Toronto Varsity Blues football

The first documented game of football at the University of Toronto was on November 9, 1861.{{Cite web |last=says |first=University of Toronto Magazine |date=2018-09-25 |title=America's Game Might Have Kicked Off at U of T |url=https://magazine.utoronto.ca/campus/history/americas-game-football-kicked-off-university-of-toronto/ |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=University of Toronto Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2010-05-01 |title=CFL.ca - Official Site of the Canadian Football League |url=http://www.cfl.ca/page/his_timeline_1860 |access-date=2023-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501160230/http://www.cfl.ca/page/his_timeline_1860 |archive-date=2010-05-01 }} This game was noted to be a combination of Association football and rugby, which the rules required the player bounce or kick the ball towards the opposing team's goal.{{Cite web |title=From Rugby to Football: The History of Canadian Football |url=https://www.communitystories.ca/v1/pm_v2.php?id=story_line&lg=English&fl=0&ex=00000785&sl=8138&pos=1# |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=www.communitystories.ca}} The game was played on Queen's Park, which eventually became the site of the Ontario Legislative Building.

The first official team was established in 1877 by J.H. Mayne Campbell, where rugby football rules were adopted.{{Cite web |title=From Rugby to Football: The History of Canadian Football |url=https://www.communitystories.ca/v1/pm_v2.php?id=story_line&lg=English&fl=0&ex=00000785&sl=8138&pos=1# |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=www.communitystories.ca}} The team officially played their first game against another school in 1879,{{Cite web |title=From Rugby to Football: The History of Canadian Football |url=https://www.communitystories.ca/v1/pm_v2.php?id=story_line&lg=English&fl=0&ex=00000785&sl=8138&pos=1# |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=www.communitystories.ca}} when they faced the University of Michigan.{{Cite news |date=November 1, 1879 |title=Sayings and Doings |pages=1 |work=Detroit Free Press}} This game ended in a draw, with no teams scoring points after two 45 minute innings.

The team faced their first game against another Canadian university in 1881 against McGill University,{{Cite web |title=From Rugby to Football: The History of Canadian Football |url=https://www.communitystories.ca/v1/pm_v2.php?id=story_line&lg=English&fl=0&ex=00000785&sl=8138&pos=1# |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=www.communitystories.ca}} losing two tries to nothing.

In 1883, the University of Toronto football team entered the Ontario Rugby Football Union (ORFU). They remained in the ORFU league until 1898, where they then joined the Canadian Intercollegiate Rugby Football Union (CIRFU). During this year the team won the first Yates Cup.

The Canadian Dominion Football Championship was first established in 1884, and as the University of Toronto was a member of the ORFU, it qualified to play in these championship games. The team won championship games in 1895 and 1905.{{Cite journal |last=Sproule |first=Robert |date=2001 |title=THE QUEBEC RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION 1883-1906 – Part 3 |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/23-04-900.pdf |journal=The Coffin Corner |volume=23 |issue=4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022100345/http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/23-04-900.pdf |archive-date=2012-10-22 }}{{Cite news |date=November 27, 1905 |title=Best Rough Riders |pages=2 |work=The Montreal Gazette |url=https://news.google.ca/newspapers?id=f3ouAAAAIBAJ&sjid=coYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6730%2C4599348}}

In 1909, the Grey Cup was established and the University of Toronto football team won the inaugural game.{{Cite web |date=2008-12-07 |title=Grey Cup 2008 - Montreal - Grey Cup 1909 |url=http://greycup.cfl.ca/1909gc |access-date=2023-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207082200/http://greycup.cfl.ca/1909gc |archive-date=2008-12-07 }} The team went on the win additionally in 1910, 1911 and 1920.

In recent years the team has had a string of losses, not qualifying for the playoffs in 20 out of the 22 current seasons.

