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QB Liam Mahoney named best rookie 

By Barbara Black

Stingers quarterback Liam Mahoney is only in his first year of Leisure Studies, but he has already made Concordia history.

He was awarded the Peter Gorman Trophy as the outstanding rookie in Canadian university football at a glittering banquet at the Royal York Hotel on Nov. 21. Although several Stingers have been nominated for the prestigious award, Mahoney is the first to win the Gorman Trophy since its inception in 1976.

Liam is six-foot-one and 180 pounds, and turns 20 on Dec. 13. He took over as the Concordia starter in the fourth game of the regular season when veteran Rob Mackay went down with a knee injury. His performance helped Concordia finish second in the Quebec conference and reach the Dunsmore Cup final.

He is the third of four children for Gazette photographer John Mahoney and his wife Jocelyne, who drove to Toronto to attend the gala. Mahoney senior said, “We knew he’d be successful at the university level, but not this fast.”

Liam was already a seasoned quarterback when he came to Concordia; this is his seventh year playing the position. He was named Male Athlete of the Year at Vanier College in 2006, after leading the Cheetahs to the Quebec CEGEP AAA title.

“He was used to the pressure,” his father said. “He was disappointed with the way the season ended, because he was confident the Stingers could beat Laval. They had played them three weeks before, and lost by only 26-21. He played very well in the second half.”

Mahoney had the best game of his young CIS career in a 58-30 win over McGill, when he threw four touchdown passes and added one rushing major as the Stingers racked up 639 yards of offence.

“I have never seen a rookie make so few mistakes,” said Concordia head coach Gerry McGrath. “I have never had a rookie quarterback play at the level Liam has been playing at. I never have to tell him anything twice. He is composed, intelligent and has a great aptitude for the game of football.”