Toronto Varsity Blues
| Toronto Varsity Blues | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | University of Toronto |
| Association | CIS, CUFLA |
| Conference | OUA |
| Athletic director | Beth Ali |
| Location | Toronto, Ontario |
| Varsity teams | 43 |
| Football stadium | Varsity Stadium |
| Arena | Athletic Centre |
| Field | Dan Lang Field |
| Other venues | Varsity Arena |
| Symbol | True Blue |
| Mascot | True Blue |
| Nickname | Varsity Blues |
| Fight song | The Blue and White |
| Colours | Blue and white |
| Website | www |
The Toronto Varsity Blues is the name for the intercollegiate sports program at the University of Toronto. Its 43 athletic teams regularly participate in competitions held by Ontario University Athletics and Canadian Interuniversity Sport. The Varsity Blues traces its founding to 1877, with the formation of the men's football team.[1] Since 1908, Varsity Blues athletes have won numerous medals in Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, and have also long competed in International University Sports Federation championships, Commonwealth Games and Pan American Games.[2]
The Varsity Blues program has teams in badminton, baseball, basketball, cross country running, curling, fastpitch softball, fencing, field hockey, figure skating, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, mountain biking, nordic skiing, rowing, rugby, soccer, squash, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo and wrestling.
Men's ice hockey
The men's ice hockey team plays in the Ontario University Athletics conference, and are coached by Darren Lowe. The team is based at Varsity Arena. The current Varsity Blues have won ten CIAU Championships.[3] The men's ice hockey team was founded in 1891.[4] The Varsity Blues senior team won the Allan Cup in 1921 and 1927, and won the gold medal at the 1928 Winter Olympics. Conn Smythe (U of T 1920), the principal owner of the N.H.L Toronto Maple Leafs (1927–61) and builder of Maple Leaf Gardens (1931), chose Royal Blue and White as his team's colors to honor his Alma Mater. The Maple Leafs are popularly known as "The Blue & White" by many of their older fans.
Women's ice hockey
Football
| Toronto Varsity Blues | |
|---|---|
Toronto Varsity Blues logo | |
| First season | 1877 |
| Athletic director | Beth Ali |
| Head coach | Greg Gary 2nd year, 5–11 (.313) |
| Other staff | Luigi Costanzo (OC) Kevin Eiben (DC) |
| Home stadium | Varsity Stadium |
| Year built | 2007 |
| Stadium capacity | 5000 |
| Stadium surface | Polytan Ligaturf |
| Location | Toronto, Ontario |
| League | CIS |
| Conference | OUA (1980-present) |
| Past associations | ORFU (1883-1897) CIRFU (1898-1970) OUAA (1971-1973) OQIFC (1974-1979) |
| All-time record | 524–421–35 (.553) |
| Postseason record | 24–27 (.471) |
| Titles | |
| Grey Cups | 4 1909, 1910, 1911, 1920 |
| Vanier Cups | 2 1965, 1993 |
| Churchill Bowls | 1 1993 |
| Atlantic Bowls | 2 1962, 1974 |
| Yates Cups | 25 1898, 1899, 1901, 1903, 1905, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1914, 1920, 1921, 1926, 1932, 1933, 1936, 1948, 1951, 1954, 1958, 1965, 1967, 1974, 1983, 1993 |
| Hec Crighton winners | 4 Mike Eben, Mike Raham, Dan Feraday, Eugene Buccigrossi |
| Current uniform | |
| File:CIS Toronto Jersey.png | |
| Colours | Blue and White |
| Mascot | True Blue |
| Outfitter | Adidas |
| Rivals | York Lions |
| Website | varsityblues.ca |
The Toronto Varsity Blues football team won the first Grey Cup game ever held in 1909, and went on to win the cup again in 1910, 1911, and 1920. After intercollegiate teams no longer competed for the Grey Cup, the team won the first Vanier Cup ever held in 1965, and then again in 1993 as Canadian national football champions. The team has 25 Yates Cup championship wins as champions of the Ontario University Athletics conference of the CIS, a total second only to the 29 won by the Western Ontario Mustangs.
However, hard times have fallen on the University of Toronto football team in recent years. The football program had not won a game since the 2001 season (a win that itself ended an 18-game losing streak).[5] On October 13, 2007, they set the record for the longest losing streak in Canadian university history, at 49 losses in a row. This losing streak was snapped on September 1, 2008 when they defeated the Waterloo Warriors 18-17 for their first win in almost seven years.[6] The team last posted a winning record in 1995.[7]
The team was led by head coach Greg DeLaval who won his first game with the Blues when the team ended their record-setting losing streak in 2008. In 2010, the Blues posted a remarkable 40-35 win over the second-ranked Ottawa Gee-Gees, which was their first win over a nationally ranked opponent since 1997 against the Waterloo Warriors.[8] The Blues finished with a 3-5 record in 2010, which was their best since the 1996 season when they posted the same mark. The Blues posted a 3-5 record again in 2011, while once again finishing just out of the playoffs in seventh place. The team took a step back with a 2-6 record in 2012, including home losses to fellow 2-6 teams York and Ottawa. However, in 2013, they finished the season 4-4, the first time since 1993, but failed to make the play-offs.[9]
Season-by-season record
The following is the record of the Toronto Varsity Blues football team in the last eleven seasons of play:
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Pct % | PF | PA | Standing | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0.000 | 42 | 438 | 10th in OUA | Did not qualify |
| 2004 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0.000 | 82 | 450 | 9th in OUA | Did not qualify |
| 2005 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0.000 | 126 | 433 | 9th in OUA | Did not qualify |
| 2006 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0.000 | 125 | 418 | 10th in OUA | Did not qualify |
| 2007 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0.000 | 111 | 345 | 10th in OUA | Did not qualify |
| 2008 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0.250 | 168 | 272 | 8th in OUA | Did not qualify |
| 2009 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0.125 | 98 | 279 | 9th in OUA | Did not qualify |
| 2010 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0.375 | 140 | 236 | 7th in OUA | Did not qualify |
| 2011 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0.375 | 110 | 189 | 7th in OUA | Did not qualify |
| 2012 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0.250 | 136 | 279 | 9th in OUA | Did not qualify |
| 2013 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0.500 | 230 | 231 | 7th in OUA | Did not qualify[10] |
Varsity Blues in the CFL
Nordic skiing
The Nordic skiing team competes against Ontario universities each year at the OUA Championships in February after qualifying races earlier in the season. The team has steadily grown in size and experience since Hans Fischer stepped up to the position of coach in the 2005-06 season.
Rowing
The University of Toronto Rowing Club represents the Varsity Blues at local and international regattas. The UTRC was founded on February 10, 1897, and throughout the years has had many successes including Royal Canadian Henley Regatta victories, OUA titles, and a silver medal at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris.
See also
References
- ^ http://www.varsityblues.ca/sports/2008/7/28/FIGURE_0728085342.aspx?path=football
- ^ University of Toronto Olympians
- ^ www.azhockey.com
- ^ Toronto Marlboros history
- ^ "U of T football sets new university futility streak". cbc.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2007-10-13. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
- ^ VarsityBlues.ca post-game summary
- ^ "U of T football sets new university futility streak". cbc.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2007-10-13. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
- ^ http://www.varsityblues.ca/news/2011/3/12/FB_0312114409.aspx
- ^ De Pass sets record, Blues top Warriors from VarsityBlues.ca retrieved 19 October 2013
- ^ OUA 2013 Standings retrieved 19 October 2013
