Paul de Pass isn’t letting the negativity of another losing season with the Varsity Blues affect him.
The fourth–year history and geography major at UTSC is staying positive, and continues to thrive as a Blues football player.
Despite his high level of play, de Pass only began playing football in the eleventh grade at Notre Dame C.S.S. in his hometown of Ajax. The Blues’ receiver was predominantly a hockey and baseball player, and during his high school days, he played on the defensive side of the ball as a safety. It was only when de Pass arrived at U of T that he moved to the offense and his current position as a receiver.
De Pass had only two years of football behind him at the end of high school, but he knew he was ready to play at the university level. After debating the merits of U of T and the University of Windsor, de Pass eventually chose Toronto because of its academic reputation and because the football program offered opportunities that Windsor could not.
“With regards to football, not only did it give me an opportunity to come in and have a chance to play right away, but I also wanted to help erase the losing stigma that had been attached to the football program and help bring the program back to the upper echelon of the CIS where it belongs,” said de Pass.
De Pass has only seen moderate team success while playing for the Varsity Blues in his four years here, with the team going a combined 9–23 in his time on the team. But de Pass himself has had tremendous individual success right from the start of his university playing career.
In his first year at U of T, de Pass won the Football Rookie of the Year after running for 314 yards and averaging 52.3 yards a game. De Pass was also elected to play in the East-West Bowl in 2012, a game which showcases athletes who display outstanding play. De Pass and the East condemned the West to a third straight defeat, triumphing 24–16 at Western’s TD Waterhouse Stadium.
As a team, however, the Varsity Blues have not been nearly as successful.
The Blues have not made the playoffs since de Pass arrived at U of T, and fell to a 2–6 record this past season. But de Pass has not let the losing affect him, and chooses to see positives in the connections that he has made through the football program. “The number of quality people I have met through the football program has been astounding, and I couldn’t be happier,” said de Pass.
“There have been a countless number of lifelong friends I’ve made through the program.”
Although team highlights have been limited, one that stands out for de Pass during his time here is an early game against the Ottawa Gee–Gees. “One of the most memorable games I’ve had since coming to U of T was in second year when we beat Ottawa while they were ranked number two in the CIS,” recalled De Pass.
The game saw the Varsity Blues upset the Gee–Gees 40–35 at Varsity Stadium, handing them their first loss of the season. It was also the game in which de Pass recorded his first touchdown of the season. Ottawa would eventually advance to the conference championships in the CIS playoffs, before falling to Western.
De Pass came to U of T intent on winning championships, and even though the Blues have yet to accomplish that, he believes that his team has the dedication and work ethic to move towards his ultimate goal. “As a team we continue to work incredibly hard in the off-season to adequately prepare ourselves for the upcoming season,” said de Pass. “We practice a few times a week in the off-season and I can’t say enough about the commitment we get from the majority of the team.”
Although 2013 is his final year of eligibility, de Pass does not see his football career ending there. He hopes there is an opportunity for him to play at the next level — the CFL — and if not in Canada, then to play for an European team. Even after his playing days are over, he still plans on being involved with football. “I’m sure once I finish playing I’ll continue to coach at one level or another. And of course continue to re-live the glory days in men’s leagues,” predicted de Pass.
With these goals in mind, De Pass is focused on next season and is determined to do everything possible to help the Varsity Blues do big things during his final season of play. “With one more year left of eligibility I’m going to do everything I can to help propel our team to a place we haven’t been in a long time — the playoffs.”
