kids realize they need to be accountable to themselves and their teammates, I think youll see a change fairly quickly.Nill spent the last nine seasons with the Dinos, leading them to six straight Hardy Cup titles as Canada West champions and three Vanier Cup appearances.Prior to that, the native of Hanna, Alta., coached the Saint Marys Huskies for eight years, making four trips to the Vanier Cup, including victories in 2001 and 2002.Extremely difficult decision, extremely tough decision, Nill said of leaving Calgary. But I believe as a coach theres 10 years in your career (at one university). I think that once you get to the seventh, eighth, ninth year of a certain tenure, its time to look at another place — something to rejuvenate your desire, your passion for the game.That was a big factor in my decision to come here.The future of UBCs football program had been subject to a review earlier this year, but Nill said he got assurances that the university and its alumni are willing to do what it takes to be competitive at the national level.I have two motives for all my kids: I want them to graduate and I want them to have a shot at a ring, said Nill, who had 23 players drafted by CFL teams during his time in Calgary. If that was too extreme, they had the wrong guy in the meeting ... now Im here to get to work.Canadian university footballs coach of the year in 1999 with Saint Marys, Nill has a career regular-season and playoff record of 130-47. He was 6-2 with the Dinos in 2014 before losing to the Manitoba Bisons in the Hardy Cup.We knew we needed the right leader. We knew we needed an extraordinary coach, said Ashley Howard, UBCs managing director of athletics and recreation. We knew we needed somebody with CIS experience — not just somebody with a proven track record of maintaining success — but somebody who knew how to build teams.Nill said that while focus has to be on recruiting and improving the product on the field, its equally important to build up UBCs alumni association so that the football team can compete financially with CIS powerhouses like Laval, Montreal and Calgary.The universities throughout the country are not prepared to fund (football programs) entirely, so what you need is third-party funding, he said. I was convinced by the athletic department and the backers that I have met that they are ready to go all in in terms of getting UBC football on board and up to the level where it should be.Nill, who said UBC pursued him harder than any other potential suitor has in his career, added hes hoping to get sense of what he has to work with on the current roster over the next three months before spring practice.Im neither soft nor cuddly. Its going to be a situation where the kids are going to have to respond to what I expect. Im a fundamentalist, said Nill. I expect a lot of hard work. I expect total commitment. Im a very logical coach. I look at things and say Logically if youre going to beat the University of Calgary you have to be bigger, faster, stronger.The only way you can do that is through hard work in the gym. If that doesnt work with this current group of young men its my responsibility to go out and get another group. Mason Cole Jersey . 9 Baylor Bears just needed some time to get on track in their first game after the Christmas break. Andre Smith Cardinals Jersey . - Roger Federer squandered a big lead and lost to No. http://www.uscardinalslockroom.com/Black-Friday-Justin-Pugh-Jersey/ . -- The Toronto Maple Leafs are tightening the race for second place in the Atlantic Division.My greatest day is racing is how Pat Smullen described his success on Harzand in the Investec Derby at Epsom. Smullen added the worlds premier Classic to his impressive list of achievements that included the 2000 Guineas on Refuse To Bend in 2003, and his eight Classics in his native Ireland where he has also been champion jockey eight times.He enjoyed a picture-perfect ride as he brought the 13/2 chance, trained by his boss Dermot Weld, to victory by a length and a half over US Army Ranger. It was my greatest day in racing. When you start out and dream of being a jockey as a child its something special, Smullen told At The Races.You need everything to go right to win a race like the Epsom Derby.We knew we had a very good horse on our hands, but he is a horse that needs ease in the ground. There was sufficient ease in it for us and hes improving rapidly.Smullen was delighted that for once the race went just as he had hoped it would. Smullen after winning the Investec Derby aboard Harzand Everything went according to plan in the race which is a rarity, he said.Drawn nine, Idaho and Seamie (Heffernan) were in eight and the horse that made the running (Port Douglas) was in stall 10.I thought that horse might make the running and that Seamie wouldnt be too far away. Chad Williams Cardinals Jersey. Idaho is a very good horse. We beat him in the Ballysax and that is a very good race. I was quite happy to follow him all the way through the race.Id been riding the race 100 times in my mind prior to it. For it to come off exactly as was planned was one of those rare things but it worked out.I think the most impressive thing from yesterday was 100 yards from the line when Ryan (Moore on US Army Ranger) was at my girth, my horse found again. Smullen celebrates at Epsom He pulled away to be a length and a half in front at the line. It showed he had a turn of foot as well as stamina.Hes a good horse and improving. Lets hope he continues to improve.Hes 100 per cent genuine and has a huge heart. Tactically hes very adaptable. My only worry yesterday was if he had the initial pace to get the position we wanted but he proved me wrong there.He jumped into that position really well. You can put him anywhere where it suits. Hopefully that will stand him well in the future in all these races.Yesterday was my greatest day in racing. Any Derby is very special but the Epsom Derby is such an historic race. Im absolutely thrilled to have won it. 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