HAMILTON (November 11, 2010) – The Queen's Gaels football team picked up three OUA major awards on Thursday with Sam Sabourin of Stittsville, Ont., Matthew O'Donnell of Kingston, Ont., and defensive line coach Bob Vespaziani all recognized by the league.

Sabourin claimed the Norm Marshall award for rookie of the year while O'Donnell took home the J.P. Metras award for lineman of the year. Vespaziani took home the Volunteer Coach of the Year award.

As a first year linebacker, Sabourin made a seamless transition into OUA becoming a starter on defence and special teams playing in all nine of the Gaels games this year. He set a number of Queen's school records in 2010 including most tackles in a season with 64, most tackles for loss with nine, most solo tackles in a season with 50 and most tackles in a single game with 13.

Sabourin was ranked third on the CIS list for tackles in the regular season and had two sacks, an interception and three forced fumbles. The rookie is the third Gael to win the award, the last being famed quarterback Danny Brannagan of Burlington, Ont. in 2005.

O'Donnell claimed his second consecutive OUA All-Star honour earlier this week and is one of the most imposing tackles in the CIS standing at 6'10 and weighing in at 329 lbs. His ability as a pass protector on the left side puts him in a class all by himself and his presence on perimeter run plays is undeniable.
The fourth year Gael is currently ranked in the top six Canadian prospects by the CFL and he has attracted interest from the NFL. O'Donnell becomes the fifth Gael to win the J.P. Metras Trophy for outstanding work as a lineman.

Vespaziani, is a former CFL coach and general manager having volunteered his time as the defensive line assistant with the Gaels for three seasons. Since his arrival he has helped mould four of the best lineman to play at the CIS level including Neil Puffer (Edmonton Eskimos), Dee Sterling (Edmonton Eskimos), Shomari Williams (Saskatchewan Roughriders) and 2008 J.P. Metras Award Recipient Osie Ukwuoma. Vespaziani's influence on the next generation of defensive lineman at Queen's has been profound with observers already taking notice.

The OUA also announced that Ottawa Gee Gee's quarterback Brad Sinopoli of Peterborough, Ont., has earned the OUA's nomination for the CIS Hec Crighton award. Laurier's Giancarlo Rapanaro of Niagara Falls, Ont., won the President's Trophy as stand-up defensive player of the year while Dillon Heap of Waterloo, Ont., claimed the Russ Jackson Nominee.

Western's Greg Marshall won the Dave Tuffy Knight Coach of the Year Award and Murrya Drinkwalter captured the Officials Award of Merit.

2010 OUA FOOTBALL MAJOR AWARD WINNERS

Most Valuable Player – Brad Sinopoli (Ottawa)
President's Trophy (Stand-up Defensive Player of the Year) – Giancarlo Rapanaro (Laurier)
J.P. Metras (Linemen of the Year) – Matthew O'Donnell (Queen's)
Norm Marshall (Rookie of the Year) – Sam Sabourin (Queen's)
Russ Jackson Nominee – Dillon Heap (Laurier)
Dave “Tuffy” Knight Award (Coach of the Year) – Greg Marshall (Western)
Volunteer Coach of the Year – Bob Vespaziani (Queen's)
Officials Award of Merit – Murray Drinkwalter