WINNIPEG - The Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association also announced at its 52nd annual awards dinner on January 27, 2008 the selection of the University of Manitoba Bisons football team as the 2007 Manitoba Team of the Year, and the recipient of the Maurice Smith Memorial trophy.
Led by CIS first team all-Canadian and Canada West outstanding lineman of the year Justin Cooper, plus outstanding offensive and defensive players John Makie and Mike Howard in the national final, the 2007 Manitoba Bisons compiled a perfect 12-0 season in winning their first Vanier Cup and the Canadian University Football Championship since 1970. The Bisons defeated St. Mary's Huskies 28-14 in the final.
The Bisons were a near unanimous choice for the team award, with only one second place vote on the final ballot.
Among 2007 male Athlete of the Year finalists were two-time winner Israel Idonije, who played for the Chicago Bears in the 2007 Super Bowl and Erfan Nasajpour, a Canada West First Team men's all-star in basketball for the University of Winnipeg Wesmen. A female Athlete of the Year finalist was Ashley Voth, selected as Canada West and CIS women's volleyball rookie of the year with the Manitoba Bisons.
In the team category, the Winnipeg Wesmen CWUAA university men's volleyball champions made the final vote list.
Chris Zuk, the sports information director for Manitoba Bison Sports, received the Dallis Beck Memorial Good Guy Award for exceptional service and guidance to the provincial sports media.