The Varsity Blues football team’s sad state of affairs starts a decade ago and it starts at the top. You see, the administration tried to give us the boot in 1992. Led by former U of T president Robert Prichard (current Torstar president and C.E.O.), they decided to axe the team. Lou Tiro, our defensive captain was quoted in The Toronto Sun after we won the 1993 Vanier, “We stuffed it in those people’s faces. Maybe those people are the ones who should be replaced, not the football program. One week they’re trying to cut you and the next they’re patting you on the back, wishing you good luck. That’s kind of phoney to me.” Lou was referring to Prichard and current U of T administrators Bruce Kidd and Liz Hoffman. Indeed, the same hands that patted us on our backs had knives in them before and after.
Fast forward to today. Arguably the most historic football stadium in Canada is gone. The site of 30 Grey Cup games has been torn down. Bruce Kidd stated in a Toronto Star article that the natural grass surface was obsolete. Bruce, ask any pro soccer or football player if natural grass is obsolete! This “public” university has not announced any plans for this land that is amongst the most valuable in North America. Furthermore, Canada’s biggest and richest university has bled the team dry. Schools a fraction of the size spend considerably more on their programs-after all the alumni donations given to the team. The team is well on its way to setting records of ineptitude. Blame the administration, not the current players or coaches. They need support, not lip service.
U of T caters to many special interest groups. However, a 125 year-old institution is treated with blatant disregard by the administration. I will never apologize for loving the game of football. There is a reason why the Grey Cup is the most watched T.V. event in Canada every year, and why the Super Bowl is the most watched T.V. event worldwide every year.
As for Varsity Stadium: the Canadian Soccer Association is willing to pony up big money for a natural grass stadium in Toronto. Furthermore, the Argos also need a place to play. The school, if it had sincere interest, could pretty much have a stadium built for them for free!! If the school has sincere interest in being world class, then athletics should be a part of that. As it stands, Varsity athletes don’t even have their own time to lift weights in an extremely over-crowded weight room. A new facility should include a weight room for ALL Varsity athletes. U of T could then attract the student-athletes that are flocking to other Canadian and American schools. Current U of T president Robert Birgeneau can correct the mistakes of his predecessor. Let’s hold him accountable.
Tom Hipsz
U of T All Century Team member, former U of T coach, six year CFL player
