Varsity Blues
Encyclopedia
The Varsity Blues is the name for the intercollegiate sports program at the University of Toronto
. Its 26 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. 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
.
The Varsity Blues program has teams in badminton
, baseball
, basketball
, cheerleading
, 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
.
conference, and are coached by Darren Lowe
. The team is based at Varsity Arena
. The current Varsity Blues have won ten CIAU
Championships. The men's ice hockey team was founded in 1891. 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.
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). 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. The team last posted a winning record in 1995.
The team is seeing a minor turnaround as the Blues have won three games in two consecutive seasons. 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
. 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.
, two former Blues players are on CFL teams' rosters:
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.
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.
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. Its 26 athletic teams regularly participate in competitions held by Ontario University Athletics
Ontario University Athletics
Ontario University Athletics is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public...
and Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association...
. The Varsity Blues traces its founding to 1877, with the formation of the men's football
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
team. Since 1908, Varsity Blues athletes have won numerous medals in Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
and Paralympic Games
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
, and have also long competed in International University Sports Federation
International University Sports Federation
The Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire , based in Brussels, Belgium is responsible for the organisation and governance of worldwide competitions for student-athletes between the ages of 17 and 28...
championships, Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
and Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
.
The Varsity Blues program has teams in badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, cheerleading
Cheerleading
Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
, cross country running
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, curling
Curling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
, fastpitch softball
Fastpitch softball
Fast-pitch softball is a form of softball played commonly by women and men, though coed fast-pitch leagues also exist. The International Softball Federation is the international governing body of softball...
, fencing
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
, field hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
, figure skating
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
, football, golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
, mountain biking
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
, nordic skiing
Nordic skiing
Nordic skiing is a winter sport that encompasses all types of skiing where the heel of the boot cannot be fixed to the ski, as opposed to Alpine skiing....
, rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
, rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
, soccer, squash
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
, swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, water polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
and wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
.
Men's ice hockey
The men's ice hockey team plays in the Ontario University AthleticsOntario University Athletics
Ontario University Athletics is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public...
conference, and are coached by Darren Lowe
Darren Lowe
Darren Craig Lowe , is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and current head coach of the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey team.- Playing career :...
. The team is based at Varsity Arena
Varsity Arena
Varsity Arena is an arena in Toronto, Ontario. It is located at 299 Bloor Street West and is primarily home to the ice hockey teams of the University of Toronto, the Varsity Blues, though it also hosted the Toronto Toros of the WHA from 1973–74 and the Toronto Planets of the RHI in 1993...
. The current Varsity Blues have won ten CIAU
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association...
Championships. The men's ice hockey team was founded in 1891. The Varsity Blues senior team won the Allan Cup
Allan Cup
The Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men’s ice hockey champions of Canada. It has been competed for since 1909. The current champion is the Clarenville Caribous hockey club of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:...
in 1921 and 1927, and won the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
at the 1928 Winter Olympics
1928 Winter Olympics
The 1928 Winter Olympics, officially known as the II Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated February 11–19, 1928 in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The 1928 Games were the first true Winter Olympics held on its own as they were not in conjunction with a Summer 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.
Football
The Toronto Varsity Blues football team won the first Grey CupGrey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
game ever held in 1909
1st Grey Cup
The 1st Grey Cup game was played on December 4, 1909, between the University of Toronto Varsity Blues and the Toronto Parkdale Canoe Club. The University of Toronto won the game, 26-6.-Game summary:U...
, and went on to win the cup again in 1910
2nd Grey Cup
The 2nd Grey Cup was played on November 26, 1910, before 12,000 fans at A.A.A. Grounds at Hamilton.The University of Toronto Varsity Blues defeated the Hamilton Tigers 16 to 7.-Game summary:U...
, 1911
3rd Grey Cup
The 3rd Grey Cup was played on November 25, 1911, before 13,687 fans at Varsity Stadium at Toronto.The University of Toronto Varsity Blues defeated the Toronto Argonauts 14 to 7.-Game summary:U...
, and 1920
8th Grey Cup
The 8th Grey Cup was played on December 4, 1920, before 10,088 fans at Varsity Stadium at Toronto.The University of Toronto Varsity Blues defeated the Toronto Argonauts 16 to 3....
. After intercollegiate teams no longer competed for the Grey Cup, the team won the first Vanier Cup
Vanier Cup
The Vanier Cup is the name of the championship of Canadian Interuniversity Sport football and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is currently played between the winners of the Uteck Bowl and the Mitchell Bowl...
ever held in 1965, and then again in 1993 as Canadian national football champions. The team has 25 Yates Cup
Yates Cup
The Yates Cup is a Canadian sports trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Ontario University Athletics football conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation. It is the oldest still-existing football trophy in North America, dating back to 1898 and surpassing both the Grey...
championship wins as champions of the Ontario University Athletics
Ontario University Athletics
Ontario University Athletics is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public...
conference of the CIS
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association...
, a total second only to the 29 won by the Western Ontario Mustangs
Western Ontario Mustangs
The Western Ontario Mustangs are the athletic teams that represent the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada...
.
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). 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
Waterloo Warriors
The Waterloo Warriors are the athletic teams that represent the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The Warriors have found success over certain spans in football, hockey, rugby, golf and basketball among others, and the Warriors have won national championships in hockey ,...
18-17 for their first win in almost seven years. The team last posted a winning record in 1995.
The team is seeing a minor turnaround as the Blues have won three games in two consecutive seasons. 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
2008 CIS football season
The 2008 CIS football season began on August 23, 2008, and concluded with the 44th Vanier Cup national championship on November 22 at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario, with the Laval Rouge et Or winning their fifth championship...
. In 2010
2010 CIS football season
The 2010 CIS football season began on August 31, 2010 with the Windsor Lancers hosting the Ottawa Gee-Gees and the defending Vanier Cup champion Queen's Golden Gaels visiting the McMaster Marauders. The season concluded on November 27 at the PEPS stadium in Quebec City, Quebec with the Laval Rouge...
, 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
Waterloo Warriors
The Waterloo Warriors are the athletic teams that represent the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The Warriors have found success over certain spans in football, hockey, rugby, golf and basketball among others, and the Warriors have won national championships in hockey ,...
. 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
2011 CIS football season
The 2011 CIS football season began on September 1, 2011 with the Montreal Carabins hosting the McGill Redmen at CEPSUM Stadium. The season concluded on November 25 at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia with the 47th Vanier Cup championship...
, while once again finishing just out of the playoffs in seventh place.
Recent Regular Season Results
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Pct % | PF | PA | Standing |
| 2001 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0.125 | 92 | 276 | 10th in OUA |
| 2002 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0.000 | 63 | 364 | 10th in OUA |
| 2003 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0.000 | 42 | 438 | 10th in OUA |
| 2004 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0.000 | 82 | 450 | 9th in OUA |
| 2005 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0.000 | 126 | 433 | 9th in OUA |
| 2006 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0.000 | 125 | 418 | 10th in OUA |
| 2007 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0.000 | 111 | 345 | 10th in OUA |
| 2008 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0.250 | 168 | 272 | 8th in OUA |
| 2009 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0.125 | 98 | 279 | 9th in OUA |
| 2010 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0.375 | 140 | 236 | 7th in OUA |
| 2011 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0.375 | 110 | 189 | 7th in OUA |
Playoff Results
- 2001 Out of Playoffs
- 2002 Out of Playoffs
- 2003 Out of Playoffs
- 2004 Out of Playoffs
- 2005 Out of Playoffs
- 2006 Out of Playoffs
- 2007 Out of Playoffs
- 2008 Out of Playoffs
- 2009 Out of Playoffs
- 2010 Out of Playoffs
- 2011 Out of Playoffs
Varsity Blues in the CFL
As of the end of the 2011 CFL season2011 CFL season
The 2011 CFL season was the 58th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 54th season of the league. The complete schedule was released on February 18 and featured the defending Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes opening the season against the visiting BC Lions on...
, two former Blues players are on CFL teams' rosters:
- Hugo LopezHugo LopezHugo Lopez is a Canadian football defensive back for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted 14th overall in the 2011 CFL Draft by the Eskimos and signed with the team on May 25, 2011. He played CIS football with the Waterloo Warriors from 2007 to 2009 and with the...
, Edmonton EskimosEdmonton EskimosThe Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895... - Chris KowalczukChris KowalczukChris Kowalczuk is a Canadian football guard for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on April 22, 2010. He played CIS Football with the Toronto Varsity Blues.-External links:*...
, Winnipeg Blue BombersWinnipeg Blue BombersThe Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
Nordic skiing
The Nordic skiing team competes against Ontario universities each year at the OUAOntario University Athletics
Ontario University Athletics is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public...
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 ClubUniversity of Toronto Rowing Club
The University of Toronto Rowing Club was founded on February 10, 1897 and represents the Varsity Blues at local and international regattas. It is the oldest university rowing club in Canada....
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
Royal Canadian Henley Regatta
The Royal Canadian Henley Regatta started in 1880 as the first championship for the newly formed Canadian Amateur Rowing Association. It changed venues often until 1903, when it was decided to hold it at St. Catharines Port Dalhousie's Martindale Pond hosted by the St...
victories, OUA
Ontario University Athletics
Ontario University Athletics is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public...
titles, and a silver medal at the 1924 Summer Olympics
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
in Paris.