Ottawa Gee-Gees football
Ottawa Gee-Gees | ||
| ||
First season | 1881 | |
Athletic director | Marc Schryburt | |
Head coach | Jamie Barresi | |
4th year, 19–13–0 (.594) | ||
Other staff | Devin Murphy (DC) | |
Home stadium | Gee-Gees Field | |
Year built | 2013 | |
Stadium capacity | 4,152[1] | |
Stadium surface | FieldTurf | |
Location | Ottawa, Ontario | |
League | CIS | |
Conference | OUA (2001 - present) | |
Past associations | QRFU (1894-1904) CIRFU (1905-1912) OIFC (1957-1966) CCIFC (1967-1970) OUAA (1971-1973) OQIFC (1974-2000) | |
All-time record | – | |
Postseason record | – | |
Vanier Cups | 2 1975, 2000 | |
Churchill Bowl Championships | 2 1975, 2000 | |
Atlantic Bowl Championships | 2 1970, 1980 | |
Yates Cups | 4 1907, 1975, 1976, 2006 | |
Dunsmore Cups | 4 1980, 1995, 1996, 2000 | |
Hec Crighton winners | 4 Paul Paddon, Rick Zmich, Phil Côté, Brad Sinopoli | |
Current uniform | ||
Colours | Garnet and Grey
| |
Outfitter | Adidas | |
Rivals | Carleton Ravens Western Ontario Mustangs Queen's Gaels | |
Website | geegees.ca |
The Ottawa Gee-Gees football team represents the University of Ottawa in the sport of Canadian football. The Gee-Gees compete in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) conference. Football at Ottawa began in 1881, it was one of the first established football programs in Canada.
The Gee-Gees have appeared in five Vanier Cup championships, losing in 1970, 1980 and 1997, and winning the national title in 1975 and 2000. The team practices and plays their games at the newly built Gee-Gees Field at Lees (the U of O's southern-most segment of campus) . The Gee-Gees have also won a total of eight conference championships, including four Yates Cups and four Dunsmore Cups as the team split time between the OUA and OQIFC.[2][3]
The Gee-Gees also are part of the most established football rivalry in the country with the Carleton Ravens. For over 50 years they have played the traditional Panda Game, which has gained worldwide attention.
In recent years, the team has seen much success, having enjoyed eight consecutive seasons with non-losing records. In that time, the team has had three first-place finishes with the last being achieved in 2010. The team has also won one Yates Cup conference championship in that time, in 2006, but lost to the Saskatchewan Huskies in the Mitchell Bowl soon after. The school hired Gary Etcheverry to be the team's head coach for the 2012 season, but after losing his first five games of the season, he was relieved of his duties. The Gee-Gees went on to finish with a 2-6 record and out of the playoffs for the first time since 1991. 2013 was a better year for the Gee-Gees, new head coach Jamie Barresi was able to lead the team to a winning 5-3 record and a return to the playoffs. The Gee-Gees opened their 2014 campaign at home on September 1st, 2014 against the York Lions with a 51-7 win. Their season finished falling just short to the McMaster Marauders in the OUA semi-finals, the Gee-Gees defeated the previously undefeated Mac in the final game of the regular season, they would go on to be defeated in the Vanier Cup.
Season-by-season record
The following is the record of the Ottawa Gee-Gees football team in the last twelve seasons of play:
Season | Games | Won | Lost | Pct % | PF | PA | Standing | Playoffs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2003 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0.375 | 216 | 200 | 6th in OUA | Lost to Laurier Golden Hawks in quarter-final 38-17 |
2004 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0.625 | 190 | 236 | 4th in OUA | Defeated Guelph Gryphons in quarter-final 33-9 Lost to Laurier Golden Hawks in semi-final 46-7 |
2005 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0.625 | 305 | 137 | 3rd in OUA | Defeated Guelph Gryphons in quarter-final 35-21 Lost to Western Mustangs in semi-final 18-10 |
2006 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0.875 | 276 | 97 | 1st in OUA | Defeated Queen's Golden Gaels in semi-final 23-10 Defeated Laurier Golden Hawks in Yates Cup 32-14 Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in Mitchell Bowl 35-28 |
2007 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 1.000 | 312 | 110 | 1st in OUA | Lost to Western Mustangs in semi-final 23-16 |
2008 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0.500 | 297 | 187 | 5th in OUA | Defeated Guelph Gryphons in quarter-final 42-37 Defeated Queen's Golden Gaels in semi-final 23-13 Lost to Western Mustangs in Yates Cup 31-17 |
2009 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0.750 | 260 | 169 | 4th in OUA | Lost to McMaster Marauders in quarter-final 27-15 |
2010 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0.875 | 291 | 168 | 1st in OUA | Defeated Laurier Golden Hawks in semi-final 32-31 Lost to Western Mustangs in Yates Cup 26-25 |