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/2008/09/01/u_of_t_blues_end_7year_49game_losing_streak.html|title=U of T Blues end 7-year, 49-game losing streak|work=The Star|last=Doolittle|first=Robyn|date=September 1, 2008|access-date=July 18, 2020 }} The team last posted a winning record in 1995.{{cite news|title=U of T football sets new university futility streak |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/u-of-t-football-sets-new-university-futility-streak-1.662333 |work=cbc.ca |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=October 13, 2007 |access-date=July 18, 2020 }}

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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.varsityblues.ca/news/2011/3/12/FB_0312114409.aspx|title=U of T Bids Farewell to Football Coach Delaval |publisher=Toronto Varsity Blues |date=March 12, 2011}} 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 hired Greg Gary as head coach in 2011, and finished with another 3-5 record, 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 playoffs.{{cite web|url=http://www.varsityblues.ca/news/2013/10/19/FB_1019132146.aspx |title=De Pass sets record, Blues top Warriors |publisher=Toronto Varsity Blues |date=October 19, 2013}} The team again regressed in 2014 with a 2-6 record, but rebounded in 2015 with a slightly improved 3-5 record. The program again failed to gain any momentum and won only two games the following season and then only one game in 2017 along with a last place finish. Gary resigned as head coach following the season's end and Greg Marshall was hired as his replacement.{{cite web|url=http://varsityblues.ca/news/2017/11/16/gary-steps-down-as-varsity-blues-football-head-coach.aspx |title=Gary steps down as Varsity Blues football head coach |publisher=Toronto Varsity Blues |date=November 16, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.varsityblues.ca/news/2017/12/27/marshall-to-lead-football-team-into-2018-season.aspx |title=Marshall to lead football team in 2018 |publisher=Toronto Varsity Blues |date=December 27, 2017}} Marshall finished with a winless record in his first year, but the team showed progress in his second season where they finished with a 2-6 record.

The Varsity Blues qualified for the playoffs in 2021 for the first time since 1995 and hosted a playoff game for the first time since 1992.{{cite web|url=https://varsityblues.ca/news/2021/11/1/football-blues-host-gee-gees-in-oua-quarter-final-saturday.aspx |title=Blues host Gee-Gees in OUA Quarter-final Saturday |publisher=Toronto Varsity Blues |date=November 1, 2021}} In 2022, the Varsity Blues finished in seventh place with a 4-4 record and again qualified for the playoffs as the OUA expanded the number of playoff teams. After a disappointing 2–6 finish to the 2023 season, it was announced on November 23, 2023, that Marshall would not return as the team's head coach.{{cite web|url=https://varsityblues.ca/news/2023/11/23/football-u-of-t-bids-farewell-to-football-coach-greg-marshall.aspx |title=U of T begins search for new head coach |publisher=Toronto Varsity Blues |date=November 23, 2023}} Darrell Adams was hired as the team's head coach on January 5, 2024.{{cite web|url=https://varsityblues.ca/news/2024/1/5/football-adams-named-varsity-blues-football-head-coach.aspx |title=Adams named Varsity Blues head coach |publisher=Toronto Varsity Blues |date=January 5, 2024}}

The following is the record of the Toronto Varsity Blues football team since 2000:

{{cite web|url=https://presto-en.usports.ca/sports/fball/2019-20/standings-conf|title=U Sports football standings|publisher=U Sports|access-date=July 18, 2020}}

Toronto is 2-1 in national semi-final games and 2-1 in the Vanier Cup.

• Hec Crighton Trophy: Mike Eben (1967), Mike Raham (1968), Dan Feraday (1981), Eugene Buccigrossi (1992)
• J. P. Metras Trophy: Chris Morris (1990)
• Presidents' Trophy: Lou Tiro (1993)
• Russ Jackson Award: David Hamilton (2008)
• Frank Tindall Trophy: Ron Murphy (1974)

As of the end of the 2024 CFL season, two former Varsity Blues players were on CFL teams' rosters:{{cite web |title=CFL players |url=https://www.cfl.ca/players/ |access-date=October 21, 2024 |publisher=Canadian Football League}}

• Albert Awachie, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• Nick Hallett, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|1=http://varsityblues.ca/index.aspx?path=football&}}

{{Toronto Varsity Blues football navbox}}

{{University of Toronto}}

{{U Sports football}}

Category:Sports clubs and teams established in 1877

Category:1877 establishments in Ontario