Yates Cup alumni Hajrullahu, Lawson named as honorary captains for 115th championship

Burlington, Ont. – With two decorated football programs coming together for the 115th Yates Cup, it only makes sense that a pair of decorated alumni join the festivities as this year’s honorary captains.

Former Western kicker Lirim Hajrullahu and past Laurier defensive end Hugh Lawson are back not only in support of their alma mater, but also to support the OUA football championship that holds a special place in their respective varsity tenures.

With both players having won North America’s oldest football trophy during their university tenure, both understand what it takes to make it to this grand stage, and since their OUA playing days, they have each continued to impress along their respective paths.

Lawson, who played with the Golden Hawks in the late 1980s to early 1990s and was a three-time all-star therein, has gone on to a highly successful business career, which featured over a decade spent as Director of Business Development at Staples. The communications studies graduate is also deeply engaged in helping recent graduates and varsity student-athletes transition into the workforce for long-term career success in their chosen fields through the Black Beyond Sport program.

Hajrullahu, meanwhile, has continued to impress on the field since his days at Western, having been a star kicker in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for six seasons before turning his attention south of the border. The former CFL all-star, who also registered 422 career points during his time with the Mustangs, has registered National Football League (NFL) stints with the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers, among other teams, and continues to eye future opportunities within the league after becoming the seventh Western alum to make the jump.

Stay tuned to see honorary captains Hajrullahu and Lawson as part of the 115th Yates Cup on oua.tv, cbcsports.ca, and CBC Gem on Saturday, November 11th at 1:00pm.