2011 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0.625 | 245 | 199 | 4th in OUA | Lost to Windsor Lancers in quarter-final 50-33 |
2012 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0.250 | 246 | 260 | 8th in OUA | Did not qualify |
2013 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0.625 | 276 | 253 | 5th in OUA | Lost to McMaster Marauders in quarter-final 41-7 |
2014 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0.625 | 285 | 204 | 5th in OUA | Defeated Windsor Lancers in quarter-final 46-29 Lost to McMaster Marauders in semi-final 42-31 |
2015 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0.375 | 300 | 331 | 8th in OUA | Did not qualify |
2016 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0.750 | 303 | 227 | 5th in OUA | Lost to Carleton Ravens in quarter-final 45-9 |
Gee-Gees in the CFL
In October of the 2016 CFL season, four former Gee-Gees players are on CFL teams' rosters or practice squads:
- Brad Sinopoli, Ottawa Redblacks
- Brendan Gillanders, Ottawa Redblacks
- Ettore Lattanzio, Ottawa Redblacks
- Jordan Wilson-Ross, Saskatchewan Roughriders
1975 Vanier Cup champions
The undefeated 1975 National Championship team (11-0) is considered to be one of the most dominant in Canadian college history. That team became the first to finish with a perfect record after winning a Vanier Cup. Even to this day, the 1975 team still holds several CIS and OUA team and individual records. Players from the 1975 team were selected to the CIS All-Canadian team 13 times during their college careers. During their CIS careers, players from the 1975 team were selected as OUAA an OQIFC All-Stars 42 times.[4]
1975 Gee Gees CIS career awards
- 13 All-Canadian Selections during their CIS careers
- 42 OUAA All-Star Selections during their CIS careers
- 1 Hec Crighton Finalist (CIS Outstanding Player)
- 2 J.P. Metras Trophy Finalists (CIS Outstanding Lineman)
- 1 Frank Tindall Trophy (CIS Coach of the Year)
- 1 Ted Morris Trophy (MVP Vanier Cup)
The 1975 University of Ottawa Gee Gees CFL careers
A total of 21 players from the 1975 Vanier Cup Championship team were selected in the Canadian Football League draft, including nine players in the first round or higher including six CFL Territorial Protections (from 1973 through 1982 each CFL team was allowed to pick and protect 2 players from their region before the 1st round began). During their careers as professionals, players from the 1975 Vanier Cup Championship team appeared in 23 Grey Cup games and went on to collect a total of 12 Grey Cup Rings.[4] The following is a brief list of the impact that these players have had in the Canadian Football League.
- Eric Upton - Guard - 10 Years CFL Edmonton Eskimos-3 time Western All-Star, 6 Grey Cup Appearances, 5 time Grey Cup Champion
- Rocky DiPietro- Slotback - 14 Years CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats, CFL All-Time Pass Reception Leader, Canadian Football Hall of Fame Inductee, 2 time CFL Outstanding Canadian, 3 time Lew Hayman Trophy Outstanding Canadian Eastern Division, 5 time Eastern All-Star, 4 Grey Cup Appearances, 1986 Grey Cup Champion
- Neil Lumsden - Fullback/Kicker - 10 Years CFL Toronto Argonauts/Hamilton Tiger-Cats/Edmonton Eskimos, Winner 1976 Frank M Gibson Trophy CFL Outstanding Rookie Eastern Division, 2 Time Eastern Division All-Star, 1981 Grey Cup Canadian MVP, 3 time Grey Cup Champion
- Miles Gorrell - Offensive Tackle - 19 Years CFL Calgary Stampeders/Hamilton Tiger-Cats/Montreal Alouettes/Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 5 time Eastern Division All-Star, 2 time Winner Leo Dandurand Trophy CFL Outstanding Lineman Eastern Division, 5 Grey Cup Appearances, 1 time Grey Cup Champion
- Jeff Avery - Wide Receiver- 6 Years CFL Ottawa Rough Riders, 1 time Eastern Division All-Star, 2 Grey Cup Appearances, 1976 Grey Cup Champion
- Al Moffat - Defensive Tackle - 6 Years CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 1 time Eastern Division All-Star, 1 Grey Cup Appearance
- Mike Murphy - Fullback - 4 Years CFL, Winner 1977 Frank M. Gibson Trophy CFL Outstanding Rookie Eastern Division
- Doug Falconer - Defensive Back - 4 Years CFL Ottawa Rough Riders/Calgary Stampeders, 1976 Grey Cup Champion
- Tim Berryman - Linebacker - 7 Years CFL Edmonton Eskimos/Ottawa Rough Riders, 1 Grey Cup Appearance
- Bill Harrison - Halfback - 5 Years CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats/Toronto Argonauts
- Ian Mac Pherson - Defensive Tackle - 3 Years CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats
References
External links
- The University of Ottawa
- The GeeGees Athletics Website
- Canadian Football League
- 1975 Ottawa Gee-Gees