Re: Varsity Blues Report Card, 22 March, 2004
I have just “stumbled ” upon the above article and was pleased by your insight. The administration is not as perceptive. It usually complains about criticism of its dereliction of duty with [Varsity] Stadium.
I was shocked when I attended a game in 1999. There were about 200 in the stands. One hates to talk about “the good old days,” but it is clear that the athletic department doesn’t care about team sports now. Fifty years ago, the Blues won the championship beating Western. During that season, the stands always had over 20,000 fans. (The University had a student population of fewer than 13,000.) One game that year had a sell-out crowd of 27,000. They set out track seats.
In September, our team is holding a reunion, with members of other teams who played under coach Bob Masterson. We expect over 100 in attendance including players from Texas, California and B.C. We’ve been invited to attend the Varsity game that day. I think the shock of the empty field might finish off some of the “lads”.
It now appears a new stadium will be built thanks to the Argos and Junior Soccer. But it’s rumoured that the athletic department isn’t that happy. Why? They don’t think any fans will go to the Blues Games. What an attitude!
Regards,
Don Johnston 5T6
