University of Toronto Athletics

September 18, 2008 - It was a perfect day to play football. It was overcast, no wind, cool air, and a rivalry game where Toronto’s pride was put on the line.

On this day, the University of Toronto and the Varsity Blues were honoring the 1993 Vanier Cup Champions - what an honour it was to play in front of such a prestigious group of men.

On this day, we could only hope to play at the same level our ‘93 team had, in order to beat the Calgary Dinos for the Vanier Cup.

With a final score of 58-7, we had given it our best shot. This was a game that we needed. We really wanted to control and manhandle a team for the first time since, well, 1993. Not just because it was York; our bitter rivals who have had the best of the Varsity Blues for 13 straight years, but we came off a loss to Windsor and we needed to get focused, gain the confidence, and earn a controlling victory, something all winning teams are able to do.

I now know how 60% of the teams felt when they played the Varsity Blues over the past seven years.

Let me tell you - it feels great.

For us to play like that and win like that, it brought the fun back to football. Everybody on our sideline was enjoying the moment and truly enjoying the fruits of their labour.

We finally got to drown our coaches with Gatorade, a proud football tradition that we haven’t had the fortune of doing too much of after the game. Dumping water on your coach is a simple thing but it brings so much pleasure.

In our post game celebrations we went over to a local pub. All of our alumni, current players, friends and family were in attendance. As I walked and chatted my way through the crowd I was stopped by an alumnus of ours.

Now after each game the Blues win there are a few celebratory songs that are sung. This alumnus wanted me to go up on the mic and lead everyone in these cheers. I turned and looked at him and a few surrounding alumni and responded shyly, “we’ve only won twice. I don’t think I know all the words.”

I think it hit them at that point how bad it had been the last few years.

So the leaders of the Vanier Cup winning team came and accompanied me on stage and they showed us young kids how to sing this proud tradition known as the Blue and White song.

I don’t think I have seen prouder men singing a song to which everyone knew the words, no matter how old they were - it was one gratifying sight.

We finally played at a championship level, and had championship results.


THE BLUES ARE BACK!!!

Until next time…Go Blues Go!!